Why some women don't know they're pregnant until labor

Springfield News Sun ^ | 1-10-2015 | Madison Burke

[Citizen Zed]

These kind of pregnancies — when mothers are unaware that they are pregnant — are called cryptic pregnancies and doctors say certain women are more likely to have them than others. 

PregnancyCorner explains women who have irregular menstrual cycles or women who are obese may be less likely to realize they are pregnant. 

There are also psychological factors that can lead to cryptic pregnancies.

Psychology Today says a woman experiencing a lot of stress could cause the fetus to produce low levels of the hormone HCG, which would cause milder, potentially unnoticeable pregnancy symptoms. 

Low levels of HCG can even cause a pregnancy test to be negative when the woman is in fact pregnant. 

[nodumbblonde]

Exactly. I know far more women with irregular cycles than women who are regular.

I don’t know of anyone who just doesn’t care because it’s horribly embarrassing to be caught out. And, trust me, it will always be at a time or place guaranteed for maximum embarrassment!

[pbmaltzman]

I had a cousin on my father’s side who was really heavy, and she never knew she was pregnant until she went into labor.

[sheana]

Thanks. Yeah I was a little worried about the baby but she was perfect.

[nodumbblonde]

The only thing I don’t understand is how you wouldn’t feel a full-term baby moving and kicking.

[pbmaltzman]

I have no answer for you on this one. All I know is that she never knew she was pregnant until she went into labor. AFAIK, the baby was okay, and eventually grew up. Beyond that, I don’t know anything.