‘The Big Bang Theory’: Fans Have Questions About Bernadette’s First Pregnancy

The Big Bang Theory was thoroughly researched and smartly written for all 12 of its seasons. In fact, the series employed a science consultant to ensure everything that Leonard Hofstadter, Sheldon Cooper, Howard Wolowitz and Raj Koothrappali spoke about was correct. With that much attention to detail, you would think the writers would have nailed some of the show’s smaller details. That wasn’t the case, though. Those more minor, less scientific details are actually where many of the show’s plotholes exist. Bernadette Rostenkowski’s first pregnancy, for example, has some serious issues.

When did Bernadette find out she was pregnant?

Bernadette was largely against the idea of having children. In fact, she was so against the idea, that she gave Howard to different stories as to why she wasn’t willing to build a family with him. Whatever her reasoning was, she had a change of heart in season 9. Bernadette told Howard she was pregnant on Valentine’s Day, and, while Bernadette was completely calm about the entire situation, Howard had a bit of a meltdown.

Bernadette did not mention how long she was aware of the pregnancy before telling Howard, or what led her to assume she was pregnant. Since Bernadette was against having children, and Howard was completely shocked by the news, it is safe to assume the pregnancy was not planned. It can be presumed that Bernadette knew about the pregnancy for at least a little while before telling Howard, considering her calm demeanor. How long she knew before sharing the news, however, is anyone’s guess.

Bernadette’s first pregnancy lasted a little longer than a normal, human pregnancy

If Bernadette’s pregnancy seemed to drag on, that’s because it did. Depending on when Howard and Bernadette conceived, she was technically pregnant for almost an entire year. Let’s assume Bernadette didn’t find out she was pregnant until a few days before she told Howard. That would mean she found out in early February. Assuming she found out in the first month, that means the couple conceived in either late December or early January.

Bernadette gives birth to her first child in “The Birthday Synchronicity,” the same episode that featured Amy Farrah Fowler’s birthday. Amy was born on December 17, according to Fandom. Since Bernadette gives birth on or around Amy’s actual birthday, that means she was pregnant for almost a full year, if one assumes the couple’s conception date was in late December.

Bernadette’s pregnancy was not the only storyline that had serious timing issues

While Bernadette’s lengthy pregnancy is a serious inconsistency, it’s nowhere near the largest one that fans have noticed in The Big Bang Theory. The state of the elevator and how it became inoperable is perhaps the biggest plot hole that fans noticed in the series. Early on, Leonard told Penny that the elevator was broken in 2005 or 2006, but he later suggested the accident that broke the elevator took place in 2003.

Additional issues have cropped up, too. Sheldon’s birthday remains shrouded in mystery, years after The Big Bang Theory went off the air. According to the series, Sheldon was born in February. Penny, however, for one reason or another, once suggested that Sheldon was a Taurus. The astrological sign would suggest Sheldon was born in April or May.