Shock in relation to pregnancy denial has serious consequences. Specifically, legal consequences can plague a mother who experiences a case of pregnancy denial or cryptic pregnancy.
Modern technology now allows for pregnancy to be detected within days of conception. However, cases continue to exist where pregnant women are unaware of their condition until they come to term.
How Is Pregnancy Denial Possible?
Stuff.Co.Nz reports that many factors play into cases of pregnancy denial. A woman's age, stress level, body weight are such factors.
Other instances of pregnancy denial occur alongside mental health problems. When mental health issues are present pregnancy denial is likely to, but does not always, happen.
Pregnancy denial is also common among women who have irregular menstruation cycles. Especially when a women comes closer to the onset of menopause, pregnancy denial easily results from the simultaneous changes in the body.
The Consequences Of Pregnancy Denial On The Child
On the part of the unborn child, pregnancy denies the baby prenatal care and caution necessary for healthy development. Because the mother is presumably unaware of the existence of the child, safe birthing is often a problem.
The Consequences Of Pregnancy Denial On The Mother
Women who experience pregnancy denial tread a fine line. The Conversation reports that Helen Cheyne, of the Royal College of Midwives at the University of Stirling pointed to cases where mothers are jailed.
When pregnancy denial resulted to the death of the child, mothers were punished in the past. The concept of pregnancy denial or cryptic pregnancy had been too fantastic to comprehend.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Even now, with a stronger understanding of women, women's bodies, pregnancy and birth, the lines remain blurred. What is real and what is disingenuous pregnancy denial?
Where can the boundaries be drawn in pregnancy denial cases? How can the safety of a child be upheld even when pregnancy denial happens?
Helen Cheyne recommends a careful regard and respect for these mothers despite the sensational reports. The rights of mothers, who genuinely experience pregnancy denial or cryptic pregnancy, should be just as protected as the rights of their child.
