I put my stomach cramps down to a dodgy takeaway until my flabbergasted husband made a shock discovery

A woman on a camping holiday with her husband and two young children had the shock of her life when pains from a “dodgy” dinner turned into something else.

A mum who thought her stomach cramps were caused by a “dodgy chicken takeaway” while on a camping holiday was shocked to discover she was actually in labour.

Zoe Doyle said she had “no pregnancy symptoms” so was stunned when her husband, Stuart Doyle, spotted a baby coming out.

The pair welcomed Hayley Doyle, weighing just under 4kg – named after her place of birth Hayling Island in Hamsphire, England.

The family, including children Poppy Ansell, 13, and Jake Doyle, one, had been on their camping holiday for a few days before Zoe woke up at around 5am on August 1.

A mum thought a 'dodgy chicken takeaway' had given her stomach cramps on a camping holiday. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

But the cramps turned into something else quite quickly while in the tent. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

Recalling the events, nursery work practitioner Zoe, who lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire in the UK, said: “I woke up and thought that chicken we had the night before has really upset my stomach.

“I couldn’t get to the main toilets and we have a little Portaloo toilet in the tent and I just stayed there.

“I thought it was just tummy pains but it kept getting worse and worse. I knew something wasn’t right. There was so much blood, I thought I was having a miscarriage.

“Little did I know I was doing all the contractions on my own on the portaloo. I just stood up and my husband asked if I was okay and I said ‘I need to push’ then I leaned on all fours and my husband saw a head.”

The flabbergasted dad delivered the couple’s surprise baby in the living room area of the tent before rushing to hospital.

Zoe said: “He had to help deliver her in the tent and cut her umbilical cord in the tent and wrap her up with what we had.

Zoe Doyle was left stunned after giving birth to her surprise baby Hayley Doyle in her tent while camping in Hayling Island, Hampshire. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

The 38-year-old said she had 'no pregnancy symptoms', experienced regular periods and even flew on holiday to Turkey two months before her little one's unexpected arrival. Picture: Kennedy News and Media.

“I did it all on my own. I felt like Mother Mary giving birth outdoors. It was just so bizarre.

“She literally came out and I remember thinking ‘what has just happened’. I was thinking how did I not know? Everything I shouldn’t have done, I did.”

Zoe said she experienced regular periods and even flew on holiday to Turkey two months before her little one’s unexpected arrival.

She had noticed some weight gain over the last few months but didn’t consider it abnormal.

Zoe said: “I had absolutely no symptoms. I thought I’d just put on a bit of weight.

“My period was light but I just put it down to stress and I still had them every month.

“I had no cravings or anything. I’d gained a bit of weight but I just put it down to having a few more snacks in the evening. I didn’t have a noticeable bump and no one mentioned anything.

“There was no morning sickness, there was no nausea, there was nothing. It really was a hidden pregnancy.”

A hidden pregnancy, otherwise known as a cryptic pregnancy, can go unnoticed until late pregnancy or even labour.

Zoe said: “I never used to believe cryptic pregnancy stories when I read about them until it happened to me.

Zoe, who lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire in the UK, said she had noticed some weight gain over the last few months but put it down to gorging on more snacks in the evening. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

“They think I carried her high up and that’s why I didn’t feel her move.

“I actually went on holiday to Turkey in June. I know now I shouldn’t have flown. I feel awful, I could’ve had her abroad. I was seven months pregnant without knowing.”

Zoe said their ‘massive surprise’ has fit perfectly into their growing family.

Zoe said: “I said I’d always have another one but our youngest isn’t quite two yet we said we would see. Then we said ‘Nope, we’re finished’.

“Because my husband is diabetic as well, they said our chances of having another one were quite slim. So when she came I thought, how on earth is she here? She fought against all the odds to be here.

“I was on and off the Pill but because we were told our odds of getting pregnant were unlikely, we didn’t think much of it. She was such a massive surprise.

“She’ll have the most amazing story to tell when she’s older.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission