Woman had no idea she was 38 weeks pregnant — until she gave birth moments later
Bringing a new meaning to the expression "the miracle of pregnancy" is the story of how Pia and Jonathan Rapusas became parents last year. The couple has been married since 2012 and have been hoping to have kids ever since. With Pia suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), they knew the chances were slim but they never gave up hope. But all that was about to change very soon and their endless prayers to be blessed with a child would be answered.
Jonathan took to Facebook to share the news of Pia's delivery of a healthy baby boy much to everyone's surprise since none of their friends or family even knew Pia was pregnant in the first place. Well, neither did Pia, who found out on the same day she went into labor.
Recalling the events leading up to this surprising result Jonathan told Smart Parenting Philipines, "Pia and I were at home and she experienced abdominal pain, which she thought was an extreme case of dysmenorrhea last May 6." They got an online consultation from a doctor who prescribed medicines for the same. But the pain did not subside at all and even after two days Pia still felt unwell. Suspecting that she may be pregnant, she took a home pregnancy kit twice and both times the results were positive. But she was still in pain and they decided to go to the emergency room anyway.
“A doctor we knew assured us that it would be safe because there is a separate ER for non-COVID cases,” Jonathan said. “[Since] we were already going to the hospital, we thought we should also consult with an ob-gyn to determine the next steps in our pregnancy journey.” Little did they know they were already at their desired destination. After another pregnancy test at the hospital, the doctor told them something they could not have expected at all. "Ma’am, I can feel the head," the doctor said to which Pia was incredulous and thought it was a joke.
In an interview with GM News, the couple recalled how the hospital staff was now in a commotion and the head of the OB department approached Pia and informed her that she was actually in labor and presented her with two options. “Your only decision is, are you going to give birth here or in another hospital?” They agreed to stay and soon learned that Pia's water had broken there in Medical City, and her cervix was already dilated by three centimeters. She was going to give birth "anytime soon." They soon found that the baby's pulse was weakening and they had no option but to give her a Caesarean section. And soon, Isaiah David had come into the world.
Jonathan said, “I was laughing when Pia told me the news. God fulfilled the promise of having a baby boy after seven long years.” This was a case of cryptic pregnancy. According to Healthline, "A cryptic pregnancy, also called a stealth pregnancy, is a pregnancy that conventional medical testing methods may fail to detect. Cryptic pregnancies aren’t common, but they’re not unheard of, either." PCOS is a condition associated with cryptic pregnancy that not only limits fertility but also creates hormonal imbalances and causes irregular periods.
Pregnancy in most moms-to-be is unmistakable. You gain weight, experience symptoms and feel those adorable little kicks.
— Family is Everything! (@FamilyTips___) December 28, 2020
But in some women, expecting a baby goes unnoticed in a phenomenon known as a cryptic pregnancy. pic.twitter.com/xhcnBU859u
"Those who have PCOS don’t ovulate, so they don’t menstruate regularly. They keep trying and trying to get pregnant, all of a sudden they’re pregnant and they’re not aware of it," obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Rebecca Singson explained and said that about one in 475 women experiences cryptic pregnancy. Pia also added that she never noticed anything different about her tummy, attributing it to her being a “big girl.” But the couple, however, could not be happier with the result.