A WOMAN had no idea she was pregnant until she went into labour while working a shift at Nando's in Basildon - but is now thriving with her miracle son.
Destiny Stephens-Coull, 21, was doing her final year of college and had just been offered a place at university for the following year.
Like a normal 18-year-old, she went out clubbing on the weekends, wore crop tops and drank booze with friends.
Destiny, from Laindon, worked part-time at Nando's while living with her mum, Diane Coull, 55, a nursery assistant.
But everything changed when she showed up for a shift on April 13, 2022, and felt cramps like her period starting - even though she wasn't due on for two more weeks.
She ended up bleeding heavily in the toilet for over an hour - before being rushed to Basildon Hospital, Essex.
To her bewilderment, Destiny was told she was six months pregnant - despite having periods and gaining no weight, and needed an emergency c-section under general anaesthetic.
She awoke to meet her unexpected son, Kingsley, now two - who then had to fight for his life after being born 10 weeks premature on April 13, weighing 3lbs 1oz.
But two years on, both Destiny and her little boy are doing well.
The mum-of-one, from Laindon, said: "I remember bleeding in the Nando's toilets and it was really heavy - coming out like a tap.
"We went to A&E and they did a scan - then suddenly a nurse was beside me telling me I was pregnant.
"I just said 'there's no way - I went out clubbing last weekend.
"When I first saw Kingsley, I didn't feel like a mum - he was adorable, but it felt like I'd been given a random baby to look after.
"But when I fed him for the first time, I knew he was mine.
"I never planned to have a child and I thought I'd be judged because I'm so young - but everyone has been so supportive.
"But I'm so happy - Kingsley is growing up to be such a kind and caring little boy."
Destiny - who now works part-time at a pub - arrived at Nando's just before starting her 3pm shift on April 13.
She was a regular 18-year-old - who went clubbing and was drinking Hennessy and Cokes with her friends every weekend.
But as she arrived she felt her period start - despite not being due on - and rushed to the loo.
After 30 minutes, she called her manager to bring some tampons - but she was bleeding too heavily to get it in.
She said: "The toilets were like a murder scene - there was blood everywhere.
"We went to A&E with me bleeding through my work uniform.
"I was stood in the corner with a puddle of blood at my feet.
"I passed out from the blood loss and woke up to nurses around me.
"They asked me if I was pregnant - and I said no."
Destiny lost four litres of blood and needed several transfusions.
Doctors did scans and then told Destiny she was pregnant, to her complete shock.
She said: "I freaked out so much. I'd been clubbing and drinking, I danced a lot, I had a flat stomach.
"I thought there was absolutely no way. I was too scared to tell my mum so the midwife had to break the news to her."
Little Kingsley was born by c-section weighing 3lbs 1oz at 29 weeks and had to be rushed to the NICU.
He fought for his life - having been born with two brain bleeds as well as hydrocephalus and jaundice.
Destiny said: "When I first saw him, I thought he was cute but I didn't feel like a mum.
"I never went through pregnancy or scans or a gender reveal, so motherhood didn't kick in for a few days."
The tot stayed in the NICU until August 2022, while doctors found a way to stabilise him.
He ended up having a shunt inserted to drain the fluids on his brain.
Destiny was told Kingsley may have difficulties walking and talking, but the little boy, who is now two, seems to be meeting his milestones.
While she feels sad she never got the traditional pregnancy experience of having a bump, scans or a gender reveal, she's grateful for Kingsley.
She is now living in a mother and baby unit with him - with plans to get her own place in the near future for the two of them.
Reflecting on the experience, Destiny said: "It's still weird to think about.
"I remember before this happened, I read a story about a woman who had a cryptic pregnancy and I thought 'how did you not know at all?'. But now people ask that question of me.
"If someone told me three years ago that at 21 I'd have a two year old son, I'd have told them they were lying.
"But now I'm used to being a mum and I'm ecstatic he is my son."
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