A YORK woman who thought she might not be able to have children has had a baby - and she never even knew that she was pregnant.

Dawn Carlyle, 27, from Clifton gave birth at York Hospital on Sunday morning to a 5lb 6oz boy - Nathan Luke - but did not know until an hour before the birth that she was to become a mum.

Her husband, Howard, 31, who works as a council binman, said she was "in a state of shock".

He said earlier this year doctors were investigating whether Dawn might have polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS) - a major cause of infertility in women.

The couple, from Waveney Grove, initially went to see their GP when Dawn's periods stopped and she had put on a stone-and-a-half in weight in five months.

They were asked if they were trying for a baby, and although the couple said they were not, Dawn took a home pregnancy test which came up negative.

After her symptoms continued she was referred to the hospital and had a number of appointments over the following months to try and find out what was wrong.

Dawn, who is manageress of the Jet petrol station on Lawrence Street, had blood tests to try and eliminate possible causes including diabetes, thyroid problems and POS.

Howard said Dawn was worried about the outcome of these tests, never suspecting she might be pregnant.

He said: "We were both really gutted when they thought Dawn might have polycystic ovarian syndrome and they started tests to find out, but we never thought she was pregnant."

"She'd had stomach cramps and was taken in to hospital at 8.15 on Sunday morning - 43 minutes later she'd had the baby.

"I was just completely and utterly stunned. She said to me: 'I don't know what to do' and I said 'shut up and push!'"

Dawn was due at York Hospital on Monday for an ultrasound, which should have shown up her pregnancy.

Adrian Evans, clinical director of obstetrics and gynaecology at York Hospital, said cases where the mother did not realise she was pregnant were quite rare.

He said the home pregnancy test Dawn used only works up to 14 weeks after conception and if she used it after that it would not have worked and POS is one of a number of options looked in such cases.

He said demand for hospital equipment could be one reason why Dawn was not booked in for an ultrasound earlier.

Mr Evans said: "This is not something you would expect to happen - it's an unusual situation to have so many tests and still come out with a live baby at the other end of it."

Howard said it is not exactly how they imagined having their first child, but they are both very happy with the new arrival.

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, July 21, 2004