A planned cruise trip for a New England couple was unexpectedly cut short when the expectant mother went into labor just hours before they were scheduled to set sail. Gary 'David' Glenn and Lauren Siwinski had traveled to the Tampa Bay area in Florida to visit friends before their five-night cruise to Mexico.
Siwinski experienced severe abdominal pain and was taken to HCA Brandon Hospital. There, she received the surprising news that she was already in labor. Glenn recounted the shock of the announcement, telling WBTV, "He comes back, and he goes, ‘You guys are pregnant.’ And I’m like, ‘Is she...what?’ You feel like you’re pinching yourself, and you’re like ‘What are you talking about? This isn’t real.’"
Instead of boarding their Royal Caribbean ship, Siwinski gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Sebastian. Family members have affectionately nicknamed the newborn 'Cruise.' HCA Brandon Hospital shared the news on Facebook, noting that while the baby boy did not make it onto the cruise, he would be a memorable souvenir for his parents. The hospital also posted images of the new parents with Sebastian.
Siwinski had been on birth control and reported no prior signs of pregnancy. Cryptic pregnancies, where pregnancy goes unrecognized until delivery, are uncommon, with studies suggesting approximately 1 in 2,500 pregnancies go unnoticed, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The couple, who became engaged in May, will remain in Florida while they await Sebastian's birth certificate. Siwinski expressed initial concern about the unforeseen circumstances but noted the growing support they are receiving. "I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do, how I’m going to afford this,’' she told WBTV. 'But the more support we get, the better and better I feel.'
