How could she not know she was pregnant?

Women who have given birth looo-oo-ove to talk about it. They love to talk about all the gory details, they love to play "top that." Over drinks, on the soccer sidelines, at PTA events eventually and inevitably, there's a chorus of "when my water broke during the board meeting.....I pushed for 48 straight hours....and then my idiot husband....and the baby's head was as big as....."

OK, ok, since you asked. My favorite part was when I heaved myself over the hospital admissions desk and the idiot nurse, in her whiny stupid voice asks, "Are you in labor?" and I say, "No sh-- Sherlock." That was fun! Or some hours later when I screamed, "GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL!!!" And the nurse screams back, "IT'S TOO LATE!!!" That wasn't as much fun.

But my stories are NOTHING compared to what you'll see on TLC network's new series: I Didn't Know I was Pregnant. This series promises to reveal "the astonishing stories of women who conceive and carry their babies all the way to labor and delivery, while never even knowing they were pregnant."

I'm still sitting here slack-jawed. There are enough women to make a SERIES out of this phenomenon?? Are you kidding me? It's been several years and the painful memories do fade, but lemme tell ya, I can still conjure up those backaches and swollen ankles and, well, I'll spare the details here. I can't imagine NOT KNOWING!

Tonight's debut episode at 9 p.m. sounds intriguing: "Nicci, a 31-year old mother of three goes into labor and gives birth at home with some surprising help from her 10-year-old son - and she didn't even know she was pregnant!" This is a woman with experience in these matters!

So you know where I'll be tonight at 9 p.m....pass the popcorn and the Chardonnay.

PHOTO: Photos.com

POSTED IN: Family Issues (163), Newborn (25), Pregnancy (21), Sex (12)

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Comments

Show should be titled
"Gee I Wish I Had a Brain"

Posted by: Norm | July 9, 2009 9:24 AM

Or maybe, "I Should Have Listened When Mom Gave Me the Little Talk."

Posted by: Gretchen | July 9, 2009 9:41 AM

This show has been on for months. I've already seen shows repeated 3 times. Why does the article headline say it is just now premiering?

Posted by: Jay | July 9, 2009 10:55 AM

Although the idea is funny, a friend of mine went through this. She was always a little overweight, and didn't gain all that much more. She was still having her monthly cycles (how that worked, I have no idea), and had felt abdominal pains for a while. At one point the pain got severe enough that she went to the emergency room. After examining her for a while, one of the doctors informed her they would have to perform an emergency C-section. She was stunned, of course, and could only reply with something like "For what!?" The baby boy was born prematurely, but otherwise lives healthily to this day.

The mom jokes about the situation. She likes to refer to it as "the immaculate misconception."

Posted by: Steve | July 9, 2009 11:06 AM

Jay, that's a great question. The press release I got said it was a "premiere." I have an email into the publicist to find out what gives.

Steve, that's a great story. I'm glad it turned out to be a happy situation for the mom.

Posted by: gretchen | July 9, 2009 3:28 PM

I saw an episode on Oprah about this a few years back and the psychiatrist said that this is usually due to denial on the mother's part. For whatever reason, she does not want to be pregnant, so ignores all the signs. This made sense to me. So, the continued cycle isn't like the normal cycle. And, how could you misinterpret those kicks in the later months?

Having been pregnant twice, I find it impossible to fathom going nine months without ever figuring it out - 5 months, maybe - but no way 9 months!

Posted by: Balanced Melting Pot | July 9, 2009 3:36 PM

I'm with you, Melting Pot. Those kicks especially should be a pretty good clue.

Posted by: gretchen | July 9, 2009 4:49 PM

Jay...Finally got an answer.

I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant made its TLC network premiere this week. But the season did previously air on Discovery Health, which is where you must have seen it. (I guess I missed it!)

But the second season will premiere on TLC in September with all new episodes

Posted by: gretchen | July 9, 2009 5:52 PM

If at 9 months you can't figure out you're pregnant, then you'd probably think the kicks were gas.

Posted by: Frank in Wilton Manors | July 12, 2009 7:03 AM

Wow, poeple do your research before you bash others!!! There is a thing called having a uterus that is flipped not allowing your body to grow the baby bump. The baby actually grows towards your back. So no feeling kicks in your stomache and no growing stomache to show your pregnant. Also some women do not produce the pregnancy hormone so all preg-o tests come back as negative. I had a friend who went to the docts every other week for back pains still had her period and at 9mths went to the ER with extreme back pain and out popped a baby. SO yes it does happen and your the moron for thinking other wise!!!

Posted by: judy | July 14, 2009 1:17 PM

What a good article.

You should contact the bizymoms Oakland community to get your article featured to their large mom community. http://www.bizymoms.com/oakland/index.php

Posted by: Maria | July 26, 2009 1:24 PM

Posted by: Maria | July 26, 2009 1:25 PM

I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant made its TLC network premiere this week. But the season did previously air on Discovery Health, which is where you must have seen it.
I guess I missed it!
tks for sharing.

Posted by: Chinese Pregnancy Calendar | October 25, 2009 8:55 AM