A woman who believed she was going through menopause gave birth less than 24 hours after discovering she was pregnant.
Monica Thompson, 46, from Las Vegas, welcomed her son Jayden Anthony Willie Edwin Ratliff, now nine months, into the world just one day after a blood test revealed she was expecting.
She believed she couldn’t have children after struggling to conceive with her late husband Kevin Thompson for 16 years before his death in 2016.
The shocked mother, who assumed her erratic periods, cramps and incontinence were symptoms of the menopause, had even taken up a new fitness regime and diet and dropped 20lbs during her pregnancy.
Thanks, doctors safely delivered Monica’s son Jayden, who weighed 3lb 9oz, in the early hours of October 7, who was immediately rushed to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
‘I think it’s extra special to become a mom at this age,’ she explained. ‘Of course I would like to have been younger, but I know more now. I just feel very grateful that I have the chance to be a mom when I had given up on that dream.’
Monica Thompson, 46, from Las Vegas, thought she was going through menopause but gave birth less than 24 hours after discovering she was pregnant. Pictured, Monica during her fitness journey, not realizing she was pregnant
The shocked mother welcomed her son Jayden Anthony Willie Edwin Ratliff (pictured), now nine months, in October – just one day after a blood test revealed she was expecting
Jayden was delivered by doctors in the early hours of October 7 and weighed just 3lb 9oz (pictured). He was immediately rushed to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
When Monica met her partner Jason Ratliff in 2017, she had already made peace with the idea that she’d never be a mother.
‘My husband Kevin and I tried to have children but it just never happened for us,’ explained the cook. ‘We did everything we could but we weren’t in a financial position to try IVF. When I turned 40 I became content with being a dog mother.’
‘I figured they could be my babies. I have a niece also and she’s really special to me. When Kevin died in 2016, I put having a family out of my mind completely.
‘I met Jason when we matched on an app and we really hit it off.
Monica thought she couldn’t have children after struggling to conceive with her late husband Kevin Thompson for 16 years before his death in 2016. Pictured, during her fitness journey, not realizing she was pregnant
Monica believed she was entering menopause when she began to experience what she believed to be incontinence in September, a symptom of the life change. Pictured, the cook at the gym, undertaking a fitness journey, unaware that she was pregnant
‘We moved in together in October 2017 so it was really quick but we didn’t consider the idea of becoming pregnant.’
Monica thought she was entering menopause when she began to experience what she believed to be incontinence in September, a symptom of the life change.
She was still menstruating each month, but said her periods were lighter and more erratic than usual.
When Monica began to experience nausea and cramping on October 5, she left work early to visit her local urgent care center and was shocked when a blood test revealed she was pregnant.
‘I’m a cook so when I started throwing up, I knew I had to go home,’ she explained. ‘My fiance picked me up and he drove me to the urgent care center.’
‘They didn’t have the equipment to do an ultrasound, but they asked me if there was any way I could be pregnant.
‘I said, “No way”. I believed I was starting menopause because I was having a little trouble with incontinence. Or at least I thought I was but actually it ended up being amniotic fluid that was leaking.
‘They did some blood work and they came back and told me I was pregnant. I was shocked and in disbelief. I thought I couldn’t have babies.
Monica explained that while she was still menstruating each month, her periods were lighter and more erratic than usual. Pictured, newborn Jayden in the Neonatal intensive care unit
Monica Thompson, who didn’t think she could have children, holds surprise newborn Jayden for the first time in the NICU (pictured)
The surprised mother began to experience nausea and cramping on October 5, so left work early to visit her local urgent care center. She was shocked when a blood test revealed she was pregnant with baby Jayden (pictured now)
‘Looking at me you would never have known, I wasn’t showing at all. They did something called the finger test and estimated that I was about six months pregnant.
‘They told me I urgently needed to book an ultrasound with an OBGYN, but as it was the weekend, the best I could do was on Monday.’
