Pregnant and not know it...what are your thoughts?
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I read an article that a lady was having stomach pains only to find out that she was pregnant. She gave birth to a 9 lbs baby boy in her driveway. She says that she hadn't gained that much weight. Do we really live in a society where obesity is so common that people can be preggo and not even realize it? :sad:I've seen crap on a documentary about women who were pregnant and didn't know it, some of them were thin - I just think it is more of an intelligence issue or maybe being in denial and not right in the head? I don't see how you could just not know.
Woah. Hold up there.
Things that really boil my bologna are the shaming comments that come with issues around pregnancy.
Pregnancy follows the same basic principles... but varies drastically from woman to woman. Even following that same basic "timeline" varies, hence why we have different conditions, states of pregnancy, etc.
The "I didn't know I was pregnant" bits are not always linked to obesity. Nor is it an intelligence thing. Or an insanity thing ("not right in the head, seriously?"). I've known it to happen to someone who gained weight only in their breasts (they were young, spotting, and only found out around five months along when they went in for their chronic kidney issue "bothering them"; no, the backpain was linked to the baby).
There are women who give birth at a lower weight than they were when they conceived. There are women who spot in exactly the same pattern as their period the entire gestation. There are women who never feel their child move, even though he/she ends up being born completely healthy. And this is all for women who KNEW they were pregnant; imagine if any of this happened and you didn't know.
It's both frightening and comforting to know just how vastly different pregnancy experiences can be for women.
But holy hell, what a strange brush of shade that's already being painted here. Good on you if you know your body so well that you can predict exactly how it reacts to all things at all times!
No, you are right - not everyone is the same. I just can't put myself in those shoes because you would think you would either feel the baby moving or know something was inside of you growing. My mother didn't know she was pregnant with me for 6 months, but she told me it was more of an in denial issue. I can see not knowing for a few months, but I was mainly speaking until you go in labor.
To be fair, I think your thoughts are then rooted in an anecdote you've been exposed to: your mother's.
As others have said, pregnancies are different. You put a qualifier of "a few months," but some women literally experience the same symptoms at three months as they do at nine (for better or for worse). Every pregnancy is different and even every labor experience is different. If you're willing to give the benefit of the doubt to some women not knowing until 4 or 5 months, it's not to much to extend it further for those cases where women really don't know until they're in the hospital for "appendicitis" or however their symptoms manifest.
Also, someone referenced the "if you've been told you can't get pregnant." A local, older couple just had this exact scenario on ours news: she was told she was no longer menstruating because of a fertility issue. Two years later, no weight gain, and a "bad stomachache" lead to a baby boy for them.0 -
I read an article that a lady was having stomach pains only to find out that she was pregnant. She gave birth to a 9 lbs baby boy in her driveway. She says that she hadn't gained that much weight. Do we really live in a society where obesity is so common that people can be preggo and not even realize it? :sad:I've seen crap on a documentary about women who were pregnant and didn't know it, some of them were thin - I just think it is more of an intelligence issue or maybe being in denial and not right in the head? I don't see how you could just not know.
Woah. Hold up there.
Things that really boil my bologna are the shaming comments that come with issues around pregnancy.
Pregnancy follows the same basic principles... but varies drastically from woman to woman. Even following that same basic "timeline" varies, hence why we have different conditions, states of pregnancy, etc.
The "I didn't know I was pregnant" bits are not always linked to obesity. Nor is it an intelligence thing. Or an insanity thing ("not right in the head, seriously?"). I've known it to happen to someone who gained weight only in their breasts (they were young, spotting, and only found out around five months along when they went in for their chronic kidney issue "bothering them"; no, the backpain was linked to the baby).
There are women who give birth at a lower weight than they were when they conceived. There are women who spot in exactly the same pattern as their period the entire gestation. There are women who never feel their child move, even though he/she ends up being born completely healthy. And this is all for women who KNEW they were pregnant; imagine if any of this happened and you didn't know.
