Carmen Romero, a 31-year-old woman from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, experienced a shocking turn of events when she visited a hospital for stomach cramps, only to learn she was in active labor and moments away from giving birth. The incident, which occurred when she was 24, was later revealed to be a cryptic pregnancy—a condition where the mother remains unaware of her pregnancy until the final stages.
What Is a Cryptic Pregnancy?
A cryptic pregnancy is a rare phenomenon where the expectant mother does not realize she is pregnant until labor begins. According to the BBC, approximately one in every 2,500 births in the UK is cryptic, equating to roughly 300 births annually. In Spain, data on cryptic pregnancies is limited.
Carmen's Experience
Carmen recounted her story in late 2025 to outlets including Y ahora Sonsoles, hosted by Sonsoles Ónega. She explained that she went to the emergency room at her father's insistence, believing she only had cramps similar to the urge to use the bathroom. During her first pregnancy, she had gained 45 kilos and developed a hiatal hernia, which may have masked symptoms.
Upon arrival at the hospital, an ultrasound revealed she was pregnant and already in labor. Carmen said: "They did an ultrasound and told me, 'You're pregnant.' And I said, 'Excuse me? How far along?' And the doctor replied, 'I'd swear you're actually giving birth right now.'" She initially refused to enter the delivery room, unable to believe she was pregnant. After calming down and speaking to her mother on the phone, she requested an epidural, but the midwife informed her: "The baby's head is already out." Carmen was in the delivery room for only ten minutes.
Carmen noted she had not felt any fetal movements prior to labor: "I didn't feel a thing, not a kick, nothing." She attributed her lack of awareness to a medical condition that caused her abdomen to swell and irregular menstrual cycles, which meant she could go months without a period.
Emotional Aftermath
Following the delivery, Carmen described the experience of holding her newborn as "horrifying." She said: "I was alone, they put the baby on top of me and told me: 'It's a girl, she's okay'. I looked at the baby, hallucinating. I felt like they had given me a baby that wasn't mine. You have a daughter whom you aren't even able to love at that moment, because you are in such shock that you can't picture yourself as a mother."
Initially, Carmen informed hospital staff that she wished to place the baby for adoption. However, a turning point came twenty days after the birth when her daughter suffered a sleep apnea episode, turning purple and stopping breathing. Carmen recalled: "That was the moment I said, 'Shit, I love her. I need someone to save my child.'" She subsequently reversed her decision and kept the baby.
