A first-time mother gave birth to a baby girl while visiting her family in Australia, without realising she was pregnant.
Andrea, from Port Stephens in New South Wales, said her cousin Gaby, 24, from Costa Rica, stayed with her for three months on her first trip abroad.
On the evening of September 13, four days before she was due to go home, she went into labor.
Andrea said Gaby had become pregnant after a night out in her home country, where drugs had been laced into her drink.
“It’s been a week of ups and downs for everyone,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
Gaby’s mother flies to Australia to help with the baby – who is called Anya Victoria – and Andrea has a GoFundMe to support the new mother.
“The donations will be used for travel expenses, baby supplies and support services for Gaby and the baby while they wait for the paperwork to be finalized,” she wrote.
‘The circumstances surrounding her pregnancy are, sadly, a story shared by many women around the world.
‘Nine months ago, Gaby was invited for drinks with friends, expecting a fun, carefree evening. Hours later, she woke up with no memory of the night, only to discover she had been drugged and abused.’
Gaby gave birth to a baby girl (pictured) while visiting Australia from Costa Rica, without realising she was pregnant after a night out where her drink was poisoned nine months ago
Andrea says her cousin is left with emotional and physical scars from that night.
‘In the months that followed, she tried to get her life back on track, unaware that the attack had resulted in a pregnancy.’
She had taken a morning-after pill after going out, because she suspected she had been assaulted. She had also taken a pregnancy test in the weeks after, which gave a negative result.
Andrea said that Gaby never looked pregnant, but that she always complained of being tired and that she preferred to stay at home.
“Gaby was having cramps that day and kept calling me,” she said.
‘I said I would be home soon. Later she thought she had wet herself, which turned out to be because her waters had broken.
“She was reading online while I was having a drink with my husband. Then she said, ‘I think I’m pregnant.’ So we called an ambulance.”
A urine test quickly confirmed the pregnancy.
Andrea stayed with Gaby in the hospital and said she was happy to be there for her niece.
She arrived at John Hunter Hospital in New Lambton Heights at 8pm on Friday and the girl was born at noon the next day.
Andrea said that despite the extremely difficult circumstances, Gaby wants to keep the baby, who doctors say is “very healthy.”
“Some people have made horrible comments to me like, ‘Are you sure that’s how it really happened?’ or ‘Are you sure she didn’t know?’ I find it shocking that in 2024 there is so much victim blaming,” she said.
Andrea called on the community in Australia and her native Costa Rica to support her cousin.
“No one should have to go through what Gaby went through… We can help her take the next step toward a better future,” she said.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your generosity, compassion and support. Every little bit helps, we can give Gaby the chance to start over, surrounded by the love of her family.”
