I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant

ExpatPumpkin

Has anyone seen this show? I just watched an episode in which the woman [i]already had 3 children[/i], but didn't know she was pregnant with the 4th until she gave birth on her bedroom floor. Really??? Another girl didn't use birth control because her new boyfriend said "he'd be there for her if she had a baby." Shockingly, they broke up and eight months later she had her surprise baby. During the pregnancy she had nausea, no periods, back pain, and could only eat peanuts. But she [i]never thought she could possibly be pregnant.[/i] Even though she and her ex-boyfriend didn't use proctection for the aforementioned reason... Really??? Thoughts?

sucrets4

gg knows someone who was on it.

thesuninherhead

This is why I wish I got some of the trashy TV you guys get! We have talked about it before, and it was surprising how many people do know someone who has experienced it. Unless you're chronically ill or continue to have periods during pregnancy, I don't really understand how you could be so out of touch with your body as to miss the signs of pregnancy.

anna.oskar

I watched the show and it made me paranoid enough to request a pt at my next dr. appt. My doctor laughed at me and then admitted she too had gotten paranoid.

beatlesgirl25

I think there's definitely a psychological aspect to this, at least in some cases.

ExpatPumpkin

There a lots of stories on the show of women who only gained a little weight (5-10 lbs.), which they chalked up to stress eating, and had [i]no pregnancy symptoms.[/i] So what I really want to know is how can I have one of those pregnancies???

brookelynpaisley

I went to college with a girl who claimed to have not known - she gave birth in a dorm bathroom. I don't get how you wouldn't know. I especially don't get it with the the women who say they never felt it move - my friend could tell you exactly the way her baby was laying.

Kristin789

Yep, I've seen the show several times. With each girl, the story included details that would certainly lead the average person to either know or suspect pregnancy. I think most of these girls have Balloon Boy Dad Disease where they want to tell their story on TV, so they twist it to make it fit. I haven't seen every episode - as I said, but of the episodes that I have seen, I have not believed any of them...

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Yes! I'm recording it.I promised I would reward myself with a peanut butter cup if I could watch it without wanting to stab my eyes out. I lost that bet.I love how they have commercials for stuff like NuvaRing and they have doctors and nurses giving tips like "always make sure your condoms aren't expired."

tidetravel

I certainly think there are legitimate cases, but I think a good number of them are due to denial or ignorance.

mandysmear

Denial is a very powerful thing.

apple_green

It seems to be quite common, but I just don't get it. I always think I'm pregnant! I'm a little nauseous, feel bloated, or anything feels a bit off - prenancy is always the first thing in my mind! If you're a woman having sex, how could you ever think it's impossible?!

carrieoz_76

ExPat, I saw this was your post and I thought Nooo! She's so smart - how could she not have known? Glad to see it's just a show. Whew.

Kristin789

>>If you're a woman having sex, how could you ever think it's impossible?! Well, a friend of mine was with a guy who had had a vasectomy but he never went for the follow-up appointment where it's checked to make sure it's really WORKED. And she began having physical symptoms, and was tested for all kinds of cancer and ulcers and all before someone thought to run a pg test. Which was positive. She told her boyfriend, who responded by saying she must be whoring around, because he'd had a v done by DOCTOR SMITH who was the KING OF V's in the entire SOUTHEAST. About two months later, she was rushed to the hospital with a kidney stone - and guess who was the urologist on duty that night? DOCTOR SMITH. And my friend lit into him with all the power that the pain of a kidney stone can bring. So DOCTOR SMITH demanded that her boyfriend come in for the follow-up, and discovered, SURPRISE SURPRISE, that his v did NOT work and so it was re-done. These days, the kid is about 9 and the biodad is truly wonderful to him AND to the fantastic man who married my friend when her kid was about 3... That's a nice story. And it does say that in some rare cases, women may not know right away that they ARE pg. But the TV show gives the impression that most women do not have overwhelmingly conclusive physical symptoms of pregnancy. Sure, some may have few symptoms, but most DO. Every single person I've known who has been pg, has had debilitating pregenancy symptoms for a long time. For example, this woman who is my age at work had a kid 7 years ago, and she told me that she didn't have morning sickness every day, but that she had gotten a "standing order" set up with her chiropractor because when she DID get sick in the mornings about three mornings a week, it was so very violent that she had to leave as soon as she could stand up and go get her neck re-aligned. Yeah. Pregnancy is not for sissies.

