I thought I was dying & rushed to hospital for my final hours, docs gave me a shock diagnosis & my life changed forever
Terrified after waking up and not being able to move - Tawana Musvaburi was rushed to hospital.
The now 22-year-old recalls feeling like she was going to die as she was dashed to A&E, but ended up with a shock diagnosis.
But when she got to hospital and underwent tests - it was revealed Tawana was actually eight months pregnant, but she had no idea.
The young mum didn't have a bump, any weight gain or morning sickness and gave birth just four weeks after finding out that she was expecting a baby for the first time.
She said: "Before I discovered I was pregnant, I was living the normal life of a 20-year-old. I was out drinking, partying, and all the crazy things 20-year-olds do.
"I think I am very lucky that all this didn't damage my daughter in some way."
READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES
Tawana woke up one morning feeling so tired that she couldn't get out of bed.
The young woman called her mum and told her she felt like something wasn't right and it felt like she was dying.
Obviously concerned by her daughter's pain, her mum advised her to head to the hospital to get checked over.
Tawana was told she would be sent for am MRI for a scan to see if anytihng was wrong and was asked if she was pregnant.
Most read in Fabulous
She said no, however, a nurse was persistent and they did a scan to double-check - and it was a good thing they did.
The ultrasound revealed a fully formed foetus and that the 20-year-old was in fact eight months pregnant.
What is a cryptic pregnancy?
In cryptic pregnancy, a person does not realise they are pregnant until a late trimester or even until they are in labour.
Being unaware of pregnancy may mean a person does not receive adequate care or make healthful lifestyle adjustments.
Both of these factors can lead to complications in fetal development, reports Medical News Today.
Tawana says that she was totally mind blown when she heard the news, and could not believe this was her baby as she hadn't experienced any signs of pregnancy, and had actually been losing weight recently, rather than gaining or a bump appearing.
Tawana then broke the news to her family and friends that she would be welcoming her first child in a matter of weeks.
She says that no one believed her and that even her mum thought she was lying.
Tawana welcomed her surprise daughter, River, on 27 February 2023, and after processing the drastic life change is now thriving in mum life.
"After two weeks of the news of my pregnancy settling in my mind, it was like my body just started to catch up which helped me accept it too.
"It was such a horrible and stressful time because there was so much to sort out in such a short space of time.
"Babies aren't cheap either.
"I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my family.
"It was overwhelming being a new mum at first, and I was slightly depressed at first because it was difficult to accept how much and quickly my life had changed.
"However, one day I woke up and got into the swing of things, and I was figuring out our new life day by day.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Now, we are doing perfectly. She's so bubbly and sassy.
"She's talking a lot and I am loving being a mum."
