How Do You *Not* Know You’re Pregnant?
Posted by Rachel on March 23, 2008
The Iowa Hawk Eye recently published an article on an Army National Guard private who returned from Iraq on a two-week leave intending to propose to his girlfriend, only to be surprised when she gave birth to his son. Apparently she was surprised, too:
Malmberg first started noticing stomach pains last Saturday night when she was with Novak [her solider boyfriend], who was visiting his brother in Burlington. She went to bed early that night, hoping some rest would relieve her situation. “I just thought it was menstruation cramps. I was hoping they would go away,” she said. Other than an extra 20 pounds, Malmberg’s body gave no indication of her pregnancy. Her menstruation cycles continued at an irregular pace, which Malmberg attributed to physical exertion from all the time she spends playing competitive soccer.
Seriously? If I thought I wasn’t menstruating regularly because I was exercising so hard/much, I’d be suspicious about gaining 20 pounds at the same time. I’m always baffled by these stories, and usually chalk it up to denial in young women - Malmberg is 18. She did accept her boyfriend’s proposal - unfortunately has to return to Iraq to spend 3 more months looking for roadside bombs.
March 23, 2008 at 7:30 pm
One friend of mine and the mother of another friend of mine both had surprise births like this. They were both 16 at the time… but still!
In both cases the babies turned out pretty healthy despite the late of prenatal care… so I wish them the best of luck.
March 23, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Tanglethis, I’m just sorry the father has to return to Iraq so soon, but it sounds like the baby was fine. Maybe young women are just more resilient.
March 24, 2008 at 9:45 am
I have always wondered about that too. They must think the kicks are indigestion.
March 24, 2008 at 9:46 am
You hear many of these stories and like you I find it hard to take in, maybe because we actually had the morning sickness, heartburn, backache and the tiredness which comes with humping your bump around and they did not. How can these women be so lucky.
March 24, 2008 at 12:15 pm
rachel, found this story (read the article) both strange and depressing. chalk it up to what–denial, abstinence-only education, fear of condoms?
-naomi
March 24, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I caught this on Jezebel: Woman, 57, finds lump is baby not cancer.
There goes our generalizations about the young! ; )
March 24, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I think a lot of women are just very unaware of their bodies nad what is normal for them. I knew within two weeks both times I was pregnant, because I had very different reactions to what I ate. The first time it was eating Thai food and going to the bathroom and throwing up because I couldn’t handle the spiciness. That was so weird for me I knew I had to be pregnant. The second time I was trying to get pregnant so knew the week I was supposed to get my period and didn’t.
Lack of awareness or knowing what is normal for you is typically the reason these women don’t realize they are pregnant.
March 25, 2008 at 9:40 am
Like all of you who already posted, I too am fascinated with this question of “how could they not know?” and I too think it is some very strong form of denial. Is there any research study out there examining whether/why a certain % of women experience pregnancy symptom-free?
March 25, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I knew someone who knew someone who this happened to. She was heavy anyway so she didn’t notice any weight gain. And her periods had always been irregular and it wasn’t unusual for her to go a few months at a time without a period.