When would you get a negative test after a chemical pregnancy?

[weeblueberry]

Right, humour me, I know I'm a flipping idiot.

Last time I was pregnant I was a teeeeeensy bit neurotic about it and did a lot of pregnancy tests nearly one every 3/4 days until my scan. This time I'm obviously trying not to be such a bloody arse but I wondered if I were to take one test a week whether it would show up quickly if the pregnancy ended?

I know we all do, but I really wanted to avoid the getting to the scan and finding out I've lost the baby type thing. And I wondered if doing a regular pregnancy test would flag up any issues?

[SeaSaltMill]

If your hormone level dropped low enough to show a BFN on a HPT, then you would most likely start bleeding /cramping within a day or so.

I knew my last pregnancy was over when I started getting VERY faint tests, after some stronger ones, even after I bled and lost everything, I still had a very faint positive for a few days.

In short, there's no way of knowing for sure, sorry! As a self confessed POAS addict, I did upwards of 25 tests before I decided to stop torturing myself. Luckily (in a sense) I got an early scan because of 3 MC before and that helps, though the reassurance wears off after a few days with that too.

Congratulations! x

[weeblueberry]

Thank you SeaSalt. I'm definitely a POAS addict too. :( And I'm sorry to hear about your losses. I don't have a reason for being neurotic....I just am!

[PresidentSpreadable]

Constant testing wouldn't have saved me from finding out at 9 weeks that I'd had a mmc, my hcg levels hadn't dropped at all and I had no physical signs that anything was wrong.

There's also something called the 'hook affect' which can cause positive hpts to look like they are getting fainter. It's when the hcg levels get too high (at about 8-10 weeks) for the tests to work properly.

Basically, you'll send yourself mad if you keep testing. Maybe get an early scan at 8 weeks? A hb at that stage is a pretty good sign. (Although even that only reassured me things were ok for about 24hrs!)

Good luck.

[PresidentSpreadable]

Oh and get used to being neurotic, I'm 20 weeks now and scans still turn me into a mess of pessimistic thoughts.

[squizita]

First of all, a 'chemical pregnancy' is at such an early stage most women think they've had their period just a day late or so and don't even test (and technically, once you have a positive, it is an embedded pregnancy in the UK). Small point but very important to me as knowing this got me the correct treatment once or twice when dealing with arrogant young Drs in A&E.

The thing about HPTs is are very unreliable as they rely on lots of factors- they test the waste from the HCG in your system, and hydration, diet, time of day etc' can affect them. So I personally wouldn't rely on them.

Also as PP have said - what tends to happen, if you are unlucky and MC (unless you have a medical reason the risk is low, and risk of having more than one even lower ) is before 8 weeks or so, the HCG drops as you start to bleed/same day or in the (rarer) missed miscarriage situation, your body is still building the placenta and the hormones so bloods/HCG still rise.

If you feel anxious, an early/private 'viability' scan at 7-8 weeks might put your mind at ease? Once a HB has been seen the risk of loss falls dramatically.