Woman, unaware of pregnancy, gives birth at a restaurant
Last May, a woman and her family went to a buffet restaurant after visiting an amusement park. Little did they know they were still in for a ride.
The Washington Post reported that Tayvia Woodfork, 26, dined at Golden Corral in Arkansas after an adventure-filled day at Magic Springs Theme and Water Park on May 4.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Tayvia felt sudden, sharp stomach cramps and rushed to the bathroom.
Her mother. Tameka Woodfork, noticed that she had been gone for a while as they enjoyed their meal. Tameka checked on Tayvia, who was in "agonizing pain" and brought her some ibuprofen.
“She couldn’t get up, she couldn’t move her legs,” Tameka is quoted as saying. “She was screaming.”
The Woodforks called an ambulance, even as restaurant staff gave Tayvia towels and as much privacy as possible.
A crew of firefighters also arrived at the scene ahead of the ambulance.
Tameka thought her daughter was severely constipated.
She was mistaken.
Tayvia delivered a 6-pound 1-ounce (2.74 kilograms) baby boy. Nobody knew Tayvia was pregnant.
“Everybody was in complete shock,” Tameka said.
Looking back, the mother recalled seeing Tayvia's pants were wet when they left the park. She thought her daughter just sat on something. But it was then that Tayvia's water broke.
Tayvia, meanwhile, said she didn't gain any weight nor experience pregnancy symptoms. The baby was born at 37 weeks.
According to the Post, Tayvia experienced cryptic pregnancy, or when a woman is pregnant but isn't aware of her condition until late in the pregnancy or when labor begins. Around 1 in 2,500 pregnancies go unnoticed until delivery, and about 1 in 475 pregnancies go unnoticed until 20 weeks gestation, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Christine Greves, an OB/GYN at Orlando Health Women’s Institute, told the publication that an irregular menstrual cycle, hormonal imbalances, false-negative pregnancy tests, or positioning of the fetus, among other factors, could make a pregnancy harder to detect.
“Always listen to your body,” Greves said. “If you’re not feeling right, make sure you stay in touch with your doctor.”
Tayvia was brought to the hospital from the restaurant bathroom on a stretcher, while Golden Corral staff and customers clapped and cheered.
She was discharged on May 6. She and her baby were healthy.
Though Tayvia and her son’s father aren't together, she said he's in the baby's life.
After Tayvia was discharged, the Woodforks returned to Golden Corral to thank the staff and introduce the baby, who was named after the restaurant. His full name is Tamaar Kylon Corral Woodfork.
They were treated to a free meal, and staff gave Tayvia a gift bag with baby essentials. They also sent a note and gift card a few weeks later, the Post reported.
“As far as we know, this has never happened at a Golden Corral,” said franchise owner Brendyn Gronewoller.