Pregnancy Denial: Toward a New Understanding of the Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract

Purpose of Review Pregnancy denial is the lack of awareness of being pregnant. The aim of the review is to understand why the affected women do not recognize the signs of pregnancy. Recent Findings Twelve case reports of pregnancy denial were published in the last ten years. While in five cases the women had an underlying mental disorder, the rest of the cases involved women who either exhibited no physical symptoms or perceived themselves to be not pregnant despite the symptoms (i.e., repression mechanisms). Summary Pregnancy denial is considered to be a pathological issue, a likely consequence of trauma, the wish to not have a child, or a psychiatric problem. However, it appears that the majority of cases cannot be linked to any of the above reasons. We argue, therefore, that, in most cases, pregnancy denial is not associated with mental or physiological problems. Under certain circumstances, it can affect any woman.

Grappling with Issues of Motherhood for Women with Schizophrenia

“…In delusional denial, the signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy are acknowledged but attributed to factors other than pregnancy, despite medical evidence of a fetus. The denial sometimes continues even after the child is born, with the mother adamantly stating that the child is not hers [68,69]. Continued delusional denial of pregnancy despite antipsychotic treatment may necessitate involuntary hospitalization, as well as curtailment and potential termination of parental rights.…”