Disclaimer: This article is sourced from different health resources and isn’t direct medical advice. If you feel like you or someone you know has a cryptic pregnancy, consult your healthcare provider immediately.
You might think that getting pregnant without knowing until you’re close to labor sounds like it was straight out of a movie, but it’s a real medical phenomenon called cryptic pregnancy. It has affected approximately 1 in every 500 pregnancies, including Pia Rapusas from the Philippines.
In her segment on GMA Digital Specials, Pia shared that on the day of her labor, she felt some abdominal cramping but assumed that it was just dysmenorrhea. She then took a pregnancy test because her period wasn’t showing up, and it was positive! They went to an OB-GYN for prenatal care, only to find out that she needed to deliver the baby. Luckily, the baby they had long prayed for was born healthy.
Now, this story is indeed inspiring, but not everyone who has gone through this condition was as lucky. There are also possible consequences of experiencing a cryptic pregnancy, all of which we’ll be discussing in this guide.
What is Cryptic Pregnancy?
A cryptic pregnancy, also known as a stealth or unperceived pregnancy, is a condition wherein the pregnant person doesn’t realize they’re pregnant until just weeks, days, or even hours before going into labor.
How Does a Pregnancy Go Undetected?
As pregnancy comes with lots of symptoms, some people might wonder: how can someone not feel that a baby is growing inside them? Below are some of the reasons why it can happen:
1There were little to no obvious signs of pregnancy.
In most cases, the person going through cryptic pregnancy does experience symptoms, but they’re not as obvious as those of other pregnant people.
For instance, while others are throwing up constantly during the first trimester, the person with cryptic pregnancy might only feel some mild nausea. Their breast size and baby bump may also have been less visible than in other pregnancies, which can be easily assumed as weight gain.
There are also cases where the pregnant person has already taken some at-home pregnancy kits, only to see a negative result despite actually being pregnant. This can occur when the pregnant person has low levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that plays a crucial role in forming the placenta during pregnancy. There’s also a rare chance that the test kit used was defective.
That’s why we recommend learning about the uncommon signs of pregnancy to help you figure out if you’re pregnant or not. Some symptoms include:
- Heartburn
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Itchy Skin
- Hemorrhoids
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Leg Cramps
And if you still have this gut feeling that you’re pregnant, even if at-home tests say otherwise, get yourself a blood pregnancy test. Not only can it give you clarity on your pregnancy status, but you can get the immediate care that you need if you are pregnant, since low hCG levels are linked to early pregnancy complications.
2The pregnant person may have believed they couldn’t conceive.
People who are taking Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (implant and IUD), struggling with fertility issues, and those going through perimenopause often assume they can’t conceive, so they ignore the symptoms. Albeit rare, pregnancy can still happen.
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3They might have a medical condition that masks the symptoms.
If you’re going through reproductive health conditions like PCOS, you might think that missed periods, light spotting, or bloating are occurring because of your current condition and not because you think you’re pregnant.
4It might be due to psychological factors.
In some rare instances, the person might have already felt the pregnancy symptoms but brushed them off due to stress, trauma, or even psychosis. They don’t want to believe that they’re pregnant, so they keep on living and ignoring the symptoms.
Not everyone going through a cryptic pregnancy is intentionally hiding it or has bad intentions, as some people are genuinely overwhelmed by it, especially those who’ve experienced assault or are in abusive relationships.
5They may not have received proper education about sex and pregnancy.
Though the internet and schools have always provided insights about reproductive health, as well as schools giving out lessons about menstrual cycles, sex, not everyone has the same access to those resources. This includes people with disabilities, individuals living in extremely conservative environments, and those who are in remote areas.
So even if they feel some of the symptoms, they aren’t able to figure out that they’re pregnant because they don’t even know how it works.
Potential Complications
Though some mothers and babies turned out fine despite going through cryptic pregnancy, others may face serious complications, such as the following:
1The parents may not be emotionally or financially prepared to have a child.
Remember the story we shared in the beginning? Pia’s baby, Isaiah David, isn’t just lucky because he ended up being healthy after two weeks of recovering in the NICU, but his parents have been waiting and praying for him for years.
Even though they didn’t have the initial baby items at home and weren’t prepared for the schedule changes, they’re still mentally and emotionally ready to have him in their life. For them, he is their little miracle.
However, not everyone who has experienced a cryptic pregnancy had a story like Pia and Jonathan’s.
Here’s another case of cryptic pregnancy, but now through the lens of Tawana Musvaburi, who was 21 years old at the time and living a “wild, crazy life.” She also has a birth control implant, so when a doctor told her that she was pregnant, she couldn’t believe it.
After giving birth to her baby, River, Tawana ended up with postnatal depression because of the instant shift in her life. Eventually, she was able to turn her life around and even use her story to bring more awareness about cryptic pregnancy.
Some people experiencing this condition may still be in school, just beginning their careers, starting a new business, preparing to move abroad, or even still searching for the right partner; having a baby can certainly feel like a major disruption to their plans. Not only that, there are people who don’t have the financial means to have a baby, so getting pregnant out of nowhere can certainly bring distress or depression.
There’s also the associated guilt that comes after giving birth, especially if the baby ended up with disabilities or health conditions because the mother didn’t have enough nutrients in their body and continued their vices like smoking or drinking.
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2It comes with a bunch of health risks.
There are so many health risks that come with cryptic pregnancy for both the mother and the baby. First, if the mother isn’t aware of the pregnancy right up to their labor, they might end up having an unassisted delivery and do it somewhere that could compromise their health.
A 2010 study also stated that babies that came out of cryptic pregnancies may be premature and suffer from malnutrition since the mother wasn’t able to get enough food and vitamins needed to support the baby in the womb.
How to Manage It
So, what would you do if you found yourself in this situation?
At this point, the most important thing is to focus on preparing your body and mind for the potential labor. Try to get enough rest, eat nutritious meals, and take time to mentally process everything.
We understand that this situation might not feel fair, as pregnancy is something that deserves support and proper medical care. But right now, the best thing you can do is focus on the present and take care of yourself so it’ll prepare you for the upcoming delivery of your baby.
If you’re still in contact with the baby’s father, consider sharing the situation with them so that they can help you figure things out. However, if that’s not possible, perhaps there’s a trusted friend or family member who could assist you. Having a strong support system is crucial during this period. The shock of an unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming and may lead to stress or psychological struggles, so don’t go through it alone.
Takeaway
A cryptic pregnancy can be viewed as either a surprise blessing or an unexpected challenge, depending on the circumstances.
Some couples have been hoping for a child for years, so having a baby instantly is considered miraculous, while others may not be emotionally, financially, or physically prepared for parenthood and see this pregnancy as a disruption in their life. And while some cryptic pregnancies result in healthy births, some cases ended up with complications, like the baby having disabilities or miscarriage.
To prevent this situation from happening, consider using condoms even if you’re already taking other forms of birth control, so you get some extra protection. And if you have a hunch that you might be pregnant, despite the at-home tests stating negative, we recommend going to the clinic to get the blood test. It’s always better to be sure and take early action when needed.
