Understanding pregnancy denial

Every year, between 800 and 2,000 French women give birth without knowing they were pregnant. In 10% of cases, the pregnancy denial may be total — meaning the woman only realises she is pregnant at the moment of giving birth. In the remaining 90% of cases, the phenomenon may be partial: the expectant mother becomes aware of the situation before the due date. There are numerous scientific studies confirming that any woman can be subject to this phenomenon. Many researchers have looked into the question and found that it is not a physical disorder but rather a psychological mechanism.

Maman et Bébé Nature has done some research for you, to help better understand what pregnancy denial really is.

Pregnancy denial: what is it?

Pregnancy causes a great many changes in the body. Between hormonal and physical changes, morning sickness, the absence of periods… Every woman experiences well-known symptoms, while others experience none at all, or do not perceive them as such. These changes should normally indicate the presence of a foetus in the mother's uterus. In the most usual cases, a woman realises she is pregnant within a few weeks or months.

But what factor prevents some women from being aware of a pregnancy? According to some researchers, it is impossible for a disease to trigger an asymptomatic pregnancy. Moreover, it is very rare for a woman to fall pregnant without realising it right up until the end of the pregnancy. And yet, that is the very nature of pregnancy denial.

It is a mechanism whereby the woman completely denies the sensation of discomfort in her body. In essence, it is a primitive defence mechanism.

When there is a concealed pregnancy, the woman's body adapts. The uterus extends across the upper part of the body, positioning itself in such a way that the usual round belly is hidden. The presence of the foetus is therefore not visible to anyone, not even the woman carrying it.

The symptoms can be misleading and may differ from case to case. This makes pregnancy denial very difficult to recognise.

How do you recognise pregnancy denial?

Before understanding the symptoms of pregnancy denial, it is important to understand the symptoms of a typical pregnancy. These symptoms may indeed be mild or completely absent. Furthermore, it is possible that the expectant mother experiences some of them but does not interpret them as signs of a pregnancy.

The symptoms of a "typical" pregnancy

The main signs of pregnancy are the classic morning sickness, which generally begins towards the end of the first month. Approximately one woman in two experiences it. It is at the end of the first trimester that most expectant mothers no longer suffer from it. Nausea is more common than vomiting.

There is also an increase in saliva production and a heightened sense of smell, which triggers the well-known nausea. Finally, many women report constipation and, above all, a feeling of bloating at the start of pregnancy.

There are other signs that are rather more subtle. These include extreme fatigue, gynaecological issues (vaginal discharge, light spotting, and a persistent need to urinate). Then there is also the onset of acne, mood swings, sleep disturbances, weight gain…

In fact, symptoms vary considerably from person to person, so there is no specific diagnosis. Sometimes some women experience all of these signs, while others feel nothing at all. It is also possible for symptoms to be so mild that the expectant mother does not even notice them. It is generally in these cases that women do not realise they are about to have a baby.

How can a pregnancy go unnoticed?

There are many situations that can result in a woman not realising she is pregnant.

Indeed, pregnancy tests can give false results. These tests work by detecting the presence of a specific hormone in the woman's urine (the beta-hCG hormone) through an immunological process. This hormone is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Enough of the science — you may be wondering how a test that has existed for years can give a false result. Quite simply because the device can be used incorrectly.

An incorrect reading, for example, or perhaps the foetus is not producing much of this particular substance. As a result, the expectant mother is convinced it is impossible for her to be pregnant and the baby remains hidden. It is often recommended to take several pregnancy tests to make sure there are no surprises.

One of the most well-known symptoms of pregnancy: the absence of a menstrual cycle. Some women have a disrupted and irregular cycle. Those most commonly affected are women who are under a great deal of stress, those suffering from obesity, or from other conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Certain medications (contraceptives or treatments for a specific condition) can also disrupt the menstrual cycle. When they have no periods, these women are not alarmed by the situation and suspect nothing. In other cases, women are so convinced they are not carrying a baby that their cycle continues regardless.

Of course, condoms, the pill, coils, and other forms of contraception are very effective at preventing an unwanted pregnancy. But as we all know, contraception can sometimes let us down.

Condoms can expire, split, or be put on incorrectly, and contraceptive methods can be used or chosen incorrectly. These factors can result in an unplanned pregnancy. Furthermore, hormonal contraception can cause bleeding even during pregnancy, which makes detection even more difficult.

Can pregnancy denial show up on a test?

Yes, pregnancy denial can show up on a test. Pregnancy tests are designed to detect the levels of specific hormones that are produced when you are pregnant.

If the test is positive, it means you are pregnant. If the test is negative, it means you are not pregnant. The presence of a period does not therefore affect the reliability of a pregnancy test.

However, if the hormones of a pregnancy are not present in the body, a test would be of no use. If you have doubts about the reliability of a pregnancy test, it is recommended that you consult a gynaecologist for greater accuracy.

The common symptoms of pregnancy can be taken into account in order to detect pregnancy denial.

Morning sickness,
Fatigue,
Tender breasts.

Finally, when a woman is pregnant, her weight increases significantly. Indeed, the body accommodates the arrival of a little being in the womb, along with the fluids that accompany the baby. You may remember the hCG hormone? If the baby does not produce much of this hormone, it does not gain much weight.

As a result, the expectant mother's body does not detect this foetus. In turn, she will not gain weight and will not suspect a potential pregnancy.

How can stress influence pregnancy denial?

Stress… yes, we've lost count of the negative consequences it can cause. Well known for being detrimental to anyone's health, it can also affect a mother who is not expecting to have a baby. This stress can therefore lead to a categorical refusal to accept that falling pregnant is possible. Sometimes, a woman may even feel very uncomfortable and anxious at the thought of becoming a mother. This, once again, triggers denial. The psychological defence mechanism of denial is very powerful, as it can mask all the symptoms of pregnancy.

Mental health conditions can also cause pregnancy denial. When suffering from severe depression, a personality disorder, schizophrenia, and so on, some women may be unaware that they are expecting a baby.

Given all these symptoms and signs mentioned above, pregnancy denial should be something everyone is aware of. It is important that all women know of its existence and, above all, that it can happen to anyone.