At 21, Tawana's life was a whirlwind of partying and adventure. But when she collapsed in hospital, her world was turned upside down. Doctors delivered a shocking blow: she was four weeks pregnant.
Tawana was in denial, convinced she couldn't be pregnant due to her contraceptive implant. But a nurse's persistence led to an ultrasound that revealed the truth. The diagnosis was cryptic pregnancy, a rare phenomenon where women show no symptoms.
As a black woman, Tawana was told that her body structure made her more prone to cryptic pregnancies. She gave birth to River after four weeks, and struggled with post-natal depression. She turned to TikTok for support but found little advice from others who had gone through similar experiences.
Feeling isolated, Tawana decided to share her story online, hoping it would generate support for young mothers who find out they're pregnant at the last minute. She started a podcast and hopes to raise awareness about this rare condition and the disparities in maternity care experienced by ethnic minorities.
Ideally, she'd like a charity set up to support young mothers who are suddenly thrust into parenthood. For now, Tawana hopes her story can inspire others to speak out and seek help when they need it most.