A woman on TikTok thought she had severe bloating and sought medical attention for the issue. She was thrown for quite a loop, however, after finding out she was actually six months pregnant. The woman's shocking revelation left fellow TikTokers wondering how she didn't realize what was going on despite being that far along in her pregnancy.
Abby Pollock was eager to find out what was causing her bloating during her trip to the ER, but the TikToker was completely blindsided by her diagnosis. Although many women recognize the signs that they may be pregnant, others may attribute symptoms to preexisting conditions or never experience symptoms at all. Pollock's story sheds light on the growing number of women in the United States who are pregnant and do not know it.
Pollock revealed what she thought was a 'bloated' stomach in her TikTok.
In a 13-second clip, Pollock was standing next to her car as she arrived at the emergency room. She was wearing an orange hoodie and black biker shorts as she started to lift her sweatshirt.
The TikToker revealed what she calls a "bloated" stomach to viewers.
"Going to the ER joking I was so bloated I looked 6 months pregnant," Pollock wrote in the text of the video. She appeared in good spirits and laughed before heading into the medical center. While awaiting test results, Pollock had no idea her life was about to change forever.
Medical staff ran tests on Pollock to find out what was wrong with her.
The clip then showed the woman lying in an emergency room bed while hooked up to multiple monitors. She shocked viewers by revealing that it turned out that she was "actually 6 months pregnant," she wrote.
Although Pollock was visibly surprised, she held up the peace sign and waved at the camera before ending the video with a sonogram image of her unborn baby.
TikTok users still couldn't believe Pollock didn't figure out she was pregnant until she was six months along. The viral post has amassed more than 2.3 million likes, 11.4 thousand comments, and 22.5 thousand shares.
TikTok users shared their thoughts on the shocking pregnancy news.
Women flooded the comment section with questions about feeling the baby kicking, being prepared as a first-time mother, and wondering about other factors that could lead to an unknown pregnancy.
"I always think of the alcohol consumption during an unknown pregnancy when I see something like this ," one user wrote.
"Just an FYI — depending on placement of your uterus inside and the placenta it can make it nearly impossible to feel baby until third trimester ," explained another user.
"Imagine having only 3 months to let the reality set in that you’ll be a mum and your life has changed forever ," another TikToker wrote.
One woman shared that she's experiencing a similar situation but doesn't want to have a child. "Omg I've been joking about my bloating looking like I pregnant for so long I do not claim this ," she wrote.
"This is my worst nightmare since I suffer from IBS and I am bloated non stop and look extremely pregnant all the time ," commented another user.
Medical experts have explained why some women may be unaware of their pregnancies.
In 2019, several medical experts shared with CNN why some women may be unaware of their pregnancies. Dr. Jen Villavicencio, an obstetrician and gynecologist fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said 45 to 49% of all pregnancies are unplanned.
Women who are trying to have a baby often check when they're ovulating and use pregnancy tests regularly. Women who are not looking to become a mother anytime soon, however, most often use birth control, condoms, and other safety measures to prevent pregnancy.
Villavicencio told the news outlet that many of her patients who were surprised by their pregnancy news didn't have symptoms they attributed to being pregnant.
An associate professor of EMory University's Rollins School of Public Health, Jessica Sales, told CNN that sex education and learning about one's body is one of the main factors in avoiding unknown pregnancies.
“Young people have a lot of questions. They don’t really comprehend how their bodies work, how menstruation and their cycles work,” Sales explained. “There’s a lack of understanding of how a person would know they are pregnant.”
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
