Student who had no idea she was pregnant gave birth just four hours after going into hospital

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A young mum who had no idea she was pregnant gave birth just four hours after going into hospital with stomach pains.

University student Daisy Young, 21,  had no bump or symptoms of pregnancy, and only gained a few pounds which she had put down to her new job at McDonalds.   

She discovered she was expecting when she went to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, and a test came back as positive earlier this month. 

Daisy then went for a scan and found out she was 37 weeks and six days pregnant and ready to give birth. 

University student Daisy Young, 21, had no idea she was pregnant gave birth just four hours after going into hospital with stomach pains earlier this month. She is pictured with her son Eilijah

Daisy is pictured holding her son in hospital after giving birth. She said she was 'in shock'

Daisy is pictured holding her son in hospital after giving birth. She said she was ‘in shock’ 

The shocked fast food worker, who still had regular periods throughout her pregnancy, was on her own as midwives told her she was 5cm dilated, in labour and about to have a baby boy.

Daisy wasn’t able to get through to her parents, Maggy and Graham Young, who live in Crook, County Durham, before she gave birth.

She only got to talk to her amazed parents after her son, Elijah John, had been born. 

Daisy, who has since moved back home to her parents house, said: ‘I had had stomach pains from the day before that were slowly getting worse so I just thought I should go to the hospital. I didn’t even get my friend to park, she just dropped me off. 

‘A nurse asked me if I could be pregnant and I said no but they did a test anyway, just to check, and that was when I first found out.

‘From there everything went very, very fast. I found out I was pregnant at around 3pm and they sent me for a scan. That was when I found out I was actually 37 weeks pregnant and the pain was probably labour.

Daisy had no bump or symptoms of pregnancy, and only gained a few pounds which she had put down to her new job at McDonalds

She discovered she was expecting when she went to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, and a test came back as positive earlier this month

Daisy had no bump or symptoms of pregnancy, and only gained a few pounds which she had put down to her new job at McDonalds. She discovered she was expecting when she went to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, and a test came back as positive earlier this month. She is pictured with her son

Elijah John was born at 6.48pm earlier this month, weighing 6lbs 13oz

Elijah John was born at 6.48pm earlier this month, weighing 6lbs 13oz

‘They told me I was around 5cm dilated and my baby was going to be coming pretty soon.

‘It was all going so fast, I tried to ring my mum but I couldn’t get through. It was just me in the hospital, just me and the midwives. They were brilliant.

‘I was just in total shock the whole time, just thinking ‘oh my god, I’m about to have a baby’. 

Elijah John was born at 6.48pm, weighing 6lbs 13oz.

Daisy wasn't able to get through to her parents, Maggy and Graham Young, who live in Crook, County Durham, before she gave birth. She is pictured with her son

Daisy wasn’t able to get through to her parents, Maggy and Graham Young, who live in Crook, County Durham, before she gave birth. She is pictured with her son

How common are cryptic pregnancies?

One in 450 pregnant women in the UK don’t know they are going to have a baby until week 20 of their pregnancy (half-way through), and one in 2,500 women are oblivious to the fact until they go into labour.

It’s a phenomenon known as cryptic pregnancy – also referred to as ‘pregnancy denial’.

Cryptic pregnancies typically affect either young women, who have never experienced a pregnancy, or women who believe they’ve gone through the menopause and who choose not to use contraception.

Women with erratic menstrual cycles are also more likely to miss signs they are expecting. This is especially true among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where small cysts grow on the ovaries; the hormone imbalance often leads to irregular or non-existent periods.

Yet there are some women who will continue to have monthly bleeds throughout their pregnancy. In this case, a scan at the local GP may be the only method of confirmation.

Women may simply not expect to find they are pregnant if they are taking the Pill – but then those taking it religiously can still become pregnant.

Eight in 100 women can get pregnant while on the Pill – usually not because of problems with the Pill, but with the taker, either because they’ve missed the Pill, thrown up or had diarrhoea.

‘I had no idea what had happened, shocked doesn’t cover it.

‘I didn’t have a bump. I hadn’t been sick except for two days back in November when I was off work but I didn’t think anything of it. I have stayed in my size 10 clothes throughout.

‘I text my friends saying “I may or may not have had a baby”. I didn’t know what to do. They didn’t either, they were so shocked, they didn’t think the pictures of him were real.’ 

The family think the baby might have been lying on Daisy’s spine due to her 5ft 8inch height, leaving him concealed and a total surprise.

She added: ‘It has been a shock to become a mum overnight but a brilliant one.

‘He has changed my life, for the better. I love him to bits, I loved him straight away. Elijah is a wonderful baby, he is so laid back, which explains a lot!

Daisy, who has since moved back home to her parents house, said: 'I had had stomach pains from the day before that were slowly getting worse so I just thought I should go to the hospital.' She is pictured now with her son

Daisy, who has since moved back home to her parents house, said: ‘I had had stomach pains from the day before that were slowly getting worse so I just thought I should go to the hospital.’ She is pictured now with her son

‘When I finally sent my mum a text I just said, you need to call. I don’t think she expected a baby. I couldn’t have coped without my family.’

The family have been helped by friends, hospital staff and social services.

Since Elijah’s birth they have been collecting as many newborn baby items as possible, given they were totally unprepared.

Grandmother Maggy, 54, who is a pub landlady, said: ‘When I got her text I thought it must have been a car accident, not a baby.

Elijah's birth they have been collecting as many newborn baby items as possible, given they were totally unprepared

Elijah’s birth they have been collecting as many newborn baby items as possible, given they were totally unprepared

‘When I walked into the hospital room I could just see the love she had for him. I could see the love in her eyes.

‘I spoke to a midwife who said in her entire career she had never seen a mum come into hospital in labour, not know she was pregnant, and have a baby the same day.

‘When I finally spoke to Daisy on the phone I just looked at Graham and said “hello Grandad!. I didn’t know what else to do except get to her as quickly as possible.’ 

Graham, 55, who works for Northumbrian Water, added: ‘Elijah has changed everything, but in the most positive way.

‘Daisy has always been caring and nurturing and she is just a natural mother, we are so proud of her.’

Daisy, who is unclear who the father is, had been a student at Dundee University until last year but is now hoping to transfer to the Open University in October to study business management.

Daisy, who is unclear who the father is, had been a student at Dundee University until last year but is now hoping to transfer to the Open University in October to study business management

Daisy, who is unclear who the father is, had been a student at Dundee University until last year but is now hoping to transfer to the Open University in October to study business management