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Pregnancy

Pregnancy test getting lighter

12 replies

Focusfocus · 21/03/2015 11:31

I'm 7 weeks pregnant today. Got my bfp at 9 DPO and have seen lines getting hugely darker till about a day or so ago, when they had got upto deep giant dark things.

From 7 weeks I am seeing the line getting lighter. Still as strong as control line and appearing immediately even before the pee has travelled up to the full length of the test but that dark magenta isn't there.

We saw a strong heartbeat and great measurements at 6+2 and my debilitating fatigue, breathlessness and sore nipples are all there. But the lighter tests are worrying me. They couldn't have possibly got any darker than they'd got but why are they getting less dark now? :(

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mamapants · 21/03/2015 11:40

Why are you still testing and how often?
I think the hormone responsible for a positive test gets higher up to a point in pregnancy, then plateaus or decreases. Am sure someone who knows their stuff will confirm shortly.
Is there a reason you keep testing?

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scatterbrainedlass · 21/03/2015 11:43

Agree with pp, why on earth are you still taking pregnancy tests? All they do is measure the hormone levels in early pregnancy to confirm pregnancy before you have any other symptoms. You have heard the heartbeat, you are definitely pregnant.

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Focusfocus · 21/03/2015 11:47

Still testing cos a friend of mine told me that's how she spotted her missed miscarriage. I know if it happens it will happen but ever since I heard that I thought the darker it gets the "better" it is. Christ, I am an academic and lecture hundreds of students at Masters level - just hearing myself there makes me realise I've finally truly lost it :(

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Superexcited · 21/03/2015 11:49

Google the hook effect. The hook effect is what causes the lines to get lighter from 7/8 weeks.

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SunbathingCat · 21/03/2015 11:54

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ToriB34 · 21/03/2015 11:59

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GotToBeInItToWinIt · 21/03/2015 11:59

In the nicest possible way, yes you've lost it Smile. Step away from the tests!!!

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TinyMonkey · 21/03/2015 22:12

Stop testing, amd google hook effect.

Also, even after I had an ERPC due to an mmc, I was still testing positive for four weeks, so it's not a way of telling.

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Figwin · 22/03/2015 01:21

Stop testing. It must be costing you a fortune!

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scatterbrainedlass · 22/03/2015 09:28

Sorry if we sounded a bit harsh focus, I guess it's a worry for all of us that we may miscarry. However, things are looking good for you, and hard as it may be, the best thing for you and baby is to try and relax.

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MorgansMummy24 · 22/03/2015 09:31

If you are testing so often at this stage you are going to have a long pregnancy lol

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pepperfish · 26/03/2015 18:57

I will attest that the hook effect is a real thing! I had exactly the same thing at your stage and worried myself silly (I'm now 32 weeks).

I would say stop testing but I know how hard it is. If you really want to test the theory, dilute your pee with 50% water and try again. When I did this, my line suddenly went a lot darker. I stopped testing after this and never felt the need to again :-)

If you are otherwise well with no bleeding or cramping I should think you are fine x

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