Woman Felt Like She Was ‘Getting Stabbed’ in Lower Back — She Had No Idea What Was Coming That Night

When Katherine Kropas went to bed the night before, she never guessed the next day would unfold like it did. That's because she didn't know she was pregnant.

The Massachusetts woman told USA Today that she woke up with sharp pains in her stomach.

"I felt like I was getting stabbed in my lower back," the 23-year-old said. "I have a high tolerance for pain, but this was like a 9 on a scale of 10."

Katherine Kropas, 23, didn't know she was pregnant until the day she gave birth. (Image source: Facebook)

Kropas went to South Shore Hospital's emergency room where she was admitted and underwent a day of tests — all with her boyfriend by her side.

At first, doctors told her blood tests indicated she was about five weeks pregnant. That didn't stun the 23-year-old.

"I noticed my ankles were swollen and there was a bit of blood. I had no idea I was full-term, though," she told USA Today.

Later that night, however, nurses made a startling discovery: Kropas was nine centimeters dilated and ready to give birth to a baby.

Less than one hour later, her girl — named Ellen Olivia Keefe — was born through an emergency C-section.

Katherine Kropas, 23, didn't know she was pregnant until the day she gave birth. (Image source: Family handout via New York Daily News)

"It's been an exciting couple of days, but it's tiring. At this point it might as well be a meet and greet," she told USA Today. "People come by saying, we knew each other freshman year of high school, and I'm like, OK."

The 23-year-old said marriage and baby showers are likely to come next.

"No need to rush anything else at this point," Kropas said.

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