TTC#2: repeated faint +ve tests followed swiftly by AF

I hope you're not losing the pregnancy. I don't think I'm having implantation bleeding though, I think this is breakthrough bleeding. I had implantation bleeding with ds and it was brown, at approximately the time my period was due. this time I think the brown spotting I had for two days from cd 28 was the implantation bleeding. Were the two tests the same brand? I only ask because different brands require different levels of hcg to trigger a positive test result, so you could easily get a fainter line on a different test if you'd had a strong line on a previous test. I'm no doctor but I imagine a big glass of water before a test can effect it too, by diluting the amount of hcg in your urine so don't lose heart just yet. Hope things turn out well for you! x

Thanks so much for your response, i'm just off to work but will try and check in later. It's the second tests that are a fainter bfp guess that'll mean i'm losing the pregnancy. I really hope it's not. guess only time will tell. It's good to know implantation bleeding can be red also. Goodluck x

Hiya hopefulnicci...

The way things were with me is that I was a couple of days late for my period. I'm usually pretty regular so that alerted me straight away, even ignoring all the nausea I was feeling. I was spotting brown blood for two days from cd 28 and then on cd 30 I had some red blood. That stopped in the evening, then on cd 31 I had another morning of red blood. Today, cd32 I've had only the tiniest amount, which is now turning brown.

I tested myself on the clearblue digital, partly because I was sent one free to try by mn , so I didn't have to have that "is there a line there or not" agony you seem to have.

I'm going to make an appt to see the doc on thursday, I still feel pg, I've been nauseas all day and my boobs still feel odd. I might buy another test before then, I don't know, depends if I get a chance. I do know when I tested with a traditional test when I was pg with ds I had a very strong blue line the second the pee hit the stick on cd 32. In a way I'm almost scared to try....

I've always read on here a line is a line no matter how faint but I am a bit confused when you say the line is faint now, does that mean you've done a second test or the line on the original test is faint? If it's the second one then I'd ignore that as they do fade over time I think.

hth, good luck

Headfairy, i've been reading your posts with gr8 interest. Congratulations with ur bfp! wondered if you could tell me a little more about the pattern of your bleeding. i was convienced i was pregnant and 2 days ago although i started spotting mainly on wiping i got a bfp on a FRER. Problemis i've continued to bleed, still not enough to fill a tampon, but now hpt appears only v faint second line, husband says bfn. blood now red, what colour was ur bleeding and how long did it last, sorry for all the questions, just clutching at straws, i'm currently 11 dpo. (confused) x

Thanks for that realitygap... that's reassured me a lot. Bleeding has stopped again too, still keeping everything crossed though...

Good luck to all those waiting for their bfps!

HeadFairy,

the digial pregnancy tests always take ages to come up no matter "pregnant" you are. And it isn't worth even taking the stick out and looking at it as it can be faint again with a strong positive

The symptoms all point towards things looking good - hope it works out for you

wishing BFP for everyone looking for them x

Thanks so much for the crossed fingers, it must have worked because I got a +ive test this morning (cd 32) with a clear blue digital. I did carry on with some bleeding, but it seems to have stopped now. Still feeling pregnant, boobs feel tingly and have been nauseous all day, so I'm keeping everything crossed. What gave me the heebeegeebees was that it took ages for the pregnant indication to come up, I don't know if that's normal for digital pregnancy tests. I used a standard line test last time I was pg, and a really strong blue line appeared the second the pee hit the stick. That always reassured me, the thought that there was tons of pregnancy hormones to give such a strong positive result. I might have to go and buy an old fashioned test tomorrow, mind you, I'm feeling so sick that I'm hoping it's a good sign.

Gah! Blooming period has stopped dead. It was a tiny amount, not enough to fill a tampon (sorry 'bout that) so now I'm back to thinking i'm pg.

Roseability, I hope things work out right for you and it sticks this time.

I've never experienced this chemical pregnancy thing, how do I know if this is what's happened to me?

Is the period after a chem pg particularly heavy?

I know that after mc many women experience a slight surge in their fertility, is this also the case with chem pg?

So many questions....

hobnob - I know your reasoning.

Part of me wants to test, to know, so that if it doesn't stick again I have evidence that something might be wrong.

But then is there something wrong if you have repeated chemical pregnancies? Or is it, whilst terribly upsetting, quite natural? Of course I mean that as no disrespect as I know there is nothing 'natural' feeling about it when you go through it. But if there is a 50% statistic, then that is a 50% chance it won't stick each time you conceive. One month, one will stick I'm sure.

And whilst I hated people saying 'at least you know you can get pregnant' (with a passion!) are more pressing problems with conception a lack of ovulation or poor sperm quality? I don't know, just waffling!

I suppose i'm just trying to be supportive but I worry I am in danger of trivialising chemical pregnancy. I know how horrible and sould destroying it is when you know, even for just a day or two you are pregnant, and then it is all taken away from you. You still visualise 'a baby', work out due dates etc

It sucks ttc soemtimes. I just hope the sex is good!

This is very interesting for me. I didn't know about the 50% statistic for chemical pregnancies. I've been convinced I was pg, I was three days late, been having brown spotting for days and loads of pains, plus boobs keep feeling like I'm getting a milk let down and nipples are really dark. However have just started period, so perhaps I had a chemical pregnancy too. How very weird, it had never occured to me these things were possible.

I think that all these v sensitive tests have alot to blame for all this heart ache. There is alot to be said for roseability's approach - although I wouldn't hold out that long

I think testing with a high level test (clearblue) on the day of your longest ever cycle - CD32 for me, but usual cycle 28. Should give you more reliable results.

Some of these fertilisations are never meant to implant, and early losses are natures way of protecting us, we shouldn't have to beat ourselves up about them.

forgot to add I am very sorry for what you have been through hobnob. It is so tough and such an emotional rollercoster

Still no period, so one week late tomorrow (I have a pretty regular 28 day cycle)

I don't feel nauseous anymore but have very sore boobs and need to pee a lot!

I am not testing until next week. I went through so much stress with the 2 chemical pregnancies. I refuse to spend a fortune on tests and squint at lines!

My plan is to buy a digital next week. Just pregnant or not pregnant - NO LINES! If I am preggers a test will definatley show positive by then. If I start bleeding before then I will just presume my period was late. In a twisted way I think if I miscarry but I am 6 weeks, I might be taken more seriously by my GP. Some people don't view chemical pregnancies as true miscarriages

The waiting is killing me though. I am not a laid back person and not sleeping very well

Hey Hobnob. I know that pregnancy can change your thyroid activity which can cause secondary infertility. Don't know however, if and how that influences implantation. Sorry to hear that AF arrived.

Hi HobNob

I had 2 consecutive chemical pregnancies in July/August

At the moment my period is 4 days late and I have lots of symptoms. I am convinced I am pregnant again but dare not test. I spent an absolute fortune on HPTs and spent too much time squinting at barely there pink lines in the window, I can't face going through it again.

It is so tough. Have fingers crossed for you (and myself).

Don't know when I am going to pluck up the courage to test!

I do admire you. I have a 17 month old and can't even contemplate trying again. I would imagine that having finally taken the plunge to try, the frustration is increased.

It took me 13 months, a chemical preg and miscarriage to conceive my dd. The idea of going through it again is maddening.

I'll look out for your 'I'M PREGNANT' thread with bated breath.