Leo Gillick
Of late, Burning Man has been known for death rather than life, but that’s all changed as a woman gives birth this year without even realising she was pregnant.
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Typically, due to changes in the body, a person will realise they’re pregnant. There are usually some pretty drastic tells, such as a huge change in body shape and a nine-month break from the menstrual cycle. Somehow, though, a woman came to Burning Man unaware she was even pregnant, and then gave birth in the desert.
When It Happened: With almost no warning, Kayla started feeling rough. The Utah woman took herself to the bathroom of her RV, and that’s when it all began. Seemingly out of nowhere, she gave birth at Burning Man.
- “My brother Kasey and his wife Kayla, this was their first time at Burning Man,” Lacey, her sister-in-law said. “Wednesday morning, Kayla woke up, and she wasn’t feeling great. My brother Kasey ran out and said, ‘I need help.’ And they were just met with so much support.”
Help At Hand: Burning Man isn’t the festival it once was. Rather than a bunch of stinky hippies in the deserts, it’s now mostly populated with middle-class professionals. So, there was help on hand. A nurse, an OBGYN, a NICU nurse, and a pediatrician were all at her side in minutes. She couldn’t have chosen a better festival.
Dusty Road To Recovery
The pregnancy was an ectopic one, which means the egg was fertilized outside of the womb. This comes with many complications and risks, and explains, in part, why she didn’t realise she was pregnant.
After the birth of the Burning Man child, she was rushed to a hospital. Despite the days of bad weather, this particular day was clear. She was able to be taken to a nearby emergency room and given the necessary care.
Hidden Birning Man Birth: The family had no idea that she was pregnant, nor did she. Just a few days before, they had all been together.
- “There were no signs of pregnancy. We’re a family that goes out and does things all the time together,” Lacey said. “We were at the lake the weekend before. She was in a swimsuit. She did not look pregnant.”
