How Do You NOT Know You’re Pregnant?! I Ask While Reading Another Surprise Birth Story

There was another story of a woman who claims she had no idea that she was pregnant, giving birth on an airplane over the Pacific recently. Video footage of the passengers erupting in applause made its way around TikTok and while everyone was delighted by the happy story, I was perplexed. The woman claimed she didn’t know she was expecting and if I’m being honest, I find that hard to believe.

I cannot possibly be the only person who reads a story like this and says, “Nope. No way that lady didn’t know she was pregnant.” But here I am. I just cannot fathom how this can be true and sometimes when I see these stories, I wonder what the hell is wrong with the new mother? Is she on drugs?

I have had three children and at no point during any of those pregnancies was it ever a mystery to me what was going on. My body was tossing out cues left and right. The morning sickness, the lack of a period, the growing belly, the kicking and moving around inside, the laundry list of other pregnancy symptoms that are not state-held secrets or ancient mysteries. Pregnancy is often brutal and it was on me, so I was incapable of understanding stories about women who find the shock of their life when…