Athlete didn't realize she was pregnant, gives birth while training

Puppycow · 16th December 2009, 12:42 AM

Chile weightlifter has unexpected baby during training

Even though the baby was born prematurely, how is it even possible for a woman not to realize she is pregnant so late in a pregnancy?

GlennB · 16th December 2009, 12:51 AM

You'd think several missed periods would be a clue.

Professor Yaffle · 16th December 2009, 01:12 AM

A friend of mine had a hidden pregnancy and had no idea whatsoever, until she went into labour - and she went to about full term. And it was her third kid, so it's not like she doesn't know the signs. She was under a lot of stress looking after her mother who was very ill and put the absent periods down to stress/possible beginning of early menopause. I saw her a month or so before she gave birth, and she just looked like she had put on a bit of weight; she really didn't look pregnant at all.

In most cases, there is some element of psychological denial going on. Maybe in my friend's case she had so much stress going on that she couldnt cope with the thought of another child in the circumstances, and denial kicked in with her rationalising away the signs.

zooterkin · 16th December 2009, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by GlennB

You'd think several missed periods would be a clue.

I believe it's quite common for female athletes to miss periods when they are training heavily. I think it may be related to levels of body fat.

Professor Yaffle · 16th December 2009, 01:26 AM

This paper quotes the rate of denied pregnancies at 1 in 475 births.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...78330794e1e2a1

ETA: Also there is a popular myth that this is a phenomenon mainly occuring in very young (teenage) mothers, who are pregnant for the first time. This paper shows that there are no such useful clearcut risk factors in predicting denied pregnancies:

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs...16340601159199

Here's a case study:

http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articlerender.cgi...medid=18301713

And an article about different types of denial:

http://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/vi...rtingDocID=360

16th December 2009, 12:42 AM	#1
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,791	Athlete didn't realize she was pregnant, gives birth while training Chile weightlifter has unexpected baby during training Even though the baby was born prematurely, how is it even possible for a woman not to realize she is pregnant so late in a pregnancy?
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

16th December 2009, 01:12 AM	#3
Professor Yaffle Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Emily's shop Posts: 15,360	A friend of mine had a hidden pregnancy and had no idea whatsoever, until she went into labour - and she went to about full term. And it was her third kid, so it's not like she doesn't know the signs. She was under a lot of stress looking after her mother who was very ill and put the absent periods down to stress/possible beginning of early menopause. I saw her a month or so before she gave birth, and she just looked like she had put on a bit of weight; she really didn't look pregnant at all. In most cases, there is some element of psychological denial going on. Maybe in my friend's case she had so much stress going on that she couldnt cope with the thought of another child in the circumstances, and denial kicked in with her rationalising away the signs.
	__________________ I think you'll find it's a little bit more complicated than that. My blog "Well I think I've made it abundantly clear in this thread I have no idea what I'm talking about..." - truethat Last edited by Professor Yaffle; 16th December 2009 at 01:18 AM.

16th December 2009, 01:19 AM	#4
zooterkin Nitpicking dilettante Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Berkshire, mostly Posts: 24,622	Originally Posted by GlennB You'd think several missed periods would be a clue. I believe it's quite common for female athletes to miss periods when they are training heavily. I think it may be related to levels of body fat.
	__________________ The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell Zooterkin is correct Darat Nerd! Hokulele Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

16th December 2009, 01:26 AM	#5
Professor Yaffle Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Emily's shop Posts: 15,360	This paper quotes the rate of denied pregnancies at 1 in 475 births. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...78330794e1e2a1 ETA: Also there is a popular myth that this is a phenomenon mainly occuring in very young (teenage) mothers, who are pregnant for the first time. This paper shows that there are no such useful clearcut risk factors in predicting denied pregnancies: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs...16340601159199 Here's a case study: http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articlerender.cgi...medid=18301713 And an article about different types of denial: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/vi...rtingDocID=360
	__________________ I think you'll find it's a little bit more complicated than that. My blog "Well I think I've made it abundantly clear in this thread I have no idea what I'm talking about..." - truethat Last edited by Professor Yaffle; 16th December 2009 at 01:35 AM.

16th December 2009, 12:51 AM	#2
GlennB Jellied eel and offal fancier Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arcadia Posts: 8,962	You'd think several missed periods would be a clue.