Hidden Pregnancy: Signs You’re Pregnant But Don’t Know It

A hidden pregnancy, also called a cryptic or stealth pregnancy, is when a pregnancy goes undetected until about halfway through (or even up until labor or birth).

Hidden pregnancy signs may include typical pregnancy symptoms, such as spotting, nausea, cramping, swollen breasts, and fatigue. You may not notice these symptoms because you don't think you could be pregnant, or you may think your symptoms are caused by something else. It's also possible to have no symptoms at all.

Mental health or medical conditions, as well as trauma, can increase the risk of experiencing an undetected pregnancy.

This article goes over the causes and symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy. It also covers associated concerns and how to cope if you experience a hidden or undetected pregnancy.

Symptoms: What Are “Hidden” Pregnancy Signs?

Symptoms of a hidden pregnancy can sometimes be attributed to factors like birth control use, recent travel, work exhaustion, and/or diet or exercise changes. Early pregnancy symptoms may include:

• Slight weight gain
  
• Experiencing fatigue
• Constipation
  
• Spotting or light bleeding, but no periods
• Swollen, tender breasts
• Bloating
• Frequent urination
• Cramping
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Some people say their vivid dreams are an early sign of pregnancy. This may be because hormonal balances and body changes can alter the way you sleep, making you more likely to remember your dreams.

What Causes Hidden (Cryptic) Pregnancy?

Research is still limited when it comes to hidden pregnancies. However, experts think some of the following factors contribute to a person not realizing they are pregnant:

• Assumptions, meaning individuals don't believe they could become pregnant
• Unexpected symptom experience, meaning individuals don't experience what is generally expected when it comes to pregnancy symptoms
• Life circumstances, such as age, family history, and/or past or ongoing trauma
• Conditions, including mental, developmental, and medical conditions

Assumptions

Assumptions that can increase the risk of a hidden pregnancy include:

• Intermittent spotting: Bleeding and spotting that can occur during pregnancy can easily be mistaken for a light period.
• Inaccurate pregnancy test results: Pregnancy tests are usually very accurate, but errors do happen—especially if a person does not test the right way or at the best time. It is possible for a pregnancy test to be negative even when a person is actually pregnant.
• Early menopause: Pregnancy symptoms can be similar to early menopause symptoms. If you're between the ages of 45 and 55, which is the range menopause typically begins, you may attribute the symptoms to menopause, instead of pregnancy.
• Fertility: If you've struggled with getting pregnant in the past, you may find it hard to believe that you could be pregnant.
• Birth control use: Even when used correctly, it's possible to become pregnant when using birth control. People using contraception may not think they could be pregnant and might ignore the signs.
• Recent pregnancy: Ovulation can occur sooner than you'd think after you've had a baby. That said, the early signs of pregnancy may not be as clear in someone who recently gave birth and signs may be associated with the previous pregnancy and recovery.

Symptom-Related

Symptom-related factors that can increase the risk of a cryptic pregnancy include:

• Lack of pregnancy symptoms: Common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, vomiting, pelvic cramping, lower back pain, fatigue, missed periods, and abdominal swelling can show up at different times and intensity levels, or may not show up at all depending on the individual.
• Not realizing symptoms: In some cases, symptoms can be mild or attributed to other causes. For example, an individual may believe morning sickness is an upset stomach or not getting their period may be an irregular menstrual cycle.
• No prominent “baby bump:” A pregnant belly might not be obvious on someone who carries more weight in their abdomen. Some people do not gain much weight or start to "show" until later in pregnancy.
• Not feeling the fetus move: The location of the fetus and placenta can sometimes make it hard to feel movement. For example, with anterior placenta placement, the placenta is in the front of the uterus. When this happens, it may take longer to feel fetal movements and they can be trickier to recognize.
• Not feeling any changes in the cervix: Some people may try inserting a finger into the vagina to feel the cervix, which may feel softer in early pregnancy. The finger test is not a reliable or recommended method of checking for pregnancy. Contact your healthcare provider or try at-home tests instead.

Life Circumstances

Certain life circumstances increase your risk of experiencing a hidden pregnancy. These may include:

• Young age: Research suggests that being young in age is a risk factor for a denied pregnancy in certain individuals.
  
