A young woman made a visit to her local A&E department after falling unwell at work, and four hours later, gave birth to a baby boy.
Destiny Stephens-Coull had started her shift at Nando’s when she noticed she was bleeding heavily and went to the bathroom.
The then 19-year-old thought it was her period coming on, but when the bleeding didn’t stop, she became dizzy and realised something was wrong.
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After alerting her manager, a friend took her to the A&E department at her local hospital in Basildon, Essex.
She was given multiple scans before the nurses realised she was pregnant.
“It was the most traumatic thing ever,” Destiny told Need To Know.
“I had to wait for around an hour to be seen at A&E and had to ask for a sanitary pad as I was bleeding so heavily it was dripping on the floor.
“While the lady on reception went to get me a pad I collapsed, which led to me being seen immediately.
“They did liver and kidney scans and when they realised there wasn’t anything wrong.
“They then scanned my stomach and discovered I was pregnant.”
Once it was found Destiny was pregnant, four hours after she’d arrived at the hospital, she was taken for an emergency C-section to deliver her baby.
Destiny was in total shock, as were the medical staff, as there had been no signs she was pregnant.
She had experienced no symptoms and her stomach was completely flat.
Destiny said: “I had a completely flat stomach, no sickness, no dizziness.
“I do remember being three days late with my period, but I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative.
“And my periods were also normal throughout my pregnancy, so I didn’t suspect anything.”
“The first thought that came to my head when the nurse told me I was pregnant was, ‘No I’m not.’
“I wanted to get up and leave because I didn’t believe them.
“I was having a blood transfusion at the time and was trying to pull out the tubes.
“A few of the nurses had to pin me down to the bed.
“It was really horrible because I just didn’t know what to expect.
“You’re usually prepared to go into a pregnancy, I wasn’t prepared so I just went mental.”
Her mother, Diane, had no idea her daughter was even in the hospital, and only arrived after a midwife had called to tell her the news.
Complications followed the arrival of Destiny’s baby boy, Kingsley, who was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for urgent care.
He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a condition caused by a build-up of fluid on the brain – and had an operation to insert a shunt behind his ear which helps drain the excess to his tummy.
Doctors told the new mum her son may never be able to walk or talk.
But Destiny has described Kingsley, who is now two, as a totally normal little boy.
She said: “Kingsley is completely fine, he has check-ups every so often. He’s living life like a normal baby. He’s honestly so beautiful, I love him.
“Due to his hydrocephalus, the doctors did say he might not be able to walk or talk or lift his head.
“The fact he has fought through this is the most beautiful thing. He’s so funny, he’s obsessed with Cocomelon.”
“The whole situation makes me feel sick, it was traumatic but I have matured a lot… I look back and can’t believe I went through all of that.”
“I am so thankful to my family for being so supportive. They’ve been the best.”
Destiny, now 21, and working as a bartender, had been nervous to share her story but has received “lovely” comments since telling it on TikTok.
She said: “I felt a little embarrassed, being a young mum. People judge you, but there’s been so much love, I’ve had some really lovely comments.
“Everyone’s been so supportive. I’m happy I can share this experience with everyone.”
Her post has been viewed 1.4 million times and has over 115k likes.
One user said, “It’s so mad how these things can happen without us even knowing about it x.”
”This is so crazy,” wrote another.
”Beautiful story this happened to my sister shocked us all but couldn’t imagine life without my nephew kids are beautiful blessings,” added someone else.
One person noted, “Oh babe the pain I FELT JUST LISTENING!!!! you are so strong Jesus.”
”My biggest fear,” stated another.
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