A woman had no idea she was pregnant until she went into labour while working a shift at Nando's - 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 when she realised she was carrying a child.
Like a many 18-year-olds, the youngster from Laindon, Essex, spent her weekends clubbing drinking with friends in skimpy outfits.
Alongside her school work, Destiny also worked part-time at Nando's while living with her mum, Diane Coull, 55, who works as a nursery assistant.
But everything changed when the youngster showed up for a shift on April 13, 2022, and felt as though she were experiencing period cramps, despite not being due on for two more weeks.
Destiny Stephens-Coull pictured at 20 weeks pregnant, unbeknownst to her. The 21-year-old was shocked to find out she was pregnant as she had still had her periods and a flat stomach
The young mum pictured holding her newborn son. She was just 18 when she found out she was pregnant while working a shift at Nando's
Destiny pictured with her mum,Diane, pictured holding baby Kingsley at home. The now 21-year-old said motherhood didn't kick in for the first few days
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.'
Destiny ended up bleeding heavily in the toilet for over an hour before being rushed to Basildon Hospital, Essex.
'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.
To her bewilderment, Destiny was told she was six months pregnant - despite having periods and gaining no weight.
Destiny pictured with Kingsley. The young mum held onto her baby's tiny hand after he was place in emergency care
Kingsley, pictured, had to fight for his life after being born 10 weeks early to his unsuspecting mum
Destiny pictured sharing a cuddle with her son at home. Son, Kingsley is now two-years-old
Destiny was told Kingsley (pictured at home) may have difficulties walking and talking due to his premature birth, but the little boy, who is now two, seems to be meeting his milestones
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.'
The mum-of-one, said: 'I remember bleeding in the Nando's toilets and it was really heavy - coming out like a tap.
The next thing she new, she woke 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.
Fortunately, two years on, both Destiny and her little boy are doing well.
Like many others her age, Destiny was a normal 18-year-old who liked to go out clubbing and drinking on the weekend. When she found out she was pregnant, she was horrified she'd been out the previous weekend
The mother of one pictured in hospital after the birth. Destiny was so petrified to tell her mum the shocking news, she asked a midwife to do it for her
Little Kingsley, pictured in an incubator after, was born by C-section weighing 3lbs 1oz at 29 weeks and had to be rushed to the NICU
Kingsley pictured in hospital nestled with a Disney blanket with his name on it. The tiny tot surprised everyone around him when he arrived
Destiny pictured cuddling her newborn in hospital. The mum of one said she'd never planned to have children so long because she feared the judgement from others
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.
'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 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.'
When Kingsley, pictured healthy and happy, was born prematurely, he spent the first few months of is life in NICU while doctors found a way to stabilise him
Destiny said that she is not 'ecstatic' to be a mum after falling in love with her surprise baby boy, Kingsley (pictured)
Grandma to the little one, Diane, pictured having a cuddle with her new grandson
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.'
