You’ll never believe what’s under my dress
A trim size-8, Charlotte Thomson, 21, from Newcastle, partied away with no idea that life was about to change forever
The pain was coming in waves. It felt as if I was being stabbed
Waking up on Sunday morning, I had a headache.
It was spring 2015, I was 19, and enjoyed going out with friends on a Saturday night – usually in a new, size-8 dress and killer heels.
Prosecco and cocktails were my choice of tipple, but the hangovers that came with them could be dreadful!
Still, a pounding head and throbbing feet were the price you paid for a great night out.
During the week, I worked in a nursery. I loved babies – their chubby arms, button noses.
But I’d no plans for my own…yet!
That June, my mum Lynne, 50, and I were off to Lanzarote.
‘I’m exhausted,’ I yawned before we left. I’d been feeling more tired than usual lately.
‘It’s all those late nights!’ Mum laughed.
Arriving to scorching sunshine, it was lovely to relax on the beach, drink cocktails and paddle in the sea.
When we got home, I felt well rested. But, before long, the tiredness came back.
Then, that September, I noticed I’d put on weight. The holiday was catching up with me! Nothing too much, just a few pounds. But, I’d just started a relationship, so that hadn’t helped! ‘You still look good to me,’ Mum said, smiling. Besides, I could still slip into my size-8 party dresses. So I just shrugged it off. At the end of November, I hit the town with some workmates, wearing a skin-tight blue dress.
We partied till late. Only I started having cramps. It’s just period pain, I thought.
I came on soon after, so didn’t think more of it.
But a week later, staying over at my boyfriend’s house, I woke up suddenly.
The pains were back, but a hundred times worse.
Peering at the clock, I saw it was 2.30am. In agony, I couldn’t lie down, or even sit up straight. I took some paracetamol, then paced the room, clutching my stomach. It’ll blow over, I thought. But, an hour later, I felt the urge to be sick.
Rushing to the bathroom, I tried to calm myself down.
Then I noticed my knickers were full of blood. I’d just finished my period – and they’d always been regular.
Something is really wrong, I thought, panicking.
I raced back to the bedroom and flicked on the light.
‘We need to go to the hospital!’ I cried, waking my boyfriend.
I hadn’t a clue what was wrong with me. And, as I waited for the taxi, the pains just got worse.
It was coming in strong waves. Every few minutes, it felt as if I was being stabbed. ‘Hurry!’ I cried when the driver pulled up. When we arrived at Cramlington Hospital… ‘I’m afraid there’s a wait,’ a nurse said. ‘I need to see someone now!’ I pleaded, in agony. As my boyfriend tried to calm me down, though, I ran through to the ward. ‘Help me!’ I cried out.
By now I could hardly see, the pain was that excruciating. Alarmed, medics ushered me to a spare bed. ‘Try not to worry too much,’ a doctor said to me. Soon, a handful of nurses were crowding around the bed. I couldn’t help crying out in pain as they examined me. They took my blood, checked its pressure. ‘I’m going to get someone from the Midwifery ward down,’ a male nurse said. ‘What? That’s ridiculous!’ I screamed. Of course I didn’t need a midwife – I couldn’t be pregnant!
But, minutes later, a midwife appeared. She scanned my belly, examined me. Then… ‘Charlotte, you’re pregnant,’ she said. The world just seemed to stop. ‘And you’re in labour,’ she added. Apparently, there was a baby well on its way – the pains were actually contractions! I looked down at my flat tummy. Had the
I can’t wait to tell Molly her story when she’s older
pain just made me hallucinate all this?
‘That’s impossible!’ I cried, completely gobsmacked. I couldn’t be having a baby. I hadn’t been sick or felt kicking. I’d had regular periods, didn’t have a bump. But the midwife was certain. ‘The baby’s coming, Charlotte,’ she said.
Oh, God…
I’d been boozing, eating badly, staying up late. I’d had late nights out clubbing, those holiday cocktails…
What if I’d hurt the baby? Then I thought of Mum. ‘She’ll kill me!’ I wept. A nurse comforted me, offered to call her.
Mum and my dad Vincent, 50, got there within the hour.
When they hurried through the door, I burst into tears. ‘I’m so sorry, Mum!’ I cried. She threw down her bag and rolled up her sleeves . ‘We can do this,’ she said. I was in a total daze.
‘I can’t keep this baby,’
I said over and over.
I was in shock, but Mum reassured me.
‘You’re keeping it,’ she replied. ‘We’ll cope.’
My boyfriend sat in the room, in total shock, too.
We’d only been together for three short months – so none of this was his doing!
Three hours after arriving at hospital, on 5 December 2015, my baby was born.
‘It’s a girl,’ the midwife said smiling.
She weighed 6lb 15oz. I stared at her, unable to believe that this baby had been inside me for months.
Where have you been hiding? I thought.
The doctors explained that her back had faced my stomach, and she’d hidden, tucked up underneath my ribs.
It’s why I hadn’t had a bump, or suffered any pain.
But they couldn’t explain why I’d had periods throughout my pregnancy.
But all the questions and confusion vanished from my mind, the moment my baby was placed into my arms.
Everything felt right with the world and I fell in love. I named her Molly. After that first, precious cuddle, she was checked over and given a clean bill of health.
Despite all the booze and partying, thank heavens!
As reality dawned, I thought of something else.
‘But we’ve got nothing for her!’ I gasped to Mum.
Not a single nappy. So Mum rushed out at 8am to grab baby supplies. Plus, she had to tell my work that I was now on maternity leave!
My best friends didn’t even believe me – until they saw a photo of Molly.
And my poor grandparents nearly had heart attacks!
Still, despite the fact that I’d given birth, it still took a few months for it to sink in that I was now a mum. But I loved it! And I didn’t even need to lose the baby weight – I could still fit into my size-8 dresses.
Sadly, my boyfriend and I split up. We’d not been together for long and
I needed to focus on being a good mum.
Molly had plenty of love from me.
Before very long, I was back at work for three days a week – and Molly joined the nursery, so she comes with me.
Now 2, she’s brilliant. Molly and I still live at home with my parents. Mum’s been my rock, and Dad absolutely adores Molly.
I want to get a place of my own for us, but Dad’s having none of it!
‘There’s plenty of room here!’ he grins, happily.
It’s been an emotional roller-coaster, being a single mum. But there’s never a dull moment – so I don’t miss my nights out at all.
And I can’t wait to tell Molly her story when she’s older.
I reckon I’m prepared for anything she throws at me in her teenage years…
Nothing she can do will ever surprise me as much as Molly’s dramatic arrival!