How did Hattie Sheppard not know she was pregnant?

Hattie Sheppard did not know she was pregnant because her placenta was positioned at the front of her stomach, blocking the baby's movements and causing her to have no visible bump or typical pregnancy symptoms.

What is a cryptic pregnancy?

A cryptic pregnancy is a pregnancy that goes undetected by the expectant mother until very late stages, sometimes even until labour begins.

How common are cryptic pregnancies in Australia?

In Australia, around one in 475 pregnancies are not discovered until after 20 weeks, and about one in 2,500 are only identified at the point of labour.

Home / Lifestyle / Backpacker's Shock: Beach Trip Ends with Surprise Birth!

Backpacker's Shock: Beach Trip Ends with Surprise Birth!

12 Feb

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Summary

A 21-year-old backpacker gave birth unexpectedly in Australia.
She experienced no typical pregnancy symptoms due to placenta position.
Cryptic pregnancies are more common than people realize in Australia.

Backpacker's Shock: Beach Trip Ends with Surprise Birth!

A 21-year-old British backpacker, Hattie Sheppard, experienced a life-changing surprise during her trip along Australia's east coast. What she believed to be a stomach bug or appendicitis turned out to be labour. She was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland.

Doctors performing an ultrasound revealed the unexpected truth: Sheppard was in active labour and about to give birth. She initially found it impossible to believe, having experienced no typical pregnancy symptoms or visible baby bump. This was later explained by her placenta being positioned at the front of her abdomen.

Just 10 hours after the shocking discovery, Sheppard welcomed a healthy baby girl, Isla-Grace Cheadle. Sheppard has a history of Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition, which had previously made weight gain a challenge. She had noticed some weight gain, attributing it to intentional efforts to improve her health and fitness.