chemical pregnancy advice please

[Newmama93]

Hi everyone

i posted yesterday that my 12DPO test was lighter than my 11DPO test, today I did one FMU at 13DPO and this is it compared to my 10DPO one. Is this a definite chemical? Am I ruled out yet? It is a bit darker maybe but for 3 days not a lot and I’m having back ache. I’m so sad as this will be my second loss in a row. I’d expect a bigger change at this stage.

My early miscarriage progressed like this. I'm sorry. The cycle after an early loss/ chemical pregnancy has higher chances of success, so fingers crossed for you. DS was conceived immediately after my loss.

This could be anything from a different batch of tests to a different concentration of hCG in the urine (more time held/different time of day)

I would not panic yet. The idea of "line progression" is mostly unproven and is more relevant when you're only on the borderline for showing positive. Those are both clearly positive tests, so I don't see any reason to assume that you are miscarrying.

I’ve already had a miscarriage before this cycle which I was apparently more fertile.

thanks all I’m not testing anymore I’m just waiting on bloods now as I’m just obsessing. Appreciate all the comments

This is my 10, 11, 12dpo day, see how faint 12dpo is.

I threw 11 and 12dpo tests in the bin because it was sending me mad, so I then only had the 10dpo test to compare my 13DPO too.

Got bloods yesterday so in 48 hours when second lot are back I should know.

Not particularly helpful for someone who has only had one miscarriage - and this is coming from someone who’s had many, many miscarriages.

I’ve only had one chemical and it didn’t look like yours, op. Actually, out of all my pregnancies, the only one where lines got lighter like that were my son. I was sure we were going to lose him too; but he’s here and he’s perfect.

Here are my lines from 11-13dpo. Lightest 13dpo.

Do you want results or platitudes? 🤷‍♀️

No one can really know what’s going on at the moment. Talking about ‘chemical pregnancy’ isn’t helpful either.

The NHS use the term “biochemical pregnancy” even at the recurrent miscarriage clinic.

However, there is nothing to suggest the OP has recurrent miscarriages. She’s had one single miscarriage. 1 in 4 pregnancies ends this way; the vast majority of them are of unknown reason.

To suggest autoimmune issues to someone after a single miscarriage is alarmist. I have antiphospholipid syndrome myself; so I do know quite a lot about it - however, only 1 in 100 women have recurrent miscarriage. There is a very low chance that OP is in that category.

Of the 1 in 100 women who have recurrent miscarriage, a cause is only found in 25% of these. And of these 25% who have a known cause; many are genetic, many aredue to physical abnormalities in the mother, and a small number are due to immune issues.

Waiting for three consecutive miscarriages is not necessary now either. I was referred after 2 in 2012; and again after two in 2020.

Got bloods back from yesterday, they were 80 not sure if that’s good or bad, I think my period is due between today and Friday.

It's not the level, but the rate at which the HCG doubles which is important.
Are they taking more blood, OP?
And do ignore the arseholes on this thread. So unhelpful.

Thank you, he said come back in a week or two if I didn’t have any symptoms and he’d check it but I’ll most likely ask for one tomorrow

I read lots of people said if it’s not over 100 with a lot of studies if usually ends not viable

That’s not at all true. Hcg typically doubles every 48 hours. Anything over 5 is considered positive.

let’s assume you implanted at around 6dpo and your background hcg level is 1.

6dpo - hcg 1
8dpo - hcg 2
10 dpo - hcg 4
12 dpo - hcg 8
14 dpo - hcg 16
16 dpo - hcg 32
18 dpo - hcg 64
20 dpo - hcg 128

6dpo is super early for implantation. 8-9dpo is more common. How many dpo are you? I actually think 80 is fab for your gestation.

I was 13DPO when I got bloods, got the first positive 10DPO.

thank you for the positivity!!

My tests lines didn't get much darker in the early days. I remember one day I think it was 12dpo that was actually lighter than 11dpo. It's too early and I honestly think there's a good bit of progression on your 13dpo. There's nothing to suggest you're not still pregnant, usually the lines get lighter or fade to nothing on a CP. The early days are hideous, you have my sympathy but looking at those lines I don't think you have anything to worry about. I don't think frers are all they are cracked up to be either, I think there's better progression on other brands. I wouldn't use them.

Did you test before 10dpo?
What is the sensitivity on those tests?
Have you had the bloods done twice 48h apart?

There is a table on here which shows average HCG by dpo and you can see that 80 would be at the top of the range for your gestation.

https://www.drmalpani.com/amp/knowledge-center/articles/hcg

Did they take your progesterone level?

