A WOMAN was shocked to find out she was six months pregnant – despite being a size eight and having no bump.
Lily Somerton, 21, still had her period and had no symptoms to indicate she was expecting – until she felt her stomach move while lying down.
Already a mum-of-one, Lily recognised the feeling from her previous pregnancy and took a test just to be sure.
The test came back positive and Lily went for a scan straight away and was told she was 24 weeks along and experiencing a cryptic pregnancy – when a pregnant person doesn’t know they’re pregnant – in April 2024.
Doctors told Lily she may not grow a bump for the remainder of her pregnancy but her baby boy – due in July 2024 – is healthy.
Lily, a support worker, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, said: “I was on the bed and I saw my belly move.
“I did a test and it was positive.
“I went for a scan and they said I was 24 weeks.
“I just froze. How was I so far along?
“I was surreal.
“I still had my periods. They said I might not get a bump at all.”
Lily fell pregnant with her first son, now 19 months, unexpectedly when she missed a period.
She gave birth to him in October 2022 weighing 8lbs 10oz.
She said: “It was a shock.
“I found out early on.
“I soon got over it.”
After splitting for her first child’s ex in mid 2022, Lily met her current partner, Ashley Davis, 35, a window fitter, in April 2023.
Lily also lost her dad Wayne Somerton, 51, a window fitter, in November 2023 to throat cancer – just five days before her 21st birthday.
The mum went out to celebrate – not knowing she was seven days pregnant.
It wasn’t until April 2024 – when she was six months gone – that Lily discovered she was experiencing a cryptic pregnancy.
She said: “I’d never heard of it.
“I was keen to know he was OK.”
After getting over the shock, Lily is excited to give her son a baby brother.
Cryptic pregnancy refers to a person being unaware of their pregnancy until the later stages or even until delivery. It is likely a woman will continue to menstruate and a baby bump will not be visible until the later stages of pregnancy - if at all.
Hidden signs of a cryptic pregnancy include:
For more information visit: Pampers UK
“It was the easiest pregnancy I’ve known.”
“Ashley didn’t believe it for ages.
“I didn’t like having a big bump during my last pregnancy.
“I felt massive but I wasn’t.
“It’s not a bad thing not to have a massive bump.”
