Could YOU be heavily pregnant without any symptoms? Here’s what Dr Christian Jessen has to say…
We’ve all read the stories; a woman starts experiencing stomach pains and, before you know it, she’s welcomed a baby - quite unexpectedly.
There was the size 6 student who discovered she was pregnant on her gap year - just days before giving birth.
Or there was the 47-year-old who thought she was going through the menopause - only to discover she was actually in labour!.
And let’s not forget that lady who only found out she was 8 months pregnant when her boyfriend felt her baby kick.
However these tales of cryptic pregnancy - which is the medical term given to a woman doesn’t find out that she’s pregnant until 20 weeks along or later - often spark disbelief.
They must have been in denial, say some - while others question aloud whether they really know how sex works.
Some have even accused them of lying to get attention.
But can you really have a pregnancy with absolutely no symptoms?
The answer is a surprising - and resounding - yes.
Dr Christian Jessen explained that cryptic pregnancies are actually quite common, with women continuing to experience regular periods throughout their gestation period.
Gulp.
Speaking exclusively to Closer Online, the Embarrassing Bodies star said: “Studies suggest that cryptic pregnancies are actually more common than you might think. In them, the usual symptoms of pregnancy can be absent or greatly reduced and babies are often very small.
“A debate rages in one small specialised area of medicine as to why they happen: some say they are purely denial on the part of the mother (where the mind manages to completely suppress all physical symptoms) whilst others think there something else going on; an evolutionary adaptation that aims to conserve resources and favour the mother.”
He added: “I think all of these are possible, and also my own favoured theory that they are an adaptation to a stressful or threatening chronic situation where a sort of 'forced cooperation' occurs between mother and foetus.
“By reducing the usual demands of pregnancy on the mother which can reduce survival probability, both mother and baby have much better chances of successfully reaching delivery.
“This is why you often see cryptic pregnancies in female soldiers on active service or in mothers with difficult home situations.”
It’s amazing what our bodies can do under stress, isn’t it?
What are the symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy?
According to the [Cryptic Pregnancy Support Group, ](http:/www.crypticpregnancysupportgroup.com/ " http://www.crypticpregnancysupportgroup.com/“), the symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy include:
These symptoms will vary in severity for each individual, and often come and go, meaning that you may not "feel" pregnant all the time. Frequently during the periods, the pregnancy symptoms will subside.
If you are experiencing some pregnancy symptoms but not others, or even if you just “don’t feel right,” you should make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Visit the Cryptic Pregnancy Support Group to find out more.
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