Did you know, Mom, in pregnancy, there’s a term called “Buffalo Pregnancy” (Hamil Kebo)? Some say women who experience buffalo pregnancy are considered ‘lucky’ because they don’t feel any discomfort. Why is that?
Let’s read the full explanation here!
What Is Buffalo Pregnancy?
Buffalo pregnancy refers to a condition where a pregnant woman does not feel any symptoms — no nausea, no vomiting, not even fatigue or weakness during the pregnancy.
As we know, morning sickness, cramps, food cravings, and breast tenderness are iconic pregnancy symptoms.
However, pregnancy symptoms can vary for each mother, both in terms of duration and severity, from one person to another.
The symptoms can even differ from one pregnancy to the next for the same individual.
While many pregnant women experience those symptoms, there are also women who go through pregnancy without any of them. This is what’s referred to as buffalo pregnancy.
When Does Buffalo Pregnancy Usually Happen?
Typically, buffalo pregnancy — or not feeling any symptoms during pregnancy — occurs in the early stages up to 6 weeks of pregnancy. By the time the pregnancy reaches 6 weeks or more, the mother will begin to feel symptoms such as pelvic or back pain as the fetus continues to grow in the womb.
What Causes Buffalo Pregnancy?
Until now, it is still uncertain what exactly causes some women to not experience any symptoms during pregnancy. However, buffalo pregnancy is often caused by pregnancy symptoms being misinterpreted. For example, abdominal pain due to pregnancy might be mistaken for premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
This can happen because early pregnancy symptoms and PMS are so similar.
Additionally, in medical terms, buffalo pregnancy is referred to as cryptic pregnancy or stealth pregnancy.
This condition can cause a woman to be unaware that she is pregnant until the later stages of pregnancy. In some cases, a woman may even suddenly find herself already in labor.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the usual causes of cryptic pregnancy include:
- Obesity
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
- Psychological factors such as fear of pregnancy
- Use of contraceptives
- Hormonal imbalances that make pregnancy symptoms less noticeable
What Are the Signs of Buffalo Pregnancy?
Some signs of buffalo pregnancy include:
- Not experiencing morning sickness (vomiting and nausea)
- No body aches
- No dizziness or headaches
- Normal appetite
- Not easily tired
- Still able to move freely during daily activities
- No food cravings
- Remember, what needs to be understood more deeply is that buffalo pregnancy does not mean that you don’t experience any signs of pregnancy at all.
Pregnancy signs like missed periods and hormonal changes are still present — it’s just that symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or back pain, which are common in typical pregnancies, are not felt.
Why Don’t You Feel Anything During Pregnancy?
Not feeling anything during pregnancy is normal, Mom. Just like pregnancy symptoms vary from one person to another, the frequency and duration of symptoms can also differ.
As days and weeks go by, what you experience will often change along with the changes in your body.
You might experience cramps or frequent urination, while others may have constipation or mood swings.
However, there may also be days when you don’t feel any pregnancy symptoms at all.
There is no single definition of “normal pregnancy symptoms” when it comes to the presence, type, and severity of symptoms.
Is Buffalo Pregnancy Normal?
Not feeling any pregnancy symptoms or experiencing a buffalo pregnancy up to a certain stage of pregnancy is normal, and it does not indicate any issues with the fetus.
Some pregnant women feel relieved and grateful because they have few or no symptoms during pregnancy, such as no vomiting and no fatigue.
However, other mothers may worry due to the lack of symptoms or experiencing buffalo pregnancy.
If you don’t have any pregnancy symptoms at all, rest assured that even though it’s not common, it’s not impossible.
According to Dr. Gita Permatasari, not feeling anything during pregnancy happens because pregnancy hormones react differently in each woman’s body.
Some experience severe nausea during pregnancy, while others don’t experience it at all.
Some feel weak and easily tired, while others feel more energetic and full of life during pregnancy.
If your doctor says you are healthy and the fetus is healthy, then there is nothing to worry about.
Continue your daily activities while following your doctor’s advice to ensure a healthy and smooth pregnancy until delivery.
For mothers in early pregnancy, they might not feel any symptoms yet.
This is because the fertilized embryo only implants in the uterine wall 6–12 days after ovulation.
During this time, the mother’s body may not recognize any changes yet, so no pregnancy symptoms are visible.
The absence of pregnancy symptoms in the first trimester doesn’t mean you won’t experience them at all.
Symptoms may still appear during the second or even third trimester.
Research has shown that about 1 in 475 women do not realize they are pregnant until reaching 20 weeks of pregnancy.
This “stealth” pregnancy can occur for various reasons, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Sometimes, it’s simply a case of someone not looking or feeling pregnant until they are nearly halfway through their pregnancy.
When Should You Contact Your Doctor or Midwife During Pregnancy?
Although not feeling any symptoms during pregnancy is generally normal, you should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Sudden Change or Loss of Pregnancy Symptoms
If you’re concerned because your pregnancy symptoms suddenly disappear or become unnoticeable, it’s always reasonable to bring your concerns to your doctor or midwife.
In particular, there are two situations you should always watch for during pregnancy:
- Changes in how much fetal movement you feel
- Pregnancy symptoms that suddenly disappear
Changes in Fetal Movement
Some pregnancy symptoms may decrease as the pregnancy progresses, but your baby’s movements should not decrease.
There will be days when your baby is more still, but if movement suddenly stops or goes from very active to barely moving, it could be a sign of a problem.
Most people begin to feel their baby move in the womb at around 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Keep in mind that the first time you feel fetal movement may depend on whether you’ve been pregnant before (you are more likely to recognize it the second time around).
Inform your doctor or midwife if you haven’t felt any fetal movement at all by 20 weeks.
Pay attention if your baby doesn’t move much or if the movements seem reduced.
Although it doesn’t always indicate a problem, it’s something you should report to your healthcare provider.
In some cases, reduced fetal movement may simply mean the baby is in a “sleep cycle,” resulting in fewer movements.
Or, your placenta may be located on the front wall of the uterus (anterior position), which can muffle the sensation of movement.
Sudden Bleeding
Some pregnant women experience heavy bleeding when a miscarriage is indicated.
Vaginal bleeding is one of the signs and symptoms of miscarriage.
If you notice discharge from the vagina that is brown or bright red, contact your doctor immediately.
However, before you panic, note that spotting or light red discharge during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is common.
But if you are worried, it’s best to consult a doctor to confirm the condition.
If you are experiencing a buffalo pregnancy, make sure to continue having regular check-ups with your obstetrician and maintain a healthy diet, Mom.
To ease anxiety, you can get an ultrasound to ensure that the fetus is growing healthily even if you don’t feel any pregnancy symptoms at all.
Originally published on theAsianparent Indonesia