It's both frightening and comforting to know just how vastly different pregnancy experiences can be for women.
But holy hell, what a strange brush of shade that's already being painted here. Good on you if you know your body so well that you can predict exactly how it reacts to all things at all times!
No, you are right - not everyone is the same. I just can't put myself in those shoes because you would think you would either feel the baby moving or know something was inside of you growing. My mother didn't know she was pregnant with me for 6 months, but she told me it was more of an in denial issue. I can see not knowing for a few months, but I was mainly speaking until you go in labor.
To be fair, I think your thoughts are then rooted in an anecdote you've been exposed to: your mother's.
As others have said, pregnancies are different. You put a qualifier of "a few months," but some women literally experience the same symptoms at three months as they do at nine (for better or for worse). Every pregnancy is different and even every labor experience is different. If you're willing to give the benefit of the doubt to some women not knowing until 4 or 5 months, it's not to much to extend it further for those cases where women really don't know until they're in the hospital for "appendicitis" or however their symptoms manifest.
Also, someone referenced the "if you've been told you can't get pregnant." A local, older couple just had this exact scenario on ours news: she was told she was no longer menstruating because of a fertility issue. Two years later, no weight gain, and a "bad stomachache" lead to a baby boy for them.
Just like my friend. She was told that her pregnancy was menopause. The DOCTOR told her that.0 -
I have a friend who found out she was pregnant at 7 & 1/2 months...they had been trying for 8 years, and she was taking ovulation medication. They were given the opportunity to adopt a baby girl, and were distracted enough being new parents that they didn't take into account all the signs, like food cravings and tiredness. She had no morning sickness.
They were also in the process of moving to another state and her trying to find a new job.0 -
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I didn't know I was pregnant. I was bleeding non-stop for 6 months so I never thought to take a pregnancy test. My stomach grew, I looked pregnant but when you trust a doctor that's a complete idiot, it's hard. I was young and unfortunately my stomach was growing b/c I had cancer and I was pregnant. I didn't feel movement b/c I had a tumor that was growing in front of the baby so he was kicking that instead of me. So yeah, it's possible. I wasn't obese, overweight by 25ish pounds. Went to a nutritionist and went to a personal trainer. dropped body fat but I was gaining weight but doing everything "right", well except taking care of my baby. So statements like this kindof hit a nerve with me, but I realize I'm in a very small minority. My little guy passed away shortly after birth.
I am so sorry to hear that. Hugs to you.
I believe it is possible. I"ve watched the show that TLC had and at first I found it hard to believe. However, never having been pregnant myself, I can't exactly say what it feels like to be pregnant. When they would explain several different things about how they felt and the doctors would also explain things, I believe it can be entirely possible to not know. Not everyone gets the same symptoms as others. I also have known people who did NOT gain weight and barley had any stomach at all.0 -
I dreamed I started producing milk the other night. Hopefully the milk was for a man who really enjoys drinking from nipples because I am not ready for a kid.i didn't know i was pregnant until 5 months gone. I had been pregnant before but still had no clue until i'd stop breast feeding my other child and milk was still there after a week or two
Back to the topic though, my sister was 5 months pregnant when she found out she was pregnant too. She has another kid but that kid is like, 13 years old.
I don't really understand why people are saying you have to be ignorant to not know you're pregnant. I'm not surprised at all if I skip a period or two, it's always been that way for me. Maybe the girls who get pregnant and don't know it has a similar cycle as to mine.
The only ignorant people are those that think one must be ignorant or stupid to not know one is pregnant.
It happens - bleeding might continue, weight gain might be minimal, etc.
When I worked at the Duke Hospital one of the interns was pregnant and only found out after the 5-6 month. She was highly educated, trained as a physcian and far from stupid. But then and like in this thread, some people made fun of that.
