think how could a women know she wasn't pregnant

[AuntiePickleBottom]

i have been watching, i didn't know i was pregnant, and think how did they not know

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Quite easily, apparently. Some women continue to have regular "periods", don't grow a massive baby belly etc. On a recent thread on this topic, a midwife hadn't realised!

[booyhoo]

haven't seen this but thought I'd respond.

lots of women don't have regular periods. an ex colleague always had problems with periods disappearing for months at a time. eventually after they had been gone for 7 months she went to GP to get something sorted. she was 7 months pregnant. had no idea, no bump, size 10 girl. but she suddenly bloomed the following week

[booyhoo]

and there are those who have periods throughout tehir pregnancy.

[booyhoo]

i would love to discover i was 7 months gone.

[ShowOfHandsInEpistolaryForm]

Easy. I know I'm not pg right now.

[booyhoo]

just noticed this SOH. no, I'm not either.

[bruffin]

My sister didn't know she was pregnant until she was 5 months, because she had PCOS and never had regular periods. Also new another girl who didn't find out until about 6 months and sadly lost the baby within a week of finding out.

[AuntiePickleBottom]

it just baffles me

[jasper]

OP I've always wondered that too.
Aspecially the ones who find out when they are in labour [skeptical]

[booyhoo]

sonia from eastenders stylee?

[midlandsmumof4]

Me...we are talking 30 years ago. Went to docs with severe stomach pains after eating certain foods. Having ruled out wind and prescribing various meds he finally picked up the phone & booked an appointment there & then with local hospital. (It was that easy back then). Saw the consultant the following week who asked how far along I was in my pregnancy.....17 weeks apparently. [shocked]. Scan 2 weeks later showed I was actually 32 weeks-even more [shocked]. Three hour labour eventually.

[sb6699]

With my first, I didnt know I was pregnant until 18 weeks.

I have never had regular periods, had no other symptoms and non-existent belly.

I was actually on the pill at the time as well, so had no reason to even suspect it.

[jasper]

midlandsmum had you gained weight?
Were you biggish to begin with?

[BustleInYourHedgerow]

Happened a girl I worked with. She was 17, had the implant. Had no bump, but is very tall so maybe that hid it? She went home from work with bad back pain one day and we heard she had a baby that night. She really had no idea and it took her a long time to come to terms with it. Her DP left her as he thought she had planned it, but her family helped her through, and now she's a fantastic mum.

[MoralDefective]

It baffles me too
How can you have regular periods throughout your pregnancy.
I mean,are they 'proper' periods,not just spotting?
DD has a friend at work who 'found out' she was pregnant about a month before she was due.

[booyhoo]

i don't know moral but i do know it has happened.

[ApocalypseCheese]

I was fairly young when I got pregnant with dd, family were going through hell at the time and I kept it secret for over 8 months (went to hospital appts etc tho ) only got found out when I was spotted at the maternity clinic by mothers friend.

Didn't have a bump, no sickness, barely any movement. The midwife reckons it was psychological, ie the body goes into denial.

Can see the point tbh, I was already dealing with a lot at the time I think I shut down over the baby situation and although I dealt with things practically, emotionally I didn't know how to.

[Scorpette]

My friend's mum was about 35 and on her period - they were regular as clockwork - and felt like she was going to have diarrhoea. Went to the loo and had my friend! She was a size 10, with a flat stomach, and on the pill, as her and her husband didn't actually want kids (luckily, they doted on my friend). Although she sadly passed away many years ago, she told me that story many times and I've seen the local newspaper clippings about it.

[SparklingExplosionGoldBrass]

If it 'baffles' you, you are stupid and judgemental. It happens for a variety of reasons. Get over it.

[MoralDefective]

'If it baffles you,you are stupid and judgemental'
What tosh.
Just because someone doesn't understand something does not make them stupid.
Neither does it make them judgemental.

[5DollarShake]

There's nothing stupid or judgmental about finding it baffling...?

There are a set of very physical symptom in pregnancy - the main 2 being a bump, and feeling the baby move. To not get ANY of the symptoms (including ones other than I've just mentioned) must be very unusual.

I know someone who only discovered she was pregnant at 32 weeks - she went into the hospitals in size 8 clothing. I know it happens, but I still find it baffling.

[JeezyPeeps]

I worked with a woman who flatshared with the boss (both women). One morning neither of them turned up for work, and we were left a bit baffled, as was the assistant manager. Until a bit later in the day the boss turned up.

Her flatmate had gone into labour the night before with twins, and no-one, not even she had known (although she may have been in denial of course).

Sometimes its just not obvious.

[nickytwotimes]

Yabu.

Your experiences are not the only valid ones!

[Tee2072]

Not everyone gets those, or any, symptoms.

I've already post about this on a previous thread but a very good friend of mine, who'd always been very overweight, never had regular periods, was told she'd never get pregnant, did not know until she went to A&E with severe stomach pains. 4 hours later her son was born.

I think if you don't know you are pregnant, any feelings of movement can be easily dismissed as tummy rumbles/aches.

Also, as I understand, if the baby is back to back, you may not feel it move? Something like that.

[otchayaniye]

I never used to have periods (had Asherman's) and even after treatment the periods were exceptionally light - like spotting. I've never in my life before having a baby had anything resembling a 5-day heavyish period.

I never felt my baby move (extended breech)

Didn't show until month 6 - and no, I'm not fat. Even at 34/35 weeks when I had my daughter I wasn't that big (baby was breech and only 5lb)

I happened to know I was pregnant at week 5 and had hyperemesis so I knew I was pregnant.

Just pointing out that not every pregnant woman gets all the pregnancy signs.

I miscarried at 11 weeks once and had NO idea I was pregnant until it happened.

I guess there are some cases where it's more an issue of psychological denial but I think many women