It was today’s article in the newspaper that brought this to mind. Apparently, a British soldier gave birth in Afghanistan after complaining of stomach pains to the medic. Unbeknownst to her those stomach cramps were really labor pains, and she delivered a baby boy later that day.

I know, I know. This happens. And it might have happened to you for all I know. Yes, I’ve seen the cable program, “I didn’t know I was pregnant,” too, but I still can’t wrap my arms around it. Nine months and you don’t notice anything different except a little indigestion? My labor was five days long and the last thing it resembled was heart burn.

Forget the obvious physical changes like weight gain, tender breasts, a growing lump rolling around your abdomen like a tiny orca. What about the emotional changes? Hormone fluctuations are very powerful. Not knowing you’re pregnant is like not knowing you’re in menopause. I just can’t see it.

Unless you really, truly believe you’re not pregnant.

Most of the cases that I’ve heard about, read or seen on the boob tube, the women had trouble getting pregnant or were told they couldn’t get pregnant, and somehow that mental mindset overruled any physical or emotional changes they were experiencing. So I guess, if anything, this underscores the power of the mind and perhaps,  the power of belief.