It's unfortunate because usually these pregnancies are not easy and can have serious complications when no pre-natal care is provided. On top of that people don't need to be treated as an imbecile.0 -
I didn't know I was pregnant. I was bleeding non-stop for 6 months so I never thought to take a pregnancy test. My stomach grew, I looked pregnant but when you trust a doctor that's a complete idiot, it's hard. I was young and unfortunately my stomach was growing b/c I had cancer and I was pregnant. I didn't feel movement b/c I had a tumor that was growing in front of the baby so he was kicking that instead of me. So yeah, it's possible. I wasn't obese, overweight by 25ish pounds. Went to a nutritionist and went to a personal trainer. dropped body fat but I was gaining weight but doing everything "right", well except taking care of my baby. So statements like this kindof hit a nerve with me, but I realize I'm in a very small minority. My little guy passed away shortly after birth.
So sorry for your loss! :flowerforyou:0 -
I read an article that a lady was having stomach pains only to find out that she was pregnant. She gave birth to a 9 lbs baby boy in her driveway. She says that she hadn't gained that much weight. Do we really live in a society where obesity is so common that people can be preggo and not even realize it? :sad:I've seen crap on a documentary about women who were pregnant and didn't know it, some of them were thin - I just think it is more of an intelligence issue or maybe being in denial and not right in the head? I don't see how you could just not know.
Woah. Hold up there.
Things that really boil my bologna are the shaming comments that come with issues around pregnancy.
Pregnancy follows the same basic principles... but varies drastically from woman to woman. Even following that same basic "timeline" varies, hence why we have different conditions, states of pregnancy, etc.
The "I didn't know I was pregnant" bits are not always linked to obesity. Nor is it an intelligence thing. Or an insanity thing ("not right in the head, seriously?"). I've known it to happen to someone who gained weight only in their breasts (they were young, spotting, and only found out around five months along when they went in for their chronic kidney issue "bothering them"; no, the backpain was linked to the baby).
There are women who give birth at a lower weight than they were when they conceived. There are women who spot in exactly the same pattern as their period the entire gestation. There are women who never feel their child move, even though he/she ends up being born completely healthy. And this is all for women who KNEW they were pregnant; imagine if any of this happened and you didn't know.
It's both frightening and comforting to know just how vastly different pregnancy experiences can be for women.
But holy hell, what a strange brush of shade that's already being painted here. Good on you if you know your body so well that you can predict exactly how it reacts to all things at all times!
I love this gif it's from my favorite movie All about Eve.0 -
In terms of not having your period, obese women may have a very irregular period to start with. There are also medical conditions besides obesity that can lead to a woman not having her period for months at a time even if she is not pregnant.0
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I obviously don't know, not being a woman, but I would have to assume you'd notice not having your period for five months... right?
Not noticing a pregnancy right after another one? I buy that. Your body is in such a state of turmoil from the first pregnancy and, from what I've heard, your period can be delayed after a pregnancy.
But, yes OP, it's pretty nuts to hear stories about people who are so large they didn't realize they were pregnant. It's baffling. Mind-boggling! Didn't the lack of period concern you? Is it possible to be pregnant and still get your period? I'm pretty sure the human body doesn't work that way.
ETA: A favorite quote of mine that works phonetically, not really in print, but here goes: "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, baby."
In terms of not having your period, obese women may have a very irregular period to start with. There are also medical conditions besides obesity that can lead to a woman not having her period for months at a time even if she is not pregnant.0 -
Having not been pregnant before, I can't comment personally, however I have read the news story you mention and there are several points to be raised that would really make it difficult to tell IMO.
- She was a teenager, never had a baby before. I doubt she knows the typical feelings and signs apart from the usual such as missed periods and weight gain. How can she be expected to with no experience of this?
- She continued to have regular periods (a lot of people missed this bit out)
- She continued to have a flat stomach / fit in all her clothes, size 10 (US 6)
In those circumstances, I could imagine being fooled myself! It doesn't mean she's in denial or stupid, but there are those rare cases out there where things don't go the typical way.
I do also know someone who's mother gave birth to them just days after finding out they were pregnant.
