Northern Territory News, August 25, 2002 - A TERRITORY woman who did not know she was pregnant got a shock when she gave birth at home, suddenly and without warning.

Rebecca Pierce, 22, was yesterday coming to grips with the surprise arrival of 3.3kg baby Grace.

Ms Pierce went home from work at Woolworths, Coolalinga, 30km south of Darwin, with what she thought was an upset stomach.

Ninety minutes later she found herself in labour and within minutes Grace popped into the world.

"I went to work and came home thinking I had gastro or something -- I went and had a lie down on my bed," Ms Pierce said yesterday. "I just felt like I needed to push and there she was. It was nothing like what I thought it would be. It was all over in a matter of seconds -- I didn't even get to think about what was happening until after she was born."

Ms Pierce was at her Bees Creek home alone when she went into labour on Thursday. After Grace was born she used her mobile phone to text message her friend and neighbour Wendy Tucker for help.

Ms Tucker was there a few minutes after the baby was born.

Ms Pierce said: "I texted her just after she came out. She just said 'Oh my God'."

Ms Pierce said she had no idea she was pregnant -- because she was on a contraception injection and she believed that altered her menstrual cycle.

"I was on Depo (Deprovera) injections -- so I don't really get my periods anyway," she said.

"I didn't really gain any weight either, "I probably gained a few kilos but that's about it. When I got to the hospital the doctor kept saying to me 'Where's your stomach?'. "I seriously only found out I was pregnant after she was born. "The birth didn't really hurt and it was really quick. I was a bit messy, very messy. I was petrified. ``I'm a bit shocked. What am I going to do now? Be a mum!''

Ms Pierce said she was still struggling to come to terms with what having a baby would mean.

``All I brought with me to hospital was Grace and my mobile phone,'' she said. ``We haven't got anything for her - I didn't know she was coming. ``It's certainly changed my life dramatically already. I'm quite happy now that the shock has worn off.''

Ms Pierce said her newborn had been given the name Grace because of the miracle nature of her arrival.

``Wendy said `Amazing Grace' when the ambulance got there and the name just stuck.''

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