• Family history: Research suggests that individuals with a family member who has experienced a cryptic pregnancy were more at risk for also experiencing one.
• Trauma: About one third of individuals who experience a rape-related pregnancy have cryptic pregnancies and don't know they're pregnant until the second trimester. In many cases, the perpetrator was someone the survivor knew.

Conditions

Conditions that can increase the risk of a cryptic pregnancy include:

• Irregular menstrual cycle: Irregular periods can make it hard to know whether you've missed a period. This is especially true if your menstrual cycle is longer than the average 28 days. For someone who may not experience as many periods per year, the absence of a period may not be an immediate red flag for pregnancy.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS can cause hormonal imbalances that throw off ovulation. This can lead to an unexpected pregnancy that may go unnoticed.
• Mental health and developmental conditions: Some research suggests that people with certain mental health conditions, including depressive disorders, schizophrenia, and certain personality disorders, as well as certain developmental conditions, such as an intellectual disability, are more at risk of experiencing a hidden pregnancy.

Symptoms of a hidden pregnancy are the same symptoms associated with pregnancy in general. However, with a cryptic pregnancy, these symptoms may be mild, denied, or attributed to some other cause.

Cryptic Pregnancy Concerns

Not recognizing pregnancy—even just for a short time—can be dangerous for both the fetus and the pregnant person. The reasons include:

• If a person does not realize they're pregnant, they won't get the prenatal care that is necessary for a safe and healthy pregnancy.
• Without prenatal testing, serious complications—such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia—could go unnoticed.
• If a hidden pregnancy lasts up until the time of birth, a person may not realize that they are in labor. If they don't get to a hospital, they may have to deliver on their own without any help.
  
• Research has shown that babies born after a cryptic pregnancy might be more likely to be underweight and born prematurely, or born before week 37 of pregnancy.
• If a person who did not know they were pregnant consumed substances like alcohol, tobacco, or certain medications, damage to the fetus could lead to structural or functional abnormalities.
• Abortions for pregnancies past the first trimester mark involve a medical procedure. While these procedures are generally considered safe, the longer the pregnancy goes on, the higher the chances of experiencing associated risks.

Coping With a Cryptic Pregnancy

Not knowing you are pregnant until the 20-week mark or later can be incredibly stressful. You may feel confused, overwhelmed, trapped, angry, shocked, worried, as well as upset about being pregnant or missing out on the full pregnancy experience.

Know that any way you feel is valid and it's totally normal to feel a complex mix of emotions that may change as you continue to process the pregnancy.

If your hidden pregnancy is diagnosed before you go into labor, you still have time to talk to your provider about prenatal care and pregnancy choices. They can offer support, resources, and guidance concerning:

• What to expect as the pregnancy progresses
• How to best prepare for labor and delivery
• Abortion, along with associated risks depending on your specific circumstance
• Adoption services
• Parenting and new baby care
• Mental health services

Coping After Pregnancy

Giving birth and becoming a parent are major events that can be stressful, especially when you have a very short time to plan for them. Anxiety, doubt, and exhaustion after having a baby are normal.

If you had an abortion, experienced a miscarriage, or chose adoption for the baby, know that you may go through a wide range of emotions. In addition to the hormonal shifts, processing the outcome of a hidden pregnancy can feel incredibly intense and exhausting.

It's important to prioritize your self-care during this time:

• Speak with your healthcare provider about additional resources.
• Contact a mental health professional who specializes in pregnancy-related concerns.
• Join a support group for your specific concern.
• Connect with trusted friends and family members who will support you during this time.
• Don't ignore intense, persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, disconnection, or thoughts of harming yourself or others. Know that you are not alone and help is available.
  

Summary

A cryptic (hidden) pregnancy when a person is not aware that they are pregnant until they are at least five months along.

Hidden pregnancies can occur if a person doesn't have or notice any pregnancy symptoms, thinks they are due to another cause, or experiences denial about the pregnancy. Certain factors such as medical, developmental, or mental health conditions, as well as certain life circumstances can increase the risk of experiencing a cryptic pregnancy.

Cryptic pregnancies are associated with concerns for both the pregnant individual and the fetus. It's important to seek appropriate care as soon as possible.