21-Year-Old Tourist Thought It Was Stomach Pain, Gives Birth Unexpectedly During Australian Trip

On February 14, 2026, a 21-year-old British tourist experienced a shocking moment when she went to the hospital with what she thought was food poisoning, only to discover she was actually in labor and about to give birth after unknowingly being pregnant for 9 months. Hattie Sheppard, 21, had been backpacking in Australia with her 22-year-old boyfriend Bailey Sheddle for over 6 months, enjoying beach life, parties, and boat trips. In July of the previous year, Sheppard began experiencing severe stomach pain, initially believing it was just food poisoning. After taking two paracetamol and experiencing worsening pain, she suspected appendicitis and went to a hospital in Queensland. The ultrasound results shocked her when the doctor announced, 'There's a baby, and it's about to be born.' Sheppard insisted she didn't believe it at first, as she had been on birth control and never experienced pregnancy symptoms. Just 10 hours after learning the truth, she gave birth to a daughter named Isla-Grace Sheddle, weighing approximately 2.9 kilograms. She explained that her placenta was positioned at the front of her uterus, preventing her from feeling the baby's movements, and the baby was positioned behind her spine, making her stomach not visibly prominent. The couple is now preparing to return to their home in Doncaster, England, with their unexpected new family member, and Sheppard says she is truly happy.