All There Is To Know About Cryptic Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most anticipated moments of a woman's life. But have you ever imagined a situation where are pregnant but you are not even aware? Yeah that's cryptic pregnancy for you. Let's delve into the intriguing world of cryptic pregnancy.

What is Cryptic Pregnancy?

A cryptic pregnancy is when a person does not know they are pregnant until late in the pregnancy, possibly until labor begins. During a cryptic pregnancy, a person may not experience typical pregnancy symptoms. According to a 2023 study, 1 in 475 pregnancies can classify as a cryptic pregnancy where pregnancy is not discovered until at least 20 weeks. One in 7,225 pregnancies are unknown at the time the mother gives birth.

Who Is At Risk?

Though anyone can have a cryptic pregnancy, you may be at higher risk if you:

Recently gave birth.

After child birth, it takes several months for your period to return, and also ovulation might not occur if you are breastfeeding. This can give people the false impression that they’re completely safe from pregnancy. It’s difficult to predict when you’ll first ovulate during breastfeeding and become fertile again.

Have PCOS.

People with Polystic Ovary Syndrome, PCOS have periods that are unpredictable. Skipping periods is normal for them that they may not even realize they’re pregnant if they miss their period.

Use Birth Control.

People who use birth control may mistakenly think they’re protected from pregnancy. Even when you use it correctly, there’s a small chance of failure.

Are In Perimenopause.

People in their 40s may think they’re too old to get pregnant. Reason why they may be pregnant and mistake pregnancy symptoms for menopause symptoms.

Have never been pregnant.

If you’ve never been pregnant before, you’re less likely to know what being pregnant feels like. This means a pregnancy could go unnoticed for longer.

I know somewhere at the back of your mind, you're like "What about the baby bump and the fetal movement?". Well belly sizes vary from person to person during pregnancy, which is why, in cryptic pregnancies, some people may not notice a bump or even if they do, may attribute it to general weight gain or bloating.

About the fetal movement, most people don't feel the fetus move until about halfway through pregnancy. If you have an anterior placenta, the placenta is in the front of your belly. This can make it harder to feel kicks; and in the case of a cryptic pregnancy, this could be why you don't realize you're pregnant

How Can Cryptic Pregnancy Be Detected?

Pregnancy care givers diagnose cryptic pregnancy the same way they would do for a typical pregnancy. Some of these methods include:

• Ultrasound.
• Blood test.
• Urine (pee) test

If you notice any irregular changes in your body, do not hesitate to visit the hospital.