She thought she was going through menopause. But after a trip to the hospital due to abdominal pain, she returned home with a baby in her arms.
"Judy Brown, 47, went to Beverly Hospital in Beverly, Massachusetts on Wednesday with severe abdominal pain," Time reported. "To her surprise, Brown's health providers discovered that she was pregnant and in labor."
After an hour, Brown gave birth to a baby girl she and her husband Jason later named Carolyn Rose.
Aside from the fact that Brown was already at a menopausal age at the time of the 8-pound infant's birth, the child was the couple's first in their 22 years of marriage. As such, the baby was a complete surprise for the pair.
Brown said she had felt different in the months approaching her due date, but thought it was all down to menopause. She also thought that her bulging tummy was just her aging and becoming more like her own mother.
"The doctors said 'it's good news, there's no blockage, you are pregnant and you are going to have her now!'" Brown said.
"It was a little bit scary getting into the hospital thinking something was really bad was going on," she continued. "To understand and take in that was I pregnant and was about to go into labor ... it was very overwhelming."
Her husband said that Brown felt her weight gain was not normal as it was "like hard," as told to WGNTV.com.
"She will be an only child...yes," Jason told reporters, indicating that theirs will be a small family. He's also said that he will get a vasectomy soon.
Right now, however, Carolyn Rose is already "daddy's little girl," according to WCVB.
"When she cries I am there," Jason Brown revealed.
The couple will be going home with the baby in a borrowed bassinet and stroller. Meanwhile, their friends and relatives have been busy gathering the things they need for their new arrival.
Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Kimberly Gecsi said that it is "possible for women to not realize they are pregnant until close to giving birth."
"Women in their 40s can still get pregnant if they have not gone through menopause," Time explained. "The Office of Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says if women are still having periods, even if they are not regular, they can get pregnant."
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