What is a Cryptic Pregnancy?
A cryptic pregnancy occurs when a person is unaware of their pregnancy until the labor begins. Unlike most people, who typically discover their pregnancy between 4-12 weeks, individuals with cryptic pregnancies remain unaware of it. Maybe it happens because those people don’t get any symptoms of pregnancy or they think that it is some other health issue that they are suffering from.
Symptoms of Cryptic Pregnancy
People experiencing this get similar symptoms to a normal pregnancy. However, they often misattribute these symptoms to other causes. Common Symptoms of cryptic pregnancy include:
- Missed Period: Missed period creates a question about pregnancy but if you are suffering from irregular periods, then it’s difficult to notice a missed period.
- Light Bleeding: People get light bleeding after conceiving but some people may think that it’s a period of blood.
- Negative Pregnancy Test: If you don’t use an at-home pregnancy test correctly, it will show negative results. The best thing is to contact a healthcare provider to confirm the pregnancy.
- Weight Gain or Swollen Belly: Weight gain and a swollen belly are very natural things during pregnancy. But attributing weight gain or bloating to other factors can be another cause.
- Unrecognized fetal Movement: The mid-way of pregnancy people can feel the fetal movement inside them. But it’s difficult to feel fetal movement due to the anterior placenta, cause the anterior placenta stays in the front of the belly. So, it’s also a cause that you can’t figure out your pregnancy.
- Unrecognized Symptoms: Nausea, missed period and tender breasts are the common pregnancy signs. Lack of knowledge about common pregnancy symptoms is definitely a cause behind cryptic pregnancy.
Causes of Cryptic Pregnancy
The causes that lead to this condition are:
- False Pregnancy Test: When you test your pregnancy at home, it can be shown incorrect results.
- Lack of Symptoms: Some people may not experience typical pregnancy symptoms.
- Unrecognized or Dismissed Symptoms: Pregnancy symptoms may be overlooked or attributed to other conditions.
- Unfamiliarity with Pregnancy Symptoms: Limited knowledge of pregnancy symptoms can lead to delayed recognition.
Who is at risk for a Cryptic Pregnancy?
Remember, cryptic pregnancy can happen to anyone. Here is a list of who are more likely to get effected from this:-
- New Moms: After childbirth and due to breastfeeding, your menstrual cycle takes time to regenerate again. Because of this reason, many of them think that they will not conceive during this time.
- PCOS: Irregular periods are a common problem of people who are dealing with PCOS. So, as they are familiar with missed periods, they may not notice that it can be a sign of pregnancy.
- Birth Control Users: Many people use birth control to protect them from pregnancy. Though sometimes there is a small chance that you may get pregnant.
- Perimenopause: When you enter your 40s, your perimenopause starts. So, pregnancy symptoms may be mistaken for menopause symptoms.
- First-Time Pregnancy: People having their first pregnancy and not being aware of the symptoms of pregnancy can delay the confirmation.
Complications of Cryptic Pregnancy
Some complications are definitely there in case of cryptic pregnancy and the complications are very much serious. Delaying to identify pregnancy can be harmful to your baby’s health.
- Lack of Prenatal Care: No access to essential blood work, nutritional counseling, ultrasounds, and support that you need for a healthy pregnancy.
- Harmful Lifestyle Choices: Being unaware of your pregnancy and continuing smoking, alcohol consumption or taking unsafe medications is harmful.
- Undiagnosed Medical Conditions: Undiagnosed medical conditions like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and other conditions can be risky.
- Congenital Conditions: The baby is at higher risk of birth disorders due to lack of genetic testing.
- Premature Birth: This pregnancy increases the risk of poor growth, respiratory issues, and other complications.
Diagnosis of Cryptic Pregnancy
The diagnosis and cryptic pregnancy and normal pregnancy are the same, there is nothing different. The steps that lead to confirmation are, Ultrasound test (for visualization) blood test and urine test (high HCG level check).
Treatment of Cryptic Pregnancy
Treatment depends on the stage when the pregnancy is discovered. If it is diagnosed before months of delivery, your doctor Will focus on the missed prenatal care.
- Blood or Urine Test: Blood tests and urine tests are necessary to detect overall health issues.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound is used to confirm the pregnancy and monitor the fetus.
- Fundal Height Measurement: Fundal height measurement is important to understand the development of the fetus
- Nutritional and Lifestyle Counseling: To promote healthy pregnancy it’s necessary to lead a good lifestyle and consume proper nutrition.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Cryptic a Pregnancy?
Answer: A cryptic pregnancy occurs when a person is unaware of their pregnancy. Unlike most people, who typically discover their pregnancy between 4-12 weeks, individuals with cryptic pregnancies remain unaware of it. Maybe it happens because those people don’t get any symptoms of pregnancy or they thought that it is some other health issues that they are suffering from.
- What are the symptoms of Cryptic Pregnancy?
Answer: Missed period, light bleeding, negative pregnancy test, weigh gain or swollen belly, unrecognized fetal movement and unrecognized pregnancy signs are the symptoms of cryptic pregnancy.
- What are the causes of Cryptic Pregnancy?
Answer: False pregnancy test, lack of Symptoms, unrecognized or dismissed symptoms, and unfamiliarity with pregnancy symptoms are the causes of cryptic pregnancy.
- How Cryptic Pregnancy is diagnosed?
Answer: The diagnosis and cryptic pregnancy and normal pregnancy are the same, there is nothing different. The steps that lead to confirmation are, Ultrasound test (for visualization) blood test and urine test (high HCG level check).
- What is the treatment of Cryptic Pregnancy?
Answer: Blood or urine test, ultrasound, fundal height measurement nutrition or lifestyle counseling are the treatment of cryptic pregnancy.
- How to prevent Cryptic Pregnancy?
Answer: To take prevention you should be aware of your body and sexual activities. Also, monitor the period cycle. If you find any suspected symptom, talk to your doctor.
- What are the risks associated with cryptic pregnancy?
Answer: Risks associated with cryptic pregnancy include, lack of prenatal care, increased risk of premature birth, higher risk of congenital conditions, harmful lifestyle choices and undiagnosed medical conditions that vary risky for pregnancy.