OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on the topic of denied pregnancy and present a case study that illustrates some salient points.CLINICAL PICTURE: A 21-year-old woman was unaware of her pregnancy until she went into labour, at which time she went into a state of panic. She delivered a dead baby.TREATMENT: She was interviewed over the 5 days following delivery and referred for psychiatric assessment. She was discharged when cleared of serious psychiatric illness.OUTCOME: At follow-up she was well but haunted by recollections of the delivery. She was referred for further counselling.CONCLUSIONS: Denial of pregnancy is more common than realised. It is a heterogeneous condition associated with different coping styles and psychiatric diagnoses. Early testing for pregnancy is recommended in young women with nausea, weight gain and menstruation-like bleeding.
Adaptation, Psychological Adult