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Woman Rushed to Hospital With Suspected Appendicitis Unexpectedly Gives Birth to Baby Boy

In a remarkable turn of events, 26-year-old Megan Isherwood from Blackburn, Lancashire, was rushed to the hospital with what doctors believed was a case of acute appendicitis—only to end up giving birth to a baby boy she didn’t even know she was carrying.

On September 9, Megan began experiencing severe pain on the right side of her abdomen and was vomiting blood. Concerned for her health, her friend Gabbie Rose, also 26, urged her to seek medical attention. “I have a high pain threshold,” Megan said, “so when Gabbie saw me hunched over, she knew something was seriously wrong.”

Paramedics arrived within the hour and, based on her symptoms—localized pain, elevated heart rate, and nausea—suspected appendicitis. She was taken to Blackburn Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit. But just before she was seen by a doctor, Megan began bleeding heavily. “Blood gushed out and soaked the bed,” she recalled. “Suddenly, there were 15 doctors around me trying to figure out what was happening.”

A Shocking Discovery

Doctors ordered a CT scan and ultrasound to rule out pregnancy. To their astonishment, the scans revealed a tiny head and foot—Megan was pregnant, despite having taken a negative pregnancy test days earlier. She had shown no signs: no bump, no symptoms, no missed periods.

She was immediately transferred via emergency ambulance to Burnley Hospital, which has a dedicated midwifery unit. But before she could arrive, Megan gave birth in the ambulance to a baby boy named Jaxson, weighing just 4.6 lbs. “As soon as the paramedic said, ‘If you need to push, just push,’ something clicked,” Megan said. “The next thing I knew, they told me, ‘Congratulations, it’s a boy.’ I was speechless.”

Jaxson was born prematurely at 33 weeks and initially stopped breathing. Paramedics managed to resuscitate him before reaching the hospital, where he was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Megan was taken to the postnatal ward, where both she and Jaxson were diagnosed with sepsis—a potentially life-threatening infection—but made a full recovery after receiving antibiotics.

A Miracle Arrival

“I wouldn’t change anything,” Megan said. “But I do wish Jaxson had let me know he was around before he was born. He is a miracle.” She was finally able to see her son just hours after arriving at the hospital. “It still didn’t feel real,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘Where have you come from?’”

Jaxson faced another scare a few days later when he stopped breathing again, but doctors were able to revive him. “He didn’t make himself known before he was born,” Megan said, “but he definitely did after almost dying twice. He’s such a brave boy.”

Jaxson was discharged on September 25 and has been thriving at home ever since. Megan, who believes the father is someone she is not in a relationship with, said her local community rallied around her after the unexpected birth. “People came together and helped me out with supplies for Jaxson, which was incredibly kind. We have everything we need now.”

Cryptic Pregnancies: Rare but Real

Megan’s story is a rare example of what’s known as a “cryptic pregnancy,” where a woman doesn’t realize she’s pregnant until very late—or even until labor. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, cryptic pregnancies occur in approximately 1 in 2,500 births in the UK. Experts say factors such as irregular periods, minimal weight gain, and denial or lack of awareness can contribute to the phenomenon (BMJ, 2011).

Dr. Philippa Kaye, a London-based GP, told BBC News: “It’s not common, but it does happen. Some women genuinely don’t experience the typical signs of pregnancy, and if they’re not expecting it, they may not recognize the subtle changes.”

A Community’s Kindness

Megan’s experience has not only stunned her family—who were in disbelief when she shared the news—but also highlighted the power of community support. “When I told my family, they couldn’t believe it—and neither can I,” she said. “But Jaxson is doing absolutely amazing.”

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