Monica returned to work the next day but immediately began experiencing cramps and bleeding.
At the end of the shift, Monica rushed to University Medical Center where doctors quickly discovered she was five centimeters dilated and in labor.
‘I was shocked to learn I had been in labor all day,’ she said. ‘They did a vaginal exam to discover the source of the bleeding and they determined my amniotic sac had ruptured and I had been leaking fluid.
When Monica met her partner Jason Ratliff in 2017, she had already made peace with the idea that she’d never be a mother. Pictured, Jason with Jayden in the Neonatal intensive care unit
Monica learned that she was dilated about five centimeters and said she started ‘freaking out.’ Pictured, Jayden in the Neonatal intensive care unit
Not even 24 hours before she was told she was pregnant, Monica found herself already in labor. Pictured, Jayden in the Neonatal intensive care unit
Monica revealed she felt ‘a little robbed’ of her pregnancy as she never felt her baby move or got to have that ultrasound moment where she saw his heart beat.’ Pictured, Jayden in hospital after his birth, weighing just 3 pounds and 15oz
‘In fact, the fluid had been leaking for months and I had mistaken it for urine and incontinence associated with menopause.
She added: ‘The doctor told me I was dilated about five centimeters and I started freaking out. Not even 24 hours before I was told I was pregnant and here I was already in labor.
‘They told me I needed an emergency C-section which was frightening.’
After doctors delivered Jayden, they used a ballard test to estimate the tot was born at 30 weeks, which meant Monica was pregnant for seven-and-a-half months without realizing.
‘I couldn’t see the baby until the next day because of my surgery but when I did see him for the first time he was covered in wires,’ said Monica.
‘I got to hold him for the first time a week later, and it was surreal. I thought “Wow, I’m a mom. ” It felt right. I felt complete.’
The new mother said it was difficult to look at her son in the NICU and worried that if she had known of her pregnancy, things may have been different.
Doctors estimated the tot was born at 30 weeks, which meant Monica was pregnant for seven-and-a-half months without realizing. Pictured, Jason Ratliff with Jayden and Monica
Jason’s brother had a baby one year before, so the new parents were passed down all the baby clothes and toys. Pictured, Jayden with the family dog, Teddy
Monica revealed baby Jayden is now walking and talking, before adding: ‘I think it’s extra special to become a mom at this age. Of course I would like to have been younger, but I know more now’
‘I felt so bad because I wondered if I had known about the pregnancy, maybe he wouldn’t have been in danger,’ said Monica, who started a new diet and exercise regime when not realising she was pregnant.
‘But the doctors said I took very good care of myself during that time and not to worry so much.
‘I feel a little robbed of my pregnancy. I never felt my baby move and I never got to have that ultrasound moment where I saw his heart beat.’
Monica and Jason, who became her fiance in May, said they will always be grateful for the kindness of those around them after welcoming their unexpected baby.
‘Luckily, Jason’s brother had a baby one year before, so they were kind enough to give us all the baby clothes and a bunch of toys,’ she explained.
‘Everyone at my work was so kind, donating wipes and diapers. They were so supportive. They couldn’t believe I was that pregnant, it was shocking to everyone.
‘The day after I had him I had to call my boss and tell him I had a baby and he couldn’t believe it. He was like ‘What the heck’. It was so funny.’
Monica says Jayden, now nine months, is the happiest baby and says she feels blessed to experience motherhood for the first time at 46.
‘He’s crawling and walking and he’s into everything now,’ said Monica. ‘He’s teething at the moment but usually he is so good. He doesn’t cry unless he is hungry or tired.’
Following the surprise birth, the couple were overwhelmed with the support they received from everyone at work – who donated wipes and diapers. Pictured, Jason, Monica and Jayden
Monica told that Jayden (pictured) is the happiest baby and said she feels blessed to experience motherhood for the first time at 46
Monica and Jason said they will always be grateful for the kindness of those around them after welcoming their unexpected baby. Pictured, Jason with Jayden