Woman gives birth inside James Island supermarket

A woman surprised shoppers and workers Thursday afternoon when she unexpectedly gave birth inside a bathroom at a Bi-Lo supermarket on James Island.

James Island Fire Chief Chris Seabolt said firefighters responded to the store at 860 Folly Road around noon.

The mother already had given birth, and she and her child were transported to a hospital, he said.

Seabolt said he had no information on the mother’s age, identity or what she was doing in the store.

She and her child appeared to be all right, he said.

A store employee who contacted The Post and Courier said the mother works at the store and had not realized she was pregnant.

Store manager Peggy Moore could not confirm those details or whether the incident even happened.

“We cannot say anything,” Moore said. “People have privacy rights.”

Childbirth by unexpecting women is not a new concept.

“I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” a TV show that airs on Discovery Channel, re-enacts such stories.

The show’s website lists the Top 10 reasons women might not know they are pregnant, including concealing body fat, a lack of side effects, stress and mental health problems.