Although to be honest, I’ve had perfect HCG and miscarried. I’ve had perfect hcg and had an ectopic. I’ve had lower hcg and had a healthy pregnancy (although I had good doubling time) and I’ve had high hcg and had a successful pregnancy.

You should definitely try and get a scan at around 6 weeks if possible. It’s usually quite cheap to get it done at those gender scan places.

Yes I did with the FRER, I got a faint line only on 10DPO.

wow okay thanks I thought it would be over 100 as it was going into week 4, my dates are all over as I haven’t had a period since my miscarriage. I guess it’s also a worry I’ve had lots of energy and no real symptoms except some nipple sensitivity and strong cramps. But I know it’s all the extra anxiety! Thanks again only time will tell

When I had my latest MC I had the strongest lines and high hcg so you never do know. I just tested after a coffee on this cheapie not a frer and I’m only due period today or next few days, feeling slightly relaxed. Wish the cramps would go!

Not at all, honey.
80 sounds fine for where you are in your pregnancy.

Honestly, if I was you I’d stop testing. It isn’t going to change the outcome. That’s a great line for before you even miss a period.

My least crampy pregnancy was my second ectopic. My most crampy was my son. My chemical was just like a period - the cramping started and I started bleeding right away. There was no build up.

Good luck! It’s super scary. I’m so glad that we are two and through; early pregnancy is so stressful! What helped me is that every day you are still pregnant, your chance of miscarriage decreases. It’s not like a magical sudden drop at 12 weeks, it’s a gradual decrease from implantation. Most people just go for 12 weeks because it’s the normal date of your dating scan.

The cramps are not a bad sign. They're completely normal.

Do we want to talk about how miscarrying women are actually treated in NHS hospitals? Even in EPUs...?? I think you'll find it falls far below any gold standard, with many attempts to minimise & blame the experience of the mother

I know the stats, thanks. And antiphospholipid antibody syndrome accounts for 15% of that 1%. It is the greatest single cause.

My point was only that calling something a 'chemical pregnancy' dismisses any potential problems which might be underlying, aside from the natural failure rate of human conception. Several researchers in the field have taken issue with the exact same expression.

However, I hope the OP is doing ok.

The doctor said if was low which is so frustrating but he has nothing to go off by so trying not to get dishearten and they’ll check tomorrow as well as progesterone, thanks everyone I’ll keep you updated x

I was treated amazingly by the NHS through all of my pregnancies and I have absolutely no complaints.

First pregnancy, scanned at 6 weeks due to severe cramps, no heartbeat, offered counselling.

Second pregnancy, scanned at 6, 7 and 8 weeks, no heartbeat at 8 weeks, referred to recurrent miscarriage clinic. All tests normal. Offered counselling.

Third pregnancy, emergency scan at 5 weeks due to cramps, confirmed ectopic, referred straight to EPU. Had fantastic treatment there.

Fourth pregnancy, scanned 6,8,10,12,14 weeks at EPU, then at 20,24,28,32 weeks, and twice weekly until 40 weeks. Referred for free hypnobirthing and counselling with a recurrent miscarriage specialist midwife.

Fifth pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, bloods taken by EPU even though j didn’t meet the criteria.

Sixth pregnancy, ectopic discovered at 6 weeks. Referred back to recurrent miscarriage clinic. Tested positive for antiphospholipid syndrome. Referred to fertility clinic, had whole raft of tests done there too.

seventh pregnancy, scanned weekly through first tri and third tri.

I was absolutely supported through all my pregnancies. I’m sorry your situation wasn’t as good as mine but I don’t think you can generalise like you are here.

Antiphospholipid syndrome isn’t 15% of the 1%. It’s 15% of the 35% of the 1%.

1% of couples have recurrent miscarriage.
25% of the 1% have a known cause.
15% of the 25% of the 1% have antiphospholipid syndrome. It has an incidence rate of between 5 and 50 per 100,000 and is more common in the elderly than in those of reproductive age. You can also be positive for the antibodies for it for short periods of time, even if you do not have APS. It is a rare condition and OP has absolutely no reason to suspect this is the cause. It’s absolutely ridiculous, to be honest.

It’s akin to someone having the cold and it being suggested they have leukaemia.

It’s low for an HCG reading generally.

It’s not low for an hcg reading at 13 dpo. Most women have not even had a positive test by then.

Within about a week it would be 2000+. Which is why 80 seems “low”