This is the story I mean: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2594071/Size-10-student-discharged-hospital-pain-GIVES-BIRTH-just-hours-later.html
Think it might be a different one as she didn't give birth in the driveway, but similar situation nonetheless.0 -
I work in a hospital and have seen it happen. Not just teenagers but we also had a nurse who was pregnant and didn't ever know it.0
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Yeeeah, I know someone's who's claimed this twice. The first time, she found out she was pregnant about a week or so before she went into labor. She's significantly over weight and was spotting the entire time, so I could maybe believe this. But then she did it again on her second pregnancy. Called her mum in the delivery room saying she thought she just had a stomach bug but actually she had a baby. She was 16 when she had the first kid, so it's possible she was just saying it to avoid punishment/shame/whatever? I dunno. Two times seems suspicious to me. Now she has 5 (or maybe 6? I can't keep count) kids at 26 years old.
I think it's possible that someone not know for a while. It happens. But then I also think some people maybe aren't being too honest about it.0 -
It happened to me. I lost weight during my pregnancy (60 ish pounds) never had morning sickness, or any type of symptoms, I have always had irregular cycles so to me going months with no period was MY normal and no cause for concern... I never felt "off". I didn't feel her move until a week before I sound out. I was 29 weeks along. Every body is different. It does happen though.0
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I started throwing up and took a test before I even missed my period. The doctor couldn't understand how I knew I was pregnant so early.
My cousin knew right away too. She had to wait to take the early tests and got a few negatives before she got a positive.
Me, I had no idea.
I have 2 family members (including my mother) that didn't know till 4 or 5 months because they continued to get a period. I had bleeding as well. I also did not show to the outside world till 6 months. Some people have irregular cycles. And early movement just feels like flutters.0 -
I started throwing up and took a test before I even missed my period. The doctor couldn't understand how I knew I was pregnant so early.
My cousin knew right away too. She had to wait to take the early tests and got a few negatives before she got a positive.
Me, I had no idea.
I have 2 family members (including my mother) that didn't know till 4 or 5 months because they continued to get a period. I had bleeding as well. I also did not show to the outside world till 6 months. Some people have irregular cycles. And early movement just feels like flutters.
I shouldn't say I had no idea. I didn't know immediately. I also had spotting and thought I had started my period but when it wasn't as usual and I was feeling ill. That combined with the fact we were trying, I took a test.
My sister also had spotting that was consistent with her period throughout her pregnancy. If I had not known that it probably would have been longer before I figured it out.0 -
I don't know how a woman wouldn't know! The movement of a baby is nothing like gas pain, or maybe I just carried vikings that liked to torture me from the inside. I can understand not putting two and two together for a couple of months but c'mon...
Actually, a symptom of IBS and IBD is a "fluttering" feeling; I've gotten it, immediately took a pregnancy test, discussed it with my doctor, etc. Not pregnant. It feels like something is moving inside of you... sound familiar? So say this happens again, with me on BC: my immediate thought would then go to IBS, not pregnancy.
Again: the body gets weird. It gets even weirder with pregnancy.
Really?! That is super interesting. I am a midwife and have been pregnant four times and I am constantly mystified by this weird fluttering feeling above my pubic bone that feels like a 16 week pregnancy. If I had the kind of sex that makes babies I would be constantly freaked out by it.
I have IBS. Never thought the two were related!
ETA: I completely understand how a woman would not know she was pregnant. Women can bleed, lose weight, have anterior placentas, mellow babies and some carry their babes tight up against their spines. I have sent women to get u/s when their babies measured super tiny and the women looked barely pregnant only to get a report like this from the ultrasonographer: "well.... it appears that Susie is somehow hiding an average sized baby". Every pregnancy is different!0 -
Way to stir up a hornets' nest, Bobby! :laugh:0
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Yeeeah, I know someone's who's claimed this twice. The first time, she found out she was pregnant about a week or so before she went into labor. She's significantly over weight and was spotting the entire time, so I could maybe believe this. But then she did it again on her second pregnancy. Called her mum in the delivery room saying she thought she just had a stomach bug but actually she had a baby. She was 16 when she had the first kid, so it's possible she was just saying it to avoid punishment/shame/whatever? I dunno. Two times seems suspicious to me. Now she has 5 (or maybe 6? I can't keep count) kids at 26 years old.
