I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant … Seriously?

1. History of Irregular Periods

While a missed period may cause panic in the lives of most women (and some men), for others it’s not such a big deal.  Biologically speaking, women who are at opposite ends of the age spectrum are more likely to experience irregular cycles. Certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome can be to blame for irregular cycles as well.  Women who are aware that they have irregular periods should pay close attention to symptoms that could indicate a pregnancy and not just dismiss them as stress or hormone imbalance.

2. No Noticeable Weight Gain

One of the things that made me suspicious of the women featured on I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant is that I couldn’t conceive how they didn’t recognize the tell-tale baby bump that our society is obsessed with as late.  A celebrity can’t experience a mild form of buffet bloat without a blog putting them on “baby bump watch”. But many of these women revealed how they had always had a lot of excess weight which disguised any bulge that would be severely defined on women of thinner body types. Women who are dieting or obsessively exercise may also not notice any additional weight that can come with pregnancy.  All women carry pregnancy differently.  Not all women may have a perfectly bulging belly at 9 months, some women carry babies towards the back of the uterus and with no noticeable change in shape, they believe those kicks and small movements are just a growing appetite instead of a growing fetus.

3. Birth Control Makes You Less Suspicious

The good news: Many hormonal methods of birth control are up to 99% effective with perfect use and even barrier methods such as male condoms are 98% effective with perfect use.  The bad news: Some women become completely dependent on these methods after engaging in unprotected sex and never becoming pregnant.  This can lead to becoming more comfortable, less careful and not using the method as accurately.  It also can lead to dangerous assumptions that there is NO chance of pregnancy when using contraception when in fact there is always at least a 1 or 2% chance.  Most people have odds of 18 million to one of winning the lottery, but someone always manages to do it, right? It only takes once.

4. Recently Giving Birth

Many women falsely believe they are infertile shortly after giving birth when they are in fact only less fertile.  Although you may not menstruate for months after giving birth, there’s a chance that you could still ovulate anytime after 3 months of lactation.  If you don’t want your own set of “Irish twins” keep in mind that every woman’s body is different and there are exceptions to every rule.  Fertility can return very quickly after giving birth, so discuss contraception with your doctor after childbirth if it’s something you want to avoid.

5. Breakthrough Bleeding

If I see blood, it must mean I’m not pregnant, right?  Not necessarily. A woman’s vagina is an amazing organ that unlike other organs can sometimes “bleed” and not necessarily indicate a problem. Some women will experience breakthrough bleeding throughout a pregnancy and mistakenly misidentify it as a period. Unlike a normal period, breakthrough bleeding is usually very light and has many causes, one being ovulation.  Don’t assume that seeing red rules out the possibility of a pregnancy.

6. Belief of Infertility or Sterility

So how many potential fathers have you see being tested for paternity on The Maury Povich Show relying on the fact that they are “not the father” because their doctor told them they were sterile?  Unless you have concrete confirmation from a medical professional that there is no chance that you and/or your partner are capable of becoming pregnant, it’s important to actively use contraception if you have no plans for pregnancy.  Don’t underestimate the power of the human body; a sperm and ovum can be very determined when they want to. (Depending on the relationship, by not using a barrier method, you could also be putting yourself at risk for contracting an STI).

7. Because the Pregnancy Test Said So

I’m willing to bet there’s a child running around in a neighborhood near you whom if their existence solely depended on a pregnancy test result would not be here.  Whether they are used incorrectly, or the device is faulty itself, pregnancy tests can at time be very unreliable. There’s also a chance that if a woman takes a test too early in pregnancy, her body hasn’t produced enough hCG hormone for the test to pick up.  Find yourself fill of doubt after emptying your bladder on a stick? Go to a doctor for a second opinion, especially if you have other symptoms indicating a pregnancy.

8. Not Following Up After Attempting to Terminate a Pregnancy

The decision to terminate a pregnancy can be extremely difficult and emotional, so it’s understandable that a doctor’s office is the last thing a woman may want to repeatedly see when opting for a medication abortion early in her pregnancy. In general an abortion pill can be taken 9 weeks after the first day of a woman’s last period.  Many women choose this option because it can be completed within the comfort of their own home.  With that said, it is even more important to follow-up with a medical professional after completing the procedure to make sure the pregnancy has been successfully terminated to avoid any dangerous complications.

9. Mistaking a Pregnancy with Another Medical Condition

Pregnancy is often dismissed when conditions like endometriosis, fibroid cysts or tumors are present.  A fetus can be mistaken for newly developed cyst or tumor.  Many women were surprised by their pregnancies since many of their symptoms could be explained by their pre-existing conditions.  If you are sexually active, and especially if you are having unprotected sex, it’s always wise to be extremely careful and not make assumptions.  See a doctor anytime you have a nagging gut feeling, it could be a growing fetus.

10. Mild Pregnancy Symptoms

We’ve mentioned how important it is to look out for pregnancy symptoms especially if you can’t rely on your menstrual cycle, but what about when even the symptoms aren’t that noticeable.  Pregnancy is a unique experience for many women.  While some women are exhausted living half of their pregnancies kneeled on their bathroom floor, other women may not notice any significant changes.  This is why it’s so important to pay close attention to how your body performs on a regular basis, so that your radar is triggered when anything changes, no matter how slight the
change may be.  If there’s the slightest chance you could be pregnant, it’s important to be mindful of your diet and alcohol intake to ensure your health and that of your unborn child’s.

I’m a believer, but are you convinced? Do these women just have some seriously special circumstances or a bad case of denial?  Have you or someone you know well ever been pregnant and didn’t know until the baby came?

Toya Sharee is a community health educator who has a passion for helping young women build their self-esteem and make well-informed choices about their sexual health. She also advocates for women’s reproductive rights and blogs about everything from beauty to love and relationships. Follow her on Twitter @TheTrueTSharee.