01/5All you need to know about cryptic pregnancy Show
Pregnancy comes with lots of changes in the body, which starts showing up from the first month of conceiving the baby. Missed period, tender boobs, morning sickness, nausea and vomiting, all these signs mark the beginning of the nine-month-long pregnancy journey. It is hard to miss these drastic changes in the body without realising that you are pregnant. However, there are many women who keep on going with their lives for several months without recognising there's a baby on the way. This phenomenon is known as cryptic pregnancy or stealth pregnancy. Data suggest that 1 in 475 women do not realise that they are pregnant till 20 weeks. The rarest are the ones when they do not know they are expecting until delivery. readmore02/5Signs of a cryptic pregnancyThe signs of cryptic pregnancy aren't like
typical pregnancy. One does not experience fatigue, nausea and vomiting, missed periods, or abdominal swelling. They are more subtle, and this is the reason why they go unnoticed or overlooked. Morning sickness can be associated with an upset stomach and missed period with an irregular menstrual cycle. It may even happen that even after repeated testing they may get a false negative. More awareness about cryptic pregnancy can help to determine the situation at an early stage. Read more: Fertility treatments cannot be a one-sided process, both partners have to be fully invested: Know why readmore
03/5Reasons one may suffer from cryptic pregnancyA cryptic pregnancy may happen due to several reasons. It can happen consciously or unconsciously. Here are some factors that can make a cryptic pregnancy more likely to occur. Lack of symptoms Mistaken Pregnancy Symptoms Small Baby Bump A false negative pregnancy tests Intermittent spotting readmore04/5Who is more likely to suffer from cryptic pregnancyAnyone can have cryptic pregnancy. There is no possible explanation for why it happens to few. But health conditions and lifestyle problems can make you more prone to cryptic pregnancy than others. Women who are more like to experience cryptic pregnancy are: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Perimenopause Birth control use Intense Sports Obesity Irregular period Mental illness Read more: When do girls and boys stop growing? Here are the best ways to increase height 05/5Complications involved with cryptic pregnancyAs cryptic pregnancy progresses without proper medical care there is an increased risk of complications for the mother and the baby. As the mother might not be
aware that she is pregnant, she may fail to take proper care of herself. An unhealthy diet, intense activity, alcohol intake, smoking and other lifestyle problems can lead to miscarriage or loss of pregnancy. The risk of prematurity, low birth rate, hospitalization, unattended delivery, or death is also higher in the case of cryptic pregnancy. If the new parent is not mentally prepared for the arrival of the new child in their life, this major change in their life may lead to child abuse or neglect, disassociation from the baby, depression, and other signs of psychological distress. readmore At FirstCry Parenting, our aim is to give you the most elevant, accurate and up to date information. Every article that we publish, confirms to stringent guidelines & involves several levels of reviews, both from our Editorial team & Experts. We welcome your suggestions in making this platform more useful for all our users. Write in to us at
Last Updated on February 28, 2022 Did you know that there are cases where women haven’t known that they were pregnant until they started experiencing labour pain? While it may seem unbelievable, this condition is not as uncommon as you think. Women whose pregnancies are cryptic have very mild symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness, weight gain, and missed periods. What Is Cryptic Pregnancy?A pregnancy is termed ‘cryptic’ or ‘stealth’ when a woman remains unaware of her pregnancy. In most of the cases, these women were told that they couldn’t have children. In cryptic pregnancy, as the hCG levels are low, pregnancy goes undetected. Causes of Cryptic PregnancyHere are some reasons why cryptic pregnancy happens: 1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)Small cysts on the ovaries can cause a hormonal imbalance in women. PCOS creates hormonal imbalances and irregular periods. 2. Recent PregnancyIt’s possible for a woman to get pregnant after a pregnancy. In such a case, skipped periods might be mistaken for postpartum recovery. A woman may fail to realise that she’s pregnant again. 3. PerimenopausePerimenopause is a condition wherein the female body exhibits symptoms of menopause, such as weight gain and hormonal fluctuations. When women fail to distinguish a pregnancy due to perimenopause symptoms, it becomes cryptic. 4. Low Body FatFor athletes or women with low body fat, hormonal levels may fluctuate, resulting in missed periods. This also makes it harder to detect a pregnancy. 5. Birth Control PillsThose who use birth control pills and IUDs are usually confident of pregnancy not being a possibility. However, these contraceptive methods don’t guarantee a 100% success rate and can result in pregnancy. 6. StressNowadays, we face a lot of stress due to work or family problems. Stress is one of the major factors of fluctuating hormone levels, especially in women. Common Symptoms of Cryptic PregnancyCryptic pregnancy also shows symptoms, but women often fail to notice them.
