I had a secret baby after I got pregnant at 15 and didn’t tell anyone for four days
A WOMAN has told how she secretly gave birth in her bedroom at the age of 16 – and told no one for four days.
Miranda Ponthieux, who was constantly sneaking out during her childhood, had grown up with a man she had known since childhood and had become pregnant with his baby.
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After Miranda noticed pregnancy symptoms, she pushed them away because she remained skinny and didn’t show the slightest hint that she might be pregnant.
The now 40-year-old from West Monroe, Louisiana, US, said: “I wasn’t feeling well, my stomach was still cramping, and I told my mom, and she said, ‘Oh, you probably will’ . Start with your period’.
“I had a baby in my room and I didn’t know what to do.
“I completely panicked. I had a baby in my room and I had no idea what to do with it.”
Miranda refused to believe that being pregnant could be a reality and absolutely refused to tell her mother about the possibility that she could be pregnant for fear that she would hit the roof in anger.
Miranda recalled how she initially experienced sudden, severe stomach cramps when she begged her mother for advice.
After confronting her mother about her pain, she advised Miranda to rest in bed and later that evening Miranda said it was “obvious” her pain was a sign of something more.
The next day she stayed home alone and missed school, giving birth to a girl in her bedroom the same day.
Unsure of what to do, Miranda placed her newborn safely under a car stall before a family friend visited the house, where she then pretended to be surprised that the baby had appeared there.
Miranda got it done and said “nobody had any questions about it.”
However, the lies and secrets ultimately proved too much for Miranda to handle, as the guilt forced her to write a note to her mother, which she left in her car.
To her surprise, she was received with love by her mother and the rest of her family, as they all immediately wanted to take care of her.
During the four days, her daughter was left in state custody, where she was cared for and fed, while Miranda pondered how to convey the shocking news to her loved ones.
Reflecting on her secret teenage pregnancy, Miranda explained, “For four days, no one in the world knew.
“When I was 15, I used to sneak out all the time with a guy I had been friends with since kindergarten.
“We lived close to each other and it was clear that we did things that led to me becoming pregnant.
Why do some women have bigger baby bumps than others?
According to HealthlineThe size of the baby bump varies, with pre-pregnancy condition being a key factor.
Women with stronger abdominal muscles are more likely to have a flat stomach for longer and women with a six-pack will carry higher because the stomach can support the weight better.
Pregnancy weakens the abdominal muscles, which can cause subsequent baby bumps to become visible more quickly.
Increased water and bloating can cause some women to develop a belly in the first trimester, even though the baby isn’t big enough to show until the second trimester.
“I didn’t grow big, I was so skinny, super, super skinny.
“It stayed that way, but there were signs that I was pregnant, but I wasn’t getting big, so I thought, ‘Well, that can’t be.’
“It was a little girl and I kept looking at her.
“She was in a closed basket full of clothes, and I made sure everything was fine. I wrapped her in a blanket, but I didn’t know what to do.”
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