Cryptic pregnancy: Mum Rhianna Swan didn’t know she was pregnant until 2 hours before giving birth

Two hours before she delivered a healthy baby boy an SA woman thought she would never be able to have kids. Now he’s been voted the state’s cutest winter arrival.

One minute doctors were trying to work out why a South Australian woman was in pain, the next, she had an unexpected baby on her chest.

After surprising his family with his arrival in June, Caleb Swan has been voted South Australia’s Cutest Winter Baby.

Caleb’s mum, Rhianna Swan was shocked when she went to the hospital with stomach cramps and was told that she would be giving birth in two hours time.

“One minute I’m there just trying to figure out what’s wrong with me and then the next I’ve got a baby on my chest,” Ms Swan told The Advertiser.

Ms Swan had a cryptic pregnancy which occurs in approximately 1 in 475 Australian pregnancies and has been living her life as a seemingly non-pregnant individual.

“I got tattooed about a week before,” Ms Swan added.

“Going to wineries … eating oysters, seafood – all the things you shouldn’t be eating and doing all the things that you shouldn’t be doing.”

Rhianna and Jason Swan with their surprise baby, Caleb who was born in June. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Ms Swan said it was “awesome” her “good little surprise” had been named the cutest winter bub in the state.
“It’s pretty cool,” Ms Swan said.

“I even went out today and everyone was like ‘where’s Caleb, where’s the superstar.’

“My friend has already said he will be his agent,” the Royal Park mum joked.

Along with his unbelievable birth story, Ms Swan said she looks forward to telling Caleb about his award-winning cuteness.

“He is definitely going to have a few interesting birthdays,” Ms Swan said.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ CALEB SWAN’S AMAZING BIRTH STORY

After being diagnosed with endometriosis at 16, stomach cramps were nothing new for Rhianna Swan.

So when the Royal Park woman and her husband, Jason Swan went to the hospital in June after she had been experiencing some usual pain, she was surprised when doctors found a heartbeat.

“We went down to the Queen Elizabeth hospital and they wanted to rule out pregnancy and they found a heartbeat,” Ms Swan said.

“We were totally unaware and shocked.”

Two hours after being admitted for “stomach cramps”, Ms Swan gave birth to a baby boy.

“Once the ultrasound was done they checked it out a little bit more and I was fully dilated and ready to give birth then and there,” Ms Swan said.

“One minute I’m there just trying to figure out what’s wrong with me and then the next I’ve got a baby on my chest.”

Rhianna and Jason Swan with their surprise baby, Caleb who was born in June. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Ms Swan had a cryptic pregnancy which occurs in approximately 1 in 475 Australian pregnancies.

The 41-year old had not experienced any usual symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness or visible weight gain and had been living her life as a seemingly non-pregnant individual.

“We were in Queensland and Newcastle the month before that, (going on) roller-coasters and to theme parks as you do when you’re in Queensland,” Mr Swan said.

“I got tattooed about a week before,” Ms Swan added.

“Going to wineries … eating oysters, seafood – all the things you shouldn’t be eating and doing all the things that you shouldn’t be doing.”

Rhianna and Jason Swan enjoying a glass of wine while on holiday in May before welcoming surprise baby, Caleb in June. Picture: Supplied.

Rhianna and Jason Swan at a wedding in December. Ms Swan was pregnant at the time. Picture: Supplied.

Rhianna and Jason Swan on holiday in Queensland earlier in the year during Ms Swan’s cryptic pregnancy. Picture: Supplied.

After recovering from the shock of finding out they would be parents in a matter of hours, Mr and Ms Swan’s first concerns were with the safety of their unborn child.

“We had never changed our lifestyle so for us it was like, ‘is the baby going to have ten fingers, ten toes, is everything going to be okay?’,” Ms Swan said.

“But all the scans and tests they have done on him have been perfect.”

Once baby Caleb was born, the pair started the task of sharing the surprise news with their family and friends.

Ms Swan said that “90 per cent” of their family thought they were lying with Mr Swan’s children accusing their dad of pulling a prank on them.

“I tried to tell my son he now has another brother and he was like ‘okay dad, you’re kidding around, what’s the joke, you got another cat didn’t you?’,” Mr Swan said.

Once the couple managed to convince their family that they were not joking, Ms Swan recalls their loved ones quickly moving into “panic stations” to organise baby supplies for them.

“I went in on the Friday and by the time I got home the following Saturday, the house was full of baby stuff,” Ms Swan said.

“It wasn’t something we planned but someone else had other plans.”

Rhianna and Jason Swan with their surprise baby, Caleb who was born in June. Picture: Brett Hartwig

While Caleb’s arrival was unexpected, his presence in the Swan family has already brought so much joy, especially to Ms Swan who was told her endometriosis diagnosis would make it extremely difficult for her to conceive.

“It means the world, it’s something I have always wanted,” Ms Swan said.

“It is what it is and he’s perfect so I am happy.

“He’s a very good little surprise.”

Now nearly three months old, Caleb is a finalist in the South Australia’s Cutest Winter Baby Competition with voting now open until Wednesday, September 18 at 8am.

Originally published as Cryptic pregnancy: Mum Rhianna Swan didn’t know she was pregnant until 2 hours before giving birth