I think it's possible that someone not know for a while. It happens. But then I also think some people maybe aren't being too honest about it.
Did she not know she was pregnant the other 3 times either? :huh:0 -
It doesn't make any sense to me because I seriously KNEW when I was 3 days pregnant. Wasn't exactly trying, but I just felt it. I guess some people are more intuitive.0
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If you rarely have periods or if you have regular periods while pregnant and have an anterior placenta (the placenta is towards the outside of your stomach, which insulates the movements and make them harder to feel), have a long torso and or carry towards your back, you may not know. Plus if you are on some medications you may have fewer symptoms any way. Totally possible even without being overweight.0
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OP: I REALLY don't see the point in bringing up such a personal topic for others to mock.0
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I would have to say it is possible...some people still menstruate through their pregnancy...some have such weird cycles that they don't realize because they figure its just another case of not having a monthly.
I knew both times..the first time I was relatively thin and saw the difference in my stomach...and felt every little movement, aside from the nausea that started during the first month.
At 330 lbs. I became pregnant with my second child, I just knew right away. However, she was not an active child inside me. I never felt any major movements of any kind, the flutters could have been dismissed as gas. The only other sign besides menses not being there was the massive pain in my hips at all times from 4 mos. along and on. If I had not already suspected it/knew...I wouldn't have taken the test to find out...I even lost 30 lbs. during the pregnancy...but never really looked pregnant. Plus this child was a birth control and condom child...and I just had that feeling that it hadn't worked.
Everyone's pregnancies are different. I don't see how a thin person wouldn't know as it would be quite obvious I would think..but a person that has a lot of fat, and has irregular menses...might not notice, especially if they haven't been pregnant before.0 -
I have had 7 kids (5 pregnancies) and known every single time within weeks of conception, i do not know how it is possible to "not know"0
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Yup. My MiL went to the hospital with "back pains" and came home with her 6th child. She is apple shaped, so I guess it hid well?
Seeing as her husband had had a vasectomy two years prior, it made for a real interesting conversation at the hospital, I'll tell you that! :laugh:0 -
Yeeeah, I know someone's who's claimed this twice. The first time, she found out she was pregnant about a week or so before she went into labor. She's significantly over weight and was spotting the entire time, so I could maybe believe this. But then she did it again on her second pregnancy. Called her mum in the delivery room saying she thought she just had a stomach bug but actually she had a baby. She was 16 when she had the first kid, so it's possible she was just saying it to avoid punishment/shame/whatever? I dunno. Two times seems suspicious to me. Now she has 5 (or maybe 6? I can't keep count) kids at 26 years old.
I think it's possible that someone not know for a while. It happens. But then I also think some people maybe aren't being too honest about it.
Did she not know she was pregnant the other 3 times either? :huh:
She knew about the others. Third time's the charm, I guess. I swear every time I talk to her, she's pregnant again. I can't imagine having that many kids. 0.o0 -
DENIAL and or other issues
Ive worked in labor and delivery for 15 years, you know when there's a parasite growing inside you0 -
DENIAL and or other issues
Ive worked in labor and delivery for 15 years, you know when there's a parasite growing inside you
Pleasant.0 -
It is very possible to happen. It happened to a serving British servicewoman who gave birth in Afghanistan a few years ago http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19657646
This articles quotes a study which found one in 600 mums-to-be are unaware they are pregnant until they give birth, or just before. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/20yearold-sophie-aldridge-who-gave-birth-without-knowing-she-was-pregnant-defends-her-remarkable-story-9240506.html0 -
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