ExpatPumpkin

[i]Denial is a very powerful thing.[/i] This. I've decided that the show should be renamed "I Didn't Tell Anyone I Was Pregnant"... Carrie - Hahaha, thanks for being surprised

EmmaBride2B

If you continue to have a period, ok I get how you MIGHT be able to dismiss some of the other symptoms. Otherwise, come on, missed period = take a pregnancy test. I just don't get it.

Simply Fated

I think a lot of it has to do with ignorance when it comes to the women who have never been pregnant before... certain pregnancy symptoms aren't universal. Some women really don't know that you can still get your period (though usually just very light and spotting) while pregnant. A lot of women really don't show until the end, and since the women on this show are usually premature, anyway, they really might not show. Denial also plays a role in it, in my opinion. Also, a bunch of the women took the pregnancy test and they came back negative.. so it wasn't like none of them were suspicious. I just really can't imagine not knowing. In the show they explain how the baby can sit far back enough so that if it moves you can't feel it... I just can't imagine that... Like, not feeling any symptoms at all? How is that even possible when so many women who do know they are pregnant feel all those symptoms, lol. It just doesn't seem fair somehow, lol.

sarabellam

Otherwise, come on, missed period = take a pregnancy test. I just don't get it. My former MIL was 6 months pg with my ex-h before she or the dr's realized it. Obesity + diabetes + extremely irregular periods = not realizing you are pg.

cqbride

I've gone through long stretches of time in my life where I haven't gotten my period due to low body weight and high stress levels. I also have a weak immune system, so feeling a little sick and tired wouldn't be out of the ordinary either. I still can't imagine being pregnant and not realizing, but I can sort of see where it's possible that people miss some of the signs. Nine months though-- yikes.

IrishBrideND

I never believed it possible until my own pregnancy. Some people continue to bleed or really didn't have periods before they got pregnant. My only symptom has been lack of period. If for some reason my period had continued, (which some on that show do) I would have had no clue.

SarahPLiz

I have a friend who has irregular periods, like most of the girls on this show report to having. However, I think she buys pg tests at Costco, because she has a stockpile and uses them often. How couldyou not? If you know you have irregular periods, then you don't know when you are ovulating. Even though it may happen less than for other wome, it still does happen, and you won't know, which scares the bejeeses out of me. Yep, even if you havent had a period in 4 months, and that is normal for you, you should still be investing in the $2 dollar store pg test to make sure.. Now if you had a period the whole way through and were just not exhibiting symptoms that you felt were pg symptoms, I could understand. Personally, that is the first cause I check out if I have any symptom of anything besides a runny nose.

LesPaul

I have two daughters, and there is no way on Earth I could not have known they were in there.  I didn't have any morning sickness, but the movement of the fetus was unmistakable.  Used to freak out the x that he could see her moving around - looked like Alien about to bust out. Denial is powerful.

andyandhillary

I think a lot of it from the episodes I've seen are where women had very irregular periods or weird body issues to begin with.  Like they always had heart burn or they had nausea sometimes because of a medication they were taking.  On one episode I recall an interviewed doctor stating that there are more women than you would think who experience zero symptoms.  My friend's mother "loved" being pregnant because she actually felt better than normal. 

laurenclaire1386

I used to work with a girl who had a baby and had no idea she was pregnant til she went to the hospital with intense stomach pain.  She gained 8 pounds the whole time and never missed a period.  Well, that's what she said anyway.