I don't get it?

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Mom Didn't Even Know She Was Pregnant

POSTED: 9:40 a.m. EST March 15, 2003

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio -- Motherhood really snuck up on Linda Erwin-Hutchins.

The Ohio woman started feeling abdominal pains Thursday and seven hours later, she gave birth to a baby girl. Erwin-Hutchins didn't even know she was pregnant.

She said she was never sick, never gained weight and never got tired.


The 41-year-old said she and her husband were not trying to have children, but they are both delighted. The couple has been married for 10 years and this is their first child.

Erwin-Hutchins says when her husband found out he was a dad, his eyes were as big as saucers.

Little Caitlin Meryl Hutchins is said to be doing fine. She weighed in at five pounds, one ounce.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

How does a woman not know when she has become pregnant?

 

[Serena]

I don't understand either.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Intenseblue - I don't know the answer, but I wanted to comment on your siggy pic -- what a beautiful picture! And, is that your dd there with you? She looks just like you!

 

[caitycaity]

wow!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Yes MJ. She was the flower girl in my brother's (her uncle) wedding last October. Thanks for noticing.

 

[piratesmate]

About 12-13 years ago, I had a friend to whom this happened. The really weird thing was that she was a nurse! She'd had her tubes tied 10-15 years earlier, but back then they didn't cauterize. She never had any of the typical symptoms & thought that the baby's movements were gas pains. She went into labor in the middle of what was her 6th month. . . . thinking it was appendicitis she went to the ER where she worked!!! Can you say embarassed?!?!?!

She actually realized that it was labor just as she got to the ER, but the call had already been made. When you're 40+ & think it's not possible, it can happen. I saw her the evening before this happened & she looked the same as she had for the past 2 years. Skinny, not tummy paunch.

Her DD had multiple problems, though. She still wears oxygen & has numerous developmental problems.

Deb

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

hmm. thanks for sharing Deb. Sorry about the child's health. I know a few younger women who are pregant right now and typically at 5 months they have begun "showing". Two are just 3 months along and other than morning sickness show no other signs of their pregnancies. I guess when you hit those years that are pre-menopausal, you think that it couldn't happen either.

 

[TwinMom7]

I would have been throwing up for seven months - that would have been the clincher for me.

 

[lisajl]

They had that all over our local news. It seems she had normal monthly periods. Nothing out of the ordinary.

The funny thing...I don't know if they reported this where you are, but this has happened before. I believe they said 17 years ago, in Bellfontaine. Yes, that is one town I plan not to travel to anytime...ever!

Lisa

 

[nativetxn]

This is amazing! I'm sorry the child has health problems, though. I hope she is able to grow out of them.

Katholyn

 

[helenabear]

The best friend of my roommate in college did not know she was pregnant until she was 6-7 months along. She was very athletic and she never even showed except for a tiny bit right at the end (about her 8-9th month). I saw a picture of this girl right before she found out (she felt the baby move) and she was about 6 or so months along and I swear you couldn't see a thing. She had less of a stomach 6 months pregnant than I do normally she was just very irregular (going 6-8 months between periods) so she had no clue until the baby moved.

A co-worker of mine didn't find out she was pregnant until about 5-6 months along (similar situation as my roommate's best friend). So I guess it is possible not to know for the majority of the pregnancy

Deb, I hope that little girl's health will improve with time

 

[Blueberry]

I think it used to happen more frequently years ago than now...My friend at work who is a retired lady said that her DH was an unknown pregnancy. His Mom was older in her 40s and was told she probably had a tumor, but it was during the 30s and the depressiona and there was no money for doctors. Since she was throwing up a lot and using the bathroom so frequently she thought she was dying. One day when they were along the train tracks picking up coal for heat she had terrible pains, they finally got the doctor and she had this baby boy....

 

[piratesmate]

The last time I saw them, the little girl was much better than she when she was a toddler; however, she still needed the oxygen.

I couldn't understand, either, how she could have been pregnant & not known. If I hadn't known her personally, I'd have thought something was a little "off" with the story.

On the other hand, when I became pregnant with myDD (about a year later) I was positive it was menopause . . . for 3 weeks. When the sensitivity started (you know, when DH even looked at me I hurt??? ) I figured things out.

As far as the morning sickness . . . with each of mine I realized that by wearing really loose clothing (maternity clothes) I didn't have the problem. Unfortunately, the doctor thought I was nuts for wearing maternity clothes at 6 weeks.

 

[honeymo78]

I also know someone who didn't know she was pregnant until she was in labor. High school girl, athletic, irregular periods, never showed, just got a little chubby. Surprisingly the baby was fine - however the baby's dad had no clue and since high school romances don't last long, his new girlfriend wasn't so happy he was a dad.

 

[cinlee3]

I told my doctor when he tied my tubes that if it didn't work I'd be looking for him for college tuition

It is shocking that someone could be pregnant and not know it but it happened to a friend of my mother's. She thought it was her gallbladder

 

[CathyCanada]

I can't imagine going to full term and not knowing. I don't know about other babies, but I KNEW Meg was going to be a soccer player VERY early on!

I DO know a woman (who happens to be overweight) who married later in life and at about age 45 was hospitalized (I forget why) but it was there that she found out she was pregnant. Even though she missed a lot of prenatal care, her daughter was fine, fortunately.

Hope that your friend's daughter continues to improve, Deb!
Cathy