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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

So has anyone on here not found out they were pg until they were in labour?

39 replies

GiganticusBottomus · 05/09/2011 20:51

it's the kind of thing you read about in 'take a break' but has it happened to anyone you know or anyone get really far in their pg without knowing?
It wouldn't happen to me because I looked like a weeble from very early on in my pregnancies but after reading about a few late finders-out on the other thread about feeling baby flutters but not being pg thought I would ask.

So...share!

OP posts:

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HPonEverything · 06/09/2011 13:38

Happened to my schoolfriend, she was 18 and planning on going to university but went into labour during our A-levels.

Very very sporty girl so athletic physique, was on the pill, had periods throughout.

It's hard to imagine how people don't feel the baby moving, but for weeks I wasn't sure if it was a baby or just my stomach grumbling (which it does a lot) so I suppose if you were of a mind to you could tell yourself it's that throughout.

dreamingbohemian · 06/09/2011 13:50

I used to think women this happened to must be in denial or a bit clueless, then it happened to my best friend's sister, she found out at 7 months. I know her, she is extremely intelligent and a strong woman. My friend saw her the week before she found out, she was wearing tight jeans without a trace of bump. Apparently her only symptom was that she often felt bloated, but she didn't have health insurance (in the US) so never went to the doctor.

ImpyCelyn · 06/09/2011 14:04

I watched a documentary on this in France about a year ago. The women they interviewed either found out in labour or after 32 weeks.

What I found particularly interesting was that of the women who found out at about the 32 weeks mark the majority said that before they found out they had no visible bump, but within a day or two they had a normal size bump for that gestation, as though their tummies had relaxed and let it all show. they even showed before and after photos of it.

Has anyone heard of that happening? Or did they just find a specific subset for the documentary?

They also said that it's a lot more common than people think. And with several of the women it wasn't their first either.

AppleyEverAfter · 06/09/2011 14:21

There is a series on Discovery Health I think called 'I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant', new series starting soon! It's American and you would not believe some of the stories, they literally didn't know until the baby popped out, one woman thought she was having a prolapse. And she was already a mother so had been through it all before!

LDNmummy · 06/09/2011 14:27

"But what I do believe is that the mind is very powerful and women (esp young girls) who can't cope mentally with being pregnant can block out the physical signs."

My mother was in her mid twenties with a career, her own home and a wealthy partner who provided her with everything she could possibly need including nanny's and other home help. Not a young girl with anything to lose.

It is completely possible for this to happen and not everyone will experience pregnancy in the same way.

goatshavestrangeeyes · 06/09/2011 17:07

Yep! A friend of mine got rushed to hospital in an ambulance being told she might have a twisted bowel. Then she was told she was actually in labour and 40 mins had her little girl. She was out clubbing with me 3 weeks befoe that celebrating the birth of her niece! she feels so guilty about it now, bu at least she's got a good story for the grandkids haha

nickelbabe · 06/09/2011 17:22

i'm sitting here trying to work out if it's possible from my own symptoms.

at the beginning, I was tired and sickly, but that could have been stress, and I bet paracetomol would have got rid of it.
and i had loads of what could have been flu-like symptoms, stomach cramps.
loads of symptoms that felt like bad period...

even the fluttering could be explained - it feels like bloody muscle spasms, which is not nice.
I think i would have queried it though - the "muscle spasms " can be really quite intense, so i'd be worried about it!

crazyhead · 06/09/2011 17:44

happened to a childhood friend - she showjumped her horse around an open (eg v high jumps) the day before, went to docs the next day with stomach pain, gave birth in the ambulance. Baby was 5lbs something but not tiny.

I honestly think there must often be an element of denial, but at 7 months I certainly couldn't hide it personally. My friend was uber fit with stomach muscles of iron.

Solo · 06/09/2011 18:05

My Mum had the opposite problem. She had her periods for 6 months with me but knew she was pg, the gp told her to stop being so silly , she couldn't possibly be pg. I was born in March '64 and she marched into the doctors surgery with me! Mum had a 24" waist and a 36" hip measurement on the day she went into labour!

My cousins Dd was 14 and playing sports at school when the teacher noticed her tummy shape as she jumped up...took her off for a pg test and then called her parents in to break the news. She was a tall, slim size 10 girl and was 7 months pg! had no clue apparently!

licoriceGreen · 06/09/2011 18:23

My mum is a teacher and banned a girl from PE because she was convinced she was pregnant, (she was doing gymnastics and landed on the horse belly first) her mother came into the school and went mad at my mum for suggesting such a thing, the girl gave birth the next week.

MsScarlettInTheLibrary · 06/09/2011 20:51

I found out I was pregnant at six months. I had had a recent miscarriage and put all body changes down to that. I was back on the pill and continued to get monthly bleeds. I had no weight gain, no sickness, no bump. Eventually it was the movement that gave it away and I called the MW. The MW saw me and told me I didn't look pregnant, had a feel and said I didn't feel pregnant, had a listen and there was the heartbeat, so off to a scan I went to find a 25 week baby inside. Anterior placenta and tilted bicornate uterus helped to hide her. At my first set of bloods at 28 weeks the nurse doing them wouldn't believe I was pregnant and had to see my notes before she would do the tests.

I was in a happy relationship, home owner, okay job, and had been trying for a baby (prior to the MC) for a year. I was not in denial.

banana87 · 06/09/2011 21:02

Someone I know didn't know and didn't find out until she was in labour. She was really early though, they estimate about 28 weeks when she delivered. She was 17 at the time, I think.

Nagoo · 06/09/2011 21:04

Impycelyn my friend found out at 26 weeks, didn't show before, massive after.

wannaBe · 06/09/2011 21:23

iirc there was a mumsnetter (not the one mentioned above) this happened to.

She was in a happy relationship, already had one child if I remember rightly and had a baby completely unexpectedly. According to her her family completely rejected the suggestion that she didn't know.

I also know of two women though who have had concealed pregnancies where they have told no-one (not even their dh's) that they're pregnant until they've given birth... In the case of one she already has ten children and is under the supervision of ss...

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