A British servicewoman has given birth to a baby boy in Afghanistan having not realised she was pregnant.

"Mother and baby are both in a stable condition," said the Ministry of Defence, following the birth on Tuesday in Camp Bastion, Helmand province, reports the BBC.

The woman, a Royal Artillery gunner who has not been named by the MoD, only learned she was about to give birth after complaining of stomach pains.

The child was conceived before she arrived in Afghanistan in March.

In a statement, the MoD said: "It is not military policy to allow servicewomen to deploy on operations if they are pregnant. In this instance the MoD was unaware of her pregnancy."

A specialist paediatric team from Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital is to fly to Afghanistan in the next few days, the statement added, "in order to provide appropriate care for mother and baby on the flight home".

The baby was born five weeks prematurely.

BBC defence correspondent, Caroline Wyatt said it is the first time that a British soldier has given birth on the front line.

"Though up to 200 servicewomen have been sent home since 2003 from Iraq and Afghanistan when it was discovered they were pregnant," she said.

"Military rules ban pregnant servicewomen from front-line duties, though last year another female British soldier gave birth two weeks after returning from her six-month deployment to Afghanistan.

"This unusual case may well fuel further debate over whether more medical checks are needed before the armed forces deploy women to the front lines."

Tags: News, World, Featured, British Soldier, Baby, Afghanistan

cray

I was shocked untill I saw this

" The baby was born five weeks
prematurely"

Big lie..! How won't she knw she's pregnant..? She dey do her period..?

Chanchit: Big lie..! How won't she knw she's pregnant..? She dey do her period..?

I tire o, dem no see her stomach sef?

Chanchit: Big lie..! How won't she knw she's pregnant..? She dey do her period..?

Bros na premature now..

and stress can make a woman miss series of menses (so it is very difficult to tell when they are pregnant). . ask female soldiers and athletes, they'll tell you their experiences

Chanchit: Big lie..! How won't she knw she's pregnant..? She dey do her period..?

It so happens that some women are pregnant without knowing until they finally give birth. They would have monthly periods and no bulging stomachs. I can't explain this medically though.

The program 'I didn't know I was pregnant' on TLC enlightened me.

acidosis™:

Bros na premature now..

and stress can make a woman miss series of menses (so it is very difficult to tell when they are pregnant). . ask female soldiers and athletes, they'll tell you their experiences

its possible 4 her to av evn been missin er period regularly b4 den so mayb its a normal fin 4 er alredi considerin d stress she alwz haz to go tru.....ddnt surprise me tho

Fat lie.
Only if she was trying to keep it as secret from her husbanb.

Is there a war on or a peace keeping mission?

It is quite possible for someone women not to know that they are pregnant until the birth of the baby. Crazy but true.
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/i-didnt-know-i-was-pregnant

gulfer: Is there a war on or a peace keeping mission?

You can ask the British and American forces what they are doing in Afghanistan

Hahaha Camp Bastion? That's a hell of a place But Harry is right there.
The other day insurgents killed two marines right inside the secured camp and blew up 8 jets! after gaining entry through a hole in the fence.
Chills. But a nice excuse to leave the camp and go back home.

"Though up to 200 servicewomen have been sent home since 2003 from Iraq and Afghanistan when it was discovered they were pregnant," she said.

Mu he he he he he he

Woman must wack!
Soja go. . .soja come. . .barrack nor dey h-empty!