A 26-year-old woman who was urgently taken to the hospital with symptoms resembling appendicitis was astonished to discover she had just given birth to a baby boy she never knew she was carrying.
Megan Isherwood experienced intense pain on her right side accompanied by vomiting blood, prompting her emergency visit to Blackburn Hospital.
Initially, medical staff suspected appendicitis and ordered both ultrasound and CT imaging to confirm the diagnosis.
Unexpectedly, the scans revealed the presence of a tiny head and foot, confirming Megan was pregnant despite a negative pregnancy test taken only days earlier.
She was swiftly transferred to Burnley Hospital, but during the journey, Megan delivered her son Jaxson, who weighed 4.6 pounds, on September 9.
Hailing from Blackburn, Lancashire, Megan reflected on the surreal experience: “I was completely stunned-I couldn’t believe what had just unfolded. There was no baby bump or any signs; he just arrived out of nowhere.”
She added, “I wouldn’t change a thing, though I do wish Jaxson had given me a little warning before making his grand entrance. He truly is a miracle.”
On the day of the birth, Megan woke around 4 p.m. feeling unwell and asked her friend, Gabbie Rose, also 26, to bring her a bottle of Coke, suspecting low blood sugar.
Gabbie noticed Megan’s pale and hunched appearance and urged her to seek medical attention immediately, recognizing that Megan’s usual high pain tolerance meant something serious was wrong.
After calling the medical helpline 111, an ambulance arrived within the hour to take Megan to the hospital.
Paramedics initially suspected appendicitis due to her localized right-side pain, elevated heart rate, and nausea.
Upon arrival at Blackburn Hospital at 5:30 p.m., Megan was admitted to intensive care. While waiting to see a doctor, she suddenly experienced heavy bleeding that soaked the hospital bed.
She was quickly moved to a treatment room where a team of about 15 doctors gathered to determine the cause.
“They decided to perform a CT scan and ultrasound to exclude pregnancy, but that’s when they spotted a tiny head and foot,” Megan recounted.
She was then urgently transferred by ambulance to Burnley Hospital, which has specialized maternity services.
During the transfer, a paramedic advised her to push if she felt the urge, and moments later, Megan instinctively did just that.
“Suddenly, they announced, ‘Congratulations, it’s a boy!’ I was overwhelmed and in disbelief,” she said.
Born prematurely at 33 weeks, baby Jaxson briefly stopped breathing and turned blue shortly after birth, but paramedics successfully revived him before reaching the hospital.
Jaxson was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while Megan was taken to the delivery suite and later moved to a postnatal room.
Both mother and son were diagnosed with sepsis, an infection that required antibiotic treatment, but thankfully, they both recovered fully.
A few days later, Jaxson experienced another breathing episode but was once again stabilized by medical staff.
Megan remarked, “He may have been a surprise before birth, but after nearly losing him twice, he certainly made his presence known. He’s incredibly strong.”
Jaxson was finally discharged on September 25 and has since been thriving at home with his mother.
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