'I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant'
Medical Mystery: How Could a Woman Not Recognize She's Pregnant?
Fifteen minutes after Jessica entered the emergency room, little Alexis Barbara was born. Two weeks later, Ben and Jessica got married as planned, but with one more guest at the wedding.
"I think by Alexis coming into our lives, it was that ray of sunshine that we all needed," Jessica said.
How Could It Happen?
It is extremely rare for a woman to not know she's pregnant, but it could happen if a woman is overweight or does not have regular periods, said Dr. Kristin Bendikson, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California.
"For example, you can have a young woman that has a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome, or an older woman who is going through her perimenopausal transition. These women may not have cycles frequently," Bendikson said.
How could a woman not feel a baby kicking and moving around?
"Well, if you don't think that you're pregnant and you don't think it's a possibility, these women may have attributed the symptoms and signs of pregnancy to other things like, for example, stomach issues," Bendickson said.
There are obvious dangers to the mother and the child if a woman doesn't know she's pregnant.
"For the mother, you'll miss out on screening of medical conditions such as diabetes or pregnancy, blood pressure, the mother may be taking medications or have problems that may impact the baby's health during the pregnancy," Bendickson said.
Luckily, both Jennifer and Jessica's babies were born healthy.
The documentary, "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," will air on the Discovery channel July 29 at 9 p.m.
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