A 20-year-old woman was terrified when she ‘thought she was dying’ - only to discover she was actually eight months pregnant.
Tawana Musvaburi, now 22, found that she was so tired she couldn’t even get out of bed, knowing something wasn’t right in her body.
She called her mum to tell her that she felt like she was dying, before heading to the hospital to get checked over.
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Before being sent for an MRI scan, Tawana was asked if there could be any chance she might be pregnant.
She said there wasn’t, but a persistent nurse decided to do a scan to double check, with an ultrasound revealing a fully-formed foetus.
Tawana was mind-blown to learn that she was eight months pregnant, having not experienced any signs of pregnancy – even losing weight, rather than gaining any or seeing a visible bump.
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She said: “I never gained any weight or experienced any other symptoms.
"When the nurse told me I was eight months pregnant, I just kept thinking this can't be my baby and I couldn't accept it.
“I didn't think I wanted to have children, so I was absolutely terrified."
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Tawana welcomed her surprise daughter River on 27 February 2023, just four weeks and four days after learning she was expecting her.
She continued: "Before I discovered I was pregnant, I was living the normal life of a 20-year-old.
"I was out drinking, partying, and all the crazy things 20-year-olds do.
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"I think I am very lucky that all this didn't damage my daughter in some way.
"After two weeks of the news of my pregnancy settling in my mind, it was like my body just started to catch up which helped me accept it too.
"It was such a horrible and stressful time because there was so much to sort out in such a short space of time.
"Babies aren't cheap either.”
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The first-time mum said the news was such a shock that no one believed her at first – with even her own mum convinced she was lying.
Thankfully, however, she’s had full support from her loved ones, who have helped her get through the sudden transition to motherhood.
"I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my family,” Tawana added.
"It was overwhelming being a new mum at first, and I was slightly depressed at first because it was difficult to accept how much and quickly my life had changed.
"However, one day I woke up and got into the swing of things, and I was figuring out our new life day by day.
"Now, we are doing perfectly. She's so bubbly and sassy.
"She's talking a lot and I am loving being a mum."
Jess Hardiman