Navy: Sailor gives birth to baby on aircraft carrier at sea

NORFOLK, VA -- The Navy says a sailor who never reported being pregnant has given birth to a baby girl aboard an aircraft carrier at sea.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command spokesman Cmdr. Bill Urban told the Virginian-Pilot the 7-pound infant was recently born on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf. Both mother and daughter are doing well and were airlifted to a shore-based hospital.

Urban says the command chain wasn't aware of the pregnancy. The Navy requires expectant mothers to self-report a pregnancy within two weeks of a doctor's confirmation. Expectant mothers are allowed to remain on ship up to the 20th week of pregnancy.

It wasn't clear Monday whether the sailor, who had complained of abdominal pains before giving birth, knew she was pregnant.