How do you know if you're in denial of pregnancy?

Written by Marion Goilav

Reviewed by Charline midwife

How do you recognize pregnancy denial?

Pregnancy denial is a psychological mechanism that can happen to any woman. It can happen to women who have never had a child, as well as to women who have had previous pregnancies (and are familiar with the symptoms of pregnancy). 

A distinction is made between partial pregnancy denial, in which the woman realizes she is pregnant too late to have an abortion, but before giving birth, and total pregnancy denial, in which the woman is unaware of her pregnancy throughout the pregnancy, right up to the moment of l.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy denial? 

In pregnancy denial, the person thinks he or she is not pregnant. All pregnancy-related symptoms are misinterpreted or attributed to other causes. For example, stomach pains may be associated with constipation or a digestive problem. It's important to know that when pregnancy is denied, a woman may experience bleeding that she associates with irregular periods . In addition, women may put on a little weight, but this is usually not very noticeable and is mistaken for bloating. They may also experience nausea or vomiting. Generally speaking, all symptoms related to pregnancy are poorly perceived. As a result, they don't realize they're pregnant.

The baby positions itself differently in the uterine cavity: it moves upwards and is pressed backwards against the spinal column. The diaphragm and all the other thoracic organs are pushed back.

Is it possible to deny pregnancy just by thinking about it?

The principle of pregnancy denial is that this possibility does not exist at all in the mind of the person concerned. So, even in the face of unusual symptoms, the idea of consulting a doctor won't necessarily come up. In which case, whether it's during a blood test to measure the pregnancy hormone or during an ultrasound scan, the pregnancy will inevitably be discovered, as it cannot go unnoticed during these examinations.

What are the consequences of pregnancy denial?

Pregnancy denial can cause relationship problems with the baby. In some cases, the mother and/or co-parent may reject the baby because sit is an unwanted pregnancy. In such cases, psychological support is offered to women and couples who have experienced pregnancy denial, to avoid post-partum depression. Likewise, the couple can be put in touch with the PMI (Protection Maternelle Infantile) services for help with administrative formalities and, if necessary, applications for assistance.

How to avoid pregnancy denial?

Contraception is essential to avoid unwanted pregnancy. There are several methods of contraception, with varying degrees of effectiveness: it's up to you to choose the method that suits you best. However, no method of contraception is 100% reliable. Unwanted pregnancies can occur despite infallible conception planning. That's why, when faced with persistent abnormal symptoms, it's worth checking s s 'it's not a pregnancy. If you have had unprotected or inadequately protected intercourse, there are solutions such as the morning-after pill. In France, the deadline for an abortion is 12 weeks.

Our menstrual briefs accompany you throughout your life as a woman: during your periods, but also from pregnancy to post-partum.