Does the Fetal Development Get Affected By a Cryptic Pregnancy?Since most cryptic pregnancies last longer than regular pregnancies, it’s believed that the development of the foetus gets affected. However, this is untrue. The foetus often develops normally, albeit at a slower pace. Lack of prenatal care like excessive smoking and drinking may inadvertently affect the foetus’ health. Bleeding or Continued Periods During Cryptic PregnancyIn cryptic pregnancy, women get their period every month. However, the duration of bleeding is short. It occurs at irregular intervals or is random. The flow also ranges from spotting to heavy flow and can be pink, red, black, brown or even purple. This occurs because the uterus is removing the inner lining and is not indicative of a miscarriage. Weight Loss/Gain in Cryptic PregnancyWeight loss or gain in cryptic pregnancy is gradual. Weight gain is slower as compared to a woman undergoing a normal pregnancy. Weight loss may occur due to the food aversion that happens in early pregnancy. Since a woman doesn’t know that she’s pregnant, she may not eat a healthy diet. Can Cryptic Pregnancy Go Undetected in an Ultrasound?Many times, cryptic pregnancy goes undetected even in an ultrasound. Some reasons for this are: 1. Retroversion of the UterusRetroversion of the uterus is a condition wherein the uterus tilts either sidewards or backwards. If the uterus is in this position, it’s hard for an ultrasound to detect a foetus during early pregnancy. 2. Bicornuate UterusA bicornuate uterus is a congenital condition wherein the uterus grows in a heart shape with two horn-like tissues that are divided partially or fully by a wall of tissue. This makes it harder for a woman to conceive as well as increases the chances of cryptic pregnancy. 3. Scar TissueScar tissue doesn’t allow the ultrasound to get a clear picture as it blocks the waves of the test. Abnormal scarring may happen due to stomach surgery or incomplete abortion in the past. Why Do Urine and Blood Tests Show Negative Results?In a normal pregnancy, the result is determined on the basis of the amount of hCG in the blood. hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. However, in the case of cryptic pregnancy, the uterine lining is regularly removed from the body, not allowing hCG levels to build up. Hence, urine and blood tests cannot detect a pregnancy. How Do Labour and Delivery Feel With a Cryptic Pregnancy?Once the baby is fully developed and ready to enter the world, a woman undergoing a cryptic pregnancy feels severe cramps and her cervix dilates in order to push the baby out through the birth canal. Although labour in cryptic pregnancy is similar to that of a normal pregnancy, it can cause psychological distress as well. What Are the Symptoms of Labour in a Cryptic Pregnancy?Some labour symptoms associated with cryptic pregnancy are:
How Can a Woman Not Suspect Pregnancy If She Misses Her Period?There are many reasons why women miss their periods and don’t suspect pregnancy. These range from stress to PCOS to menopause. Also, the spotting or light flow in cryptic pregnancy can be mistaken for menstrual periods. ComplicationsSome complications of cryptic pregnancy include:
How Can You Prevent a Cryptic Pregnancy?If you’re married and sexually active, look out for the symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy. If you experience pain or changes in your abdomen or pelvic region, then consult a doctor. If you don’t get your period regularly, inform your gynaecologist about this condition and get yourself checked. Cryptic pregnancies are hard to detect and affect women physically and psychologically. Being aware and keeping your gynaecologist in the loop about your reproductive health is the key to prevent a cryptic pregnancy. Also Read: How Your Face Changes during Pregnancy How does cryptic pregnancy period look like?You have some bleeding or intermittent spotting.
This bleeding can sometimes be mistaken for a period, especially for women that don't bleed heavily. Even in a healthy pregnancy, some women will continue to have intermittent spotting and bleeding throughout pregnancy, which might also be mistaken for light periods.
Do you still ovulate during a cryptic pregnancy?Causes of stealth pregnancy
If someone was recently pregnant or recently gave birth, it may take time before their hormones return to their regular cycles. During this time — or as long as a person is breastfeeding — they may start ovulating without knowing it, which can result in a cryptic pregnancy.
Can you get a full period and still be pregnant?The short answer is no. Despite all of the claims out there, it isn't possible to have a period while you're pregnant. Rather, you might experience “spotting” during early pregnancy, which is usually light pink or dark brown in color.
Do cryptic pregnancies show on pregnancy tests?When you're having a cryptic pregnancy, nothing sets off the chain of events that leads to discovering that you're pregnant. A pregnancy test may come back negative even after you've missed your period. You may dismiss early pregnancy nausea as stomach flu or indigestion.
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Cryptic pregnancy do you still get your period
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