SUBSCRIBE
Friday, May 16, 2025
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Cryptic pregnancy: ‘I didn’t know I was having a baby’

Being pregnant and expecting to go into labour is daunting enough. But imagine when you find out a week before the time or even on the day! Mothers share their cryptic pregnancy stories of shock and joy all at once

by Candice Khumalo
27th October 2023
in My Health
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Cryptic pregnancy: 'I didn't know I was having a baby'

Women who give birth in public institutions are twice as likely to experience obstetric violence. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Pregnancy is a beautiful, life-changing experience, right? But imagine not knowing you’re pregnant until the last minute. Well, welcome to the world of cryptic pregnancies, where there are absolutely no signs of pregnancy and some may only realise when labour begins, leaving a real-life medical mystery that leaves doctors and patients scratching their heads. 

As Dr Ota Onwuagbu, a gynaecologist from Potchefstroom in North West, describes it, “Cryptic pregnancy is when a woman conceives and goes through pregnancy and labour without knowing it or until they have delivered a baby.”

Cryptic pregnancy: 'I didn't know I was having a baby'
Dr Otu Onwuagbu is a gynaecologist from North West. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

She explains, “The risks of cryptic pregnancy lie in the delay in the early detection and management of life-threatening complications of pregnancy. It requires a high index of suspicion.

“However, most women who have cryptic pregnancies have been found to be well and in good health and have given birth to healthy babies.”

Shocked and frustrated

Cryptic pregnancy: 'I didn't know I was having a baby'
Lesedi Chachu from Johannesburg. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

 After experiencing a cryptic pregnancy in July 2021, Lesedi Chachu from Johannesburg tells Health for Mzansi that giving birth immediately and unexpectedly without experiencing the pregnancy journey is tough, and the experience leaves you shocked and mentally frustrated. 

“I didn’t have any symptoms to show that I was pregnant. The contractions led me to go to the hospital, but at that time I didn’t know they were pregnancy-related. I was rushed to the hospital, and that’s when everything changed,” she says.

Medical personnel told her, “You know that you are giving birth; you need to go into labour?”, and she was shocked.

“My whole world went black for a minute. Everything was normal — my body, stomach, everything. I was shocked. For like a week, I didn’t understand what was going on. It felt like everything was a dream.

“You have to learn how to love that kid. You don’t have the time to process everything. Overall, it’s a beautiful blessing.”

Did not plan for it

Thato Khoza from Johannesburg, who found out she was pregnant at 34 weeks and 4 days, which was in the eighth month and a week before labour, says finding out was really a shock to her and not easy because she had to make sudden changes.

Cryptic pregnancy: 'I didn't know I was having a baby'
Thato Khoza from Johannesburg. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

“I never had any symptoms. The only reason why I went for a scan was because my aunt had a dream that included pregnancy. I took tests during the months and did scans, but they were all negative. I never had a bump; my stomach was flat. The only change I experienced without noticing it was weight loss. I didn’t experience any complications; I had no labour pains. I had to be induced so that I could give birth because my body was numb and I couldn’t feel any pain, which led to me not feeling that the baby’s head was close,” she explains.

“This type of pregnancy is really shocking, and it can easily lead someone to depression because it is a life-changing experience you never planned for nor knew was on its way. Your whole life changes in less than a week. It is also an indescribable miracle.”

Causes of cryptic pregnancy

Onwuagbu explains that the causes of cryptic pregnancy include, but are not limited to:

  • Severe psychological and emotional distress: A woman going through mental health issues ends up not being aware of changes within her body.
  • Very busy and active lifestyles- they deal with a lot of issues and activities that preoccupy their minds and they don’t notice the signs of pregnancy.
  • Age: A very young woman might not accurately track their cycles or might notice changes in their body but not consider the changes to be caused by pregnancy. An older woman might think the changes have to do with menopause or perimenopause.
  • A woman who has been struggling to conceive and thought she couldn’t, and then suddenly conceives and goes through a pregnancy and only realised it very late in the pregnancy or during or after giving birth.
  • Failure of contraception: It is well known that contraceptives can have a failure rate, depending on the type of contraceptive used. a woman could be on a contraceptive but for some reason, it fails to prevent pregnancy as it should. Recent childbirth: A woman who birth might attribute her symptoms to the postpartum changes

Life-changing impact

Furthermore, she speaks about the long-term impact of a cryptic pregnancy which may involve becoming a parent while one is not prepared. “This has financial, emotional, and psychological implications for a woman, her partner or spouse, her other children (if she has any), and the whole family.”

“It also impacts the bonding between the woman and her new-born baby. She might feel a need to dissociate from the child or be in shock. She might have to adjust her whole lifestyle to accommodate a child she did not know she would deliver. This puts the child at risk of neglect or abandonment.

“The child might grow up having emotional and psychological difficulties due to little or no parental involvement. Thankfully, most families are willing to accept a newborn and raise them lovingly even when the parent is not around,” she explains.

Contraception No 1 preventative measure

Onwuagbu further suggests that the most common way to prevent a cryptic pregnancy is to use contraception. There are many different types of contraceptives, including abstinence, barrier methods, the pill, the patch, the ring, the injection, the intrauterine device, the implant, and sterilisation (operation to close the tubes).

“Women are also encouraged to know their cycles so that if there is something different about their cycles, they should consult as soon as possible.” It is also important to have regular check-ups so that other medical conditions can be diagnosed and treated as needed,” she advises.

“If a woman finds out late in the pregnancy but before labour, she needs to go for consultation and assessment as soon as possible so that the appropriate plans can be made to ensure a safe delivery for both the mother and the baby.”

ALSO READ: Ectopic pregnancy: There is no time to waste

Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.

Tags: Help me understandMotherhoodPregnancy
Candice Khumalo

Candice Khumalo

Hailing from a small town called Utrecht in KZN, Candice Khumalo’s love for health comes from a burning desire to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and accessible information for the everyday person. Her early steps into the world of health journalism has been full of excitement and remains to be, as she continues to write her stories, one healthy word at a time.

Related Articles

Pregnancy
My Health

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

by Vateka Halile
9th May 2025
Thyroid health: When weight gain isn’t just about food
My Health

Thyroid health: When weight gain isn’t just about food

by Vateka Halile
24th April 2025

Stories

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites
Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics
Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy
Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen
No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches
How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth
Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing
Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers
No Result
View All Result

Latest

Rooibos
Trending

Hey brew! Gen Z and Millennials fuel rooibos tea trend in SA

by Ivor Price
16th May 2025

Mzansi's younger generations just love rooibos! From traditional brews to innovative energy drinks, rooibos is the caffeine-free champion capturing the...

Read moreDetails
Buthelezi EMS

‘Unlawful’ contracts: FS ambulance firms must pay back the money

15th May 2025
Top winter crops to plant now in Mzansi

Top winter crops to plant now in Mzansi

15th May 2025
Immune booster

Boost your body with homemade immune shots

13th May 2025
Dietitian on a mission: Love, loss, and healing through food

Dietitian on a mission: Love, loss, and healing through food

12th May 2025
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Awards & Impact
Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy
Copyright

Somagwaza

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites

cropped-scott-webb-yekGLpc3vro-unsplash.jpeg

Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics

Dr Sinethemba Makanya

Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy

Hey brew! Gen Z and Millennials fuel rooibos tea trend in SA

‘Unlawful’ contracts: FS ambulance firms must pay back the money

Top winter crops to plant now in Mzansi

Boost your body with homemade immune shots

Dietitian on a mission: Love, loss, and healing through food

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

error: Content is protected !!
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers