Woman who didn’t know she was pregnant gives birth at major festival

30 Aug 2025 • 3:01 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Kayla Thompson, 37, unexpectedly gave birth to her first child, a baby girl weighing three pounds nine ounces, at the 2025 Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada.
  • Thompson had no prior knowledge of her pregnancy, experiencing sharp pains she initially mistook for an illness before realising she was in labour inside her RV.
  • Festival attendees, including a neonatal nurse, a paediatric doctor, and an OBGYN, quickly came to their aid, with official medical staff arriving shortly after.
  • Due to space constraints, the newborn was airlifted to a hospital, while the parents travelled separately by car, taking nearly four hours to reach their daughter.
  • The baby was confirmed healthy upon arrival at the hospital, and the couple expressed gratitude for the community spirit shown by fellow festival-goers amidst challenging weather conditions.

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