Gemma Williams, 42, had been saving for an abdominoplasty
A mum unwittingly underwent a £9k tummy tuck operation while pregnant after her tests returned negative results.
Gemma Williams, 42, had been saving for an abdominoplasty – commonly known as a tummy tuck – after years of feeling self-conscious about the “saggy pouches” on her stomach, a result of giving birth to her three children, aged 14, 17 and 20.
For peace of mind, she chose to have the procedure done in the UK and sought out a reputable private hospital in Swansea, Wales.
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On 15 August 2024, Gemma arrived at the clinic for surgery, where medical staff took a urine sample to check her health but “didn’t detect anything” alarming, she claims.
Following the four-hour operation, Gemma was discharged the next day and began her recovery at home.
Over the subsequent months, she experienced symptoms such as “bloating” and “nausea”, which she attributed to “side effects” of the surgery.
In December 2024, during her first shift as a newly qualified nurse at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, a colleague noticed her discomfort and suggested that Gemma might be “pregnant”.
This remark led Gemma to take a pregnancy test, and she was “beyond shocked” when it turned out positive.
An ultrasound scan two days later, at the same hospital, confirmed that she was already 21 weeks into her pregnancy.
Gemma suspects that the urine test before her surgery failed to detect her pregnancy due to a false negative, possibly caused by low levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) – a hormone produced during pregnancy that can be measured in blood and urine to confirm and monitor a pregnancy.
Following what she described as a “normal” pregnancy, her son, whom Gemma prefers not to name, arrived on 2 May 2025, weighing 7lbs 10oz.
Gemma, a nurse from Swansea, Wales, who has since separated from the child’s father, explained: “I hadn’t been on contraception for three years.
“I thought the extended bloating and nausea were down to the procedure – so did the clinic.
“When my friend suggested that I do a urine test, I thought at least I could rule it out.
“It’s very likely the urine sample I took before my tummy tuck didn’t pick up on the pregnancy because my HCG levels were too low. At the beginning of pregnancy, they typically rise.
“I had conversations about my options, but I knew in my heart that I wanted another baby.
“The thought that I was pregnant when I was under anaesthetic made my heart drop.
“Thankfully, my baby is happy and healthy.
“It’s definitely a story for the book – I don’t think I’ll ever be as shocked again in my life.”
Gemma was already mother to three children from a previous relationship and hadn’t intended to have any more youngsters.
She finished her five-year nursing course in August 2024 and chose to reward herself with a tummy tuck she’d been putting money aside for to address the “saggy pouches” on her belly.
The operation smooths and firms the abdomen by eliminating surplus skin and fat whilst repairing damaged abdominal muscles.
After being recommended a private clinic in Swansea, Gemma attended a consultation before arranging her surgery for 21 August, at a cost of £9,500. According to the NHS, there is a heightened risk of miscarriage in patients who undergo anaesthetic and surgery whilst pregnant.
Following the four-hour operation, Gemma remained at the clinic for a day before heading home on 16 August to continue her recovery.
“I felt sick and bloated but I attributed it to the tummy tuck,” Gemma explained.
“The clinic agreed when I rang them about it.”
Yet by December 2024, four months after the procedure, Gemma’s discomfort continued, leading her to take a home pregnancy test.
Gemma said: “I took 10 other supermarket pregnancy tests – all confirmed I was pregnant.
“I kept staring at the tests in disbelief.”
A scan the following day revealed she was 21 weeks pregnant.
She suspects the minimal HCG levels found in her blood by the clinic before surgery meant the pregnancy went undetected.
Although she considered termination, Gemma chose to continue with the pregnancy, giving birth naturally on 2 May 2025 to a baby weighing 7lbs 10oz at Singleton Hospital.
Previously a size 16, Gemma now fits into size 12 clothing.
Reflecting on events, Gemma said: “Looking back, I can’t believe it.
“It’s been turbulent.
“I never expected to have another child, let alone not know for 21 weeks.
“But I’m grateful – my baby boy is adorable.
“He had a good set of lungs on him in the early days.
“He’s getting his little personality and has started to laugh and smile. “Little did I know that I wouldn’t just be dropping a few dress sizes but gaining another little one to my brood. “”.
