For those of us who have been or are pregnant and have been acutely aware of our pregnancy throughout, it seems impossible that someone could be pregnant for an extended period and not know they are pregnant. And yet, it happens, as it did to 28-year-old Lauren Chalk of Southaven, Tennessee. Believe it or not she had no idea she was pregnant until nine days before she gave birth.
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This ends up being an even more incredible story because after two miscarriages Lauren and her husband Keith had pretty much given up on having kids. "Me and my husband just figured it wasn't in the cards for us to have children," said Lauren.
If you're wondering how Lauren could have possibly missed her pregnancy symptoms for so long, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation. Keep reading to get all the details.
Lauren has polycystic ovary syndrome.
Polycystic ovary symdrome causes her to have irregular periods, so missing periods is normal for her and not necessarily a sign of pregnancy. She also didn't notice any changes in how her clothes fit. The only reason she even took a pregnancy test and found out that she was pregnant was because of her mother.
Lauren was visiting her mom, who happens to be a medical professional, and her mom noticed something was off with Lauren because she seemed "on edge." Lauren listened to her mom and took a pregnancy test the weekend before Thanksgiving. Sure enough, she was pregnant.
The couple couldn't get a doctor's appointment until after the holiday. At her appointment Lauren expected to see "something small," figuring that she was maybe four or five months pregnant. But what she saw instead "was a whole baby on the screen" because she was already 38 weeks into her pregnancy.
Meet Wyatt Rivers!
Wyatt Rivers, Lauren's son, was born on December 2 at Baptist Women's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces and measured 18 inches.
Lauren's blood pressure was extremely elevated and because of that and other complications, the baby was delivered via C-section. Both mommy and baby appear to be doing well. Wyatt went home after six days at the hospital.
Watch as Lauren tells the story of her miracle baby.
“I don’t think I could love anybody more than what I love Wyatt. He’s the best gift that anybody could give me; best Christmas gift since Jesus," she said. Congratulations to the new parents! And welcome to the world, Wyatt Rivers.
