For women who have experienced pregnancy, it might seem like it would be completely impossible to not know you are pregnant until you go into labor. What with the weight gain, hormone changes, kicking, heartburn and missed period, how could you not know you are pregnant? The truth is that although it is rare, it is quite possible to be 9 months pregnant and not know it hence TLC’s show “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant.”
Cryptic or Denial Pregnancies
One researcher estimates that 1 in every 475 births is the result of a cryptic or denied pregnancy: “Deliveries in which the woman has not been aware of her pregnancy until going into labor occur about three times more often than triplets.” Three times more common than triplets!
There may be many different reasons why a woman is in denial consciously or subconsciously about their pregnancy. It could be an unplanned pregnancy resulting from failed contraception or maybe she struggled with infertility and was told pregnancy wasn’t possible or thought she was pregnant but took a pregnancy test and it gave a false negative. When someone wasn’t expecting to be pregnant, there is a higher likelihood they will be able to pass off pregnancy symptoms as other things and not realize they are actually expecting. Research has shown that high levels of stress can also cause pregnancy denial as many common symptoms of the early stages of pregnancy are similar to symptoms of high stress levels.
Body Weight
Not all women carry baby weight in the same way and so a large protruding baby bump is not always a simple indicator of pregnancy. A woman’s body weight and type prior to pregnancy may affect how she carries the baby weight. An overweight woman with extra weight around her mid-section prior to pregnancy may not notice a growing baby bump as quickly as a woman who is thinner around her mid-section. Women also gain different amounts of weight at during pregnancy. Some women gain 40lbs while other women may barely gain 20lbs throughout their entire pregnancy.
Few Pregnancy Side Effects
Every women experiences pregnancy differently and women with multiple children may even tell you how different their own pregnancy experiences were. For those who experience extreme morning sickness throughout much of their pregnancy, it would be hard to deny a pregnancy because the first visit to a doctor complaining about morning sickness will probably result in a pregnancy test. Most women who never realize they are pregnant until very far along in their pregnancy usually report very few pregnancy side effects.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles and Spotting During Pregnancy
Not all women have regular menstrual cycles. Yes of course some women can count on their cycle like clockwork and can tell when they will get their period every month for years to come. However, other women experience irregular cycles and only get their period every few months or so and might not notice when a few months go by without getting a period. Additionally, some types of birth control may create irregular menstrual cycles or stop them all together. High levels of stress can also affect the regularity of a woman’s period. Occasionally, pregnant women will also report experiencing period like bleeding throughout their pregnancy and while this is rare, it would lead a woman to confidently believe that she was not pregnant.
Even though a woman’s period typically stops during pregnancy, some women continue to see spotting throughout their pregnancy and for women who have light periods it may lead them to think they are still getting their period.
Not Feeling Baby’s Movement
For most women who are experiencing pregnancy for the first time, baby movements are often at first hard to identify and may initially be explained away thinking it is heartburn or digestive issues. Women most often find that they are able to identify a baby’s movement earlier in second and third pregnancies as they now know what it feels like. Keep in mind not all babies are highly active and a woman’s ability to feel the kicks also depends on the position of the baby as well as the position of the placenta.
Mistaking Pregnancy Symptoms with Other Health Problems
Common pregnancy symptoms can easily be mistaken for other health problems especially when a pregnancy is unexpected. Women with a history of ovarian discomfort, tumors, and cysts may mistake pregnancy discomfort to symptoms of previous conditions. Many symptoms of pregnancy can also be mistaken for those of irritable bowel syndrome.
Why It’s Important to See a Doctor
If you think you are pregnant but are not certain, don’t hesitate to call your OBGYN or primary care doctor to be sure. There are many risks to a baby’s health if the mother isn’t getting the right care during pregnancy so it’s important to consult a health care professional if you think there might even be a chance that you are pregnant.
