Woman rushes to the hospital with a throbbing stomach ache — a stunning discovery changes the couple’s life forever
Imagine going to the hospital thinking it's just constipation and leaving with something you never planned. That's what happened with 28-year-old Melanie Smith when she felt a throbbing pain in her stomach on Christmas morning. However, when she and her husband visited the hospital, they learned the shocking truth that changed their lives forever. Doctors revealed that she was not just pregnant but was close to giving birth. Reported by GMA on Friday, January 9, 2026, Smith is still in disbelief about the entire incident.
Melanie Smith began experiencing stomach pains that felt like constipation. While Smith assumed that the pain might subside after some time, it only got worse. She decided to visit the local hospital in Waukegan, Illinois, along with her husband, Donovan O'Dell. Two hours after the hospital visit, Smith delivered her baby, Vincent Antonia O'Dell, who weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce at birth.
According to the doctors, Smith had a cryptic pregnancy, in which her baby was "hiding" behind her spine the whole time. Smith and her newborn were moved to Lake Forest Hospital to receive further medical care. Dr. Adrienne Adams, medical director of maternity services at Lake Forest, said such pregnancies can happen due to varying conditions. "If someone has irregular or absent periods at baseline, they may not notice a change," Adams said.
A 2023 report published in the "Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology" examined people who have experienced an unperceived pregnancy. The findings revealed that most women in such cases experienced no symptoms of pregnancy. However, in certain scenarios, the failure to recognize subtle signs has also led to unperceived deliveries. Moreover, the research indicated that in Germany, such cases occurred roughly once in every 475 deliveries, and pregnancies that went unnoticed until the time of birth were seen in about 1 in every 2455 cases.
While Smith and her husband were concerned about their baby's health, since they could not provide prenatal care, the couple was pleased to know that their baby was perfectly healthy, passing all the medical tests. The couple was never ready for a baby, since Smith experienced medical issues. Interestingly, many years ago, Smith was told by a doctor that she could likely never be a mother due to "irregularities with her uterus."
The diagnosis had made her mind up about never being able to plan a baby. However, while she accepted the diagnosis, life had other plans. The arrival of Vincent has now made him the center of their world. "I had never really thought that I wanted kids and never anticipated that being part of my life plan. And now that he's here... I couldn't imagine life without him anymore. And he's only been here a couple of weeks," she expressed.
More on Amplify
Pregnant mom was expecting a 13-pound baby—but got a mind-boggling surprise during delivery