Woman, 24, had no idea she was pregnant until she went into hospital was told she was in LABOUR

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A 24-year-old woman had no idea she was pregnant until giving birth to her son, after originally heading to the hospital due to crippling back pain. 

Rhea Martin, from Heaton Norris in Stockport, Greater Manchester, was relaxing at home with her boyfriend, Luke Melling, when her usual, painful period developed into agonising aches along her back.

The saleswoman was taken to hospital and dropped off at A&E, where she kissed her partner goodbye and told him she’d be out soon.

But Rhea, who had only gone from a size eight to a size ten during her unknown pregnancy, was left stunned when medics told her she was in labour. 

The first-time mother gave birth to little Myles Melling, weighing 6lb 7oz, at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport on October 20. 

Rhea pictured when she was six months pregnant

Rhea Martin, from Heaton Norris in Stockport, Greater Manchester, had no idea she was expecting. Pictured left, with her boyfriend Luke when four months pregnant, and right, when six months pregnant

The saleswoman (pictured with her new family) was taken to hospital and dropped off at A&E, where she kissed her partner goodbye and told him she'd be out soon

The saleswoman (pictured with her new family) was taken to hospital and dropped off at A&E, where she kissed her partner goodbye and told him she’d be out soon

Known as a ‘cryptic pregnancy’, Rhea’s baby was tucked away towards her back, showing no physical bump. 

After first hearing that she was in labour, Rhea fell unconscious in a state of shock and woke up in a different room, with a midwife telling her to ‘pull it together for her baby and push’.

With no time to process the news, Rhea was unable to call Luke or her parents to let them know she was pregnant.  

Rhea said: ‘Afterwards I called Luke and told him to come to the hospital where I met him outside. I told him there and then and the first thing he asked was if he was a boy, because he’s always wanted a son.

‘We can laugh about everything now but at the time it was actually quite traumatising. You go into hospital thinking you have serious back pain and a bad stomach ache caused by your period and come out with a baby.

But Rhea (pictured with her son), who had only gone from a size eight to a size ten during her unknown pregnancy, was left stunned when medics told her she was in labour

But Rhea (pictured with her son), who had only gone from a size eight to a size ten during her unknown pregnancy, was left stunned when medics told her she was in labour

Rhea and Luke when she was seven months pregnant

The first-time mother gave birth to little Myles Melling (pictured), weighing 6lb 7oz, at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport on October 20

The first-time mother (pictured left with Luke when she was seven months pregnant) gave birth to little Myles Melling (pictured right), weighing 6lb 7oz, at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport on October 20

‘We had no time to process anything or prepare so the last six weeks have been challenging and we’ve been so lucky to have amazing parents who have helped us out massively.

‘In the first week after Myles arrived we kept discussing plans to do as a couple, then we’d remember we had a baby and the things we used to do wouldn’t be so ideal for a baby to join.

She added: ‘It’s been a pretty surreal time but we wouldn’t change it for the world.’ 

Just a day or so before giving birth, Rhea had visited A&E, where she was told her pain was caused by a bad period and was advised not to come back with similar complaints during the pandemic.

She added: ‘They gave me some painkillers and sent me on my way. I just hoped the pain would wear off.’

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.

After first hearing that she was in labour, Rhea (pictured with her family) fell unconscious in a state of shock and woke up in a different room, with a midwife telling her to 'pull it together for her baby and push'

After first hearing that she was in labour, Rhea (pictured with her family) fell unconscious in a state of shock and woke up in a different room, with a midwife telling her to ‘pull it together for her baby and push’

Rhea, who was made redundant after the first lockdown, had just managed to secure a new job – but because she had only spent four weeks in the role she does not qualify for company maternity leave or pay.

Rhea said: ‘Financially it’s been a difficult time. We had already started saving for a home together but have struggled to put away as much as we had hoped to due to the Covid climate.

‘After coming out of hospital, I moved straight in with Luke at his dad’s house and we’ve been raising Myles there.

‘Obviously for the last four weeks we’ve been in a lockdown and since Luke is a personal trainer he’s been out of work so we’ve had a lot of time together in the house.

With no time to process the news, Rhea (pictured with her son) was unable to call Luke or her parents to let them know she was pregnant

With no time to process the news, Rhea (pictured with her son) was unable to call Luke or her parents to let them know she was pregnant

Not knowing she was pregnant, Rhea Martin carried on with her home workouts up until giving birth and Luke (pictured with his son), a 27-year-old personal trainer, never noticed a change to her body

Not knowing she was pregnant, Rhea Martin carried on with her home workouts up until giving birth and Luke (pictured with his son), a 27-year-old personal trainer, never noticed a change to her body

‘We’re really hoping to save enough to buy our own place next year but it will mean Luke finding more work so it’s quite stressful.

‘We’re determined to give Myles the best start to life he can have, despite having absolutely no preparation.’ 

Rhea was a dress size 8 in March, but crept up to a size 10 in May. She assumed the weight gain was due to spending more time at home during lockdown.

Not knowing she was pregnant, Rhea Martin carried on with her home workouts up until giving birth and Luke, a 27-year-old personal trainer, never noticed a change to her body. 

Luke said: ‘I was extremely shocked that I didn’t notice my own girlfriend was pregnant. Especially being a personal trainer, I felt rather silly. 

‘But Myles is the biggest blessing from what has been a strange year for us all. We had a few hours to turn from a new couple to a family. I love Rhea and can’t thank her enough for making me a father.’