Low HCG levels but doubling - advice needed

[Mummytothearkbuilder]

Morning ladies

I'm wondering if someone can help me as I am getting into a right state over this.

I miscarried in Feb and last Friday got a BFP which DH were shocked at but over the moon.

I went to my doctors on Tuesday (7th) to touch base and they took my hcg and progesterone levels on the 7th and on 9th. My doctor has just phoned me with the results and they are doubling but low.

7th May - hcg 88 - progesterone 33.9
9th May - hcg 178 - progesterone 41 (I know that shouldn't be doubling)

Has anyone had low hcg levels and gone onto have a healthy baby. My cycles are long and I thought I was about 4.5 weeks but could I be earlier even though I know when I got my positive opk???

Any advice would be really welcomed - I am tying to be positive but am so scared of another miscarriage :-(

Thanks xxxx

[beckie90]

It all depends on implantation too, not just ovulation, so if the egg implanted slightly later the levels wouldn't start to rise till thats happend. I had a friend with low hcg levels, she went on to have a perfectly healthy little girl. At the minute it does seem real posative that the level has doubled, and the normal hcg range is so wide and ranges from person to person. Hope it all goes ok for you xx

[Mummytothearkbuilder]

Thanks for taking the time to reply beckie90 - I really really appreciate it.

My DH is so positive and I feel like I bring him down with my worries :-( I am hoping that I just implanted late.

Last Saturday I got a 1-2 weeks on a digital clear blue test - should I do another tomorrow?

X

[beckie90]

www.pregnancycorner.com/being-pregnant/health-nutrition/hcg-levels-in-early-pregnancy.html

Hope that link works for you, shows the big range of normal hcgs :)

If you want to take a clearblue then you can but personally I wouldn't because I see so many posts of people worrying because the weeks havnt changed. But its totally up to you :) I really would think seen as its doubling things were going the right way so try to relax a little (easier said then done I know) xx

[beckie90]

Ah its not worked, but type in Google hcg levels in pregnancy it fetches loads of sites up they all give same info, hopefully it might put your mind at ease abit xx

[SmeeHee]

There is a large natural variation in hcg levels - it's not the level that's so important in indicating a healthy pregnancy in the early days but the fact that the level is doubling every two days.

It might well be that you aren't as far along as you thought (opk results aren't that reliable and when you ovulate and have sex doesn't guarantee when you conceive as the sperm and egg can "hang around" for a while before fertilisation occurs).

It also might just be that you naturally have lower hcg levels. I understand why you wanted the reassurance of blood tests but hcg levels do just give you something else to worry about!

My 2nd pregnancy ended in miscarriage and at the time I started bleeding I had very high hcg levels - consistent with being much further along than my dates and the scan showing an empty sac suggested. I ended up having further blood tests and scans but no reasons (twin pregnancy/ectopic or molar pregnancy) were found.

I hope that everything goes well for you!

[SmeeHee]

americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/hcglevels.html is also a good site to show the variation in levels. Your levels are well within the range for your dates.

[ExpatAl]

The doubling is good but more importantly the progesterone is too. Best of luck.

[Mummytothearkbuilder]

Thanks for your comments ladies.

I have spoken with the midwife and she has arranged a early scan for 24th May so just 2 weeks to wait.

I am trying to focus on the doubling rather than the level itself - I guess if its doubling then something is going on in there!!

Xx

[Mummytothearkbuilder]

So I did the clear blue test - mainly because I want it out the house and couldn't just throw it away without peeing on it!!

DH and I had spoken and I was fully prepared for it to say 1-2 weeks as my hormone levels are low but it came back with a clear 2-3 weeks which has reassured me further.

Just wanted to say a massive thanks to those you replied yesterday - I was feeling so scared and you really helped reassure me xxx

[Moominlandmidwinter]

Hi, just wanted to offer you some reassurance. I had a bhcg blood test, at 4+2 (didn't know my dates at the time, but dating scan would suggest this gestation). My level was also 178. Had it taken 3 days later, and was 395, so was doubling fairly slowly. My very healthy 7.5 month old DD is currently crawling around on the floor. The fact that your level is doubling is a very good sign. As you said yourself, you can't be 100% certain of your dates.

Good luck, hope it all works out well this time!

[beckie90]

Aww thats great mummy hope your feeling better now xx

[Alina15]

Informative post. To get to know about the due date of your pregnancy use pregnancy calculator at pregnancy-calculators.com/