Low HCG levels and ongoing pregnancy

[GoldJules]

Hello! I had my 5th embryo transfer in September, and got a faint positive test - did a few more - still quite faint, and decided to get a blood test to see what was going on. 14 days past a 5 day frozen embryo transfer, my hcg was 124. That was on a Thursday afternoon, and when I did another test on Saturday morning (around 42 hours later) it was 224. I did another urine test where the test line is much darker. My clinic advised me that as my hcg was low initially, the pregnancy is unlikely to continue. I guess I'm trying to prepare myself for a miscarriage - but wondered whether anyone had been in a similar position, and had an ongoing pregnancy? Thanks!

@Rach247 @Releasethehoundss thanks so much and will defo be in touch with future updates. Have a lovely weekend x

Hello again! I hope everyone is well and that its okay to reach out again. I had my 6th transfer on Tuesday with 2 x 5bb "hatching blastocysts", after miscarrying after the last transfer. I had taken the week off work to rest up, but on the day after the transfer- I invited my best friend and her kids round for a birthday lunch. It ended up being extremely rushy and pretty stressful as I set myself an unrealistic amount of things to do in very short window, with lots of rushing around, some lifting of heavy shopping etc (realise this is very first world stress!). I am now stressing out that I have threatened the implantation of the embryos. How active were all of you in the 2 week wait? Also, at this point on my last transfer, I was having implantation cramps - and now I feel nothing and tempted to make a call that it hasn't worked. Has anyone had implantation cramps with one pregnancy but not with another? Any words of wisdom, experience or reassurance on either front would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!

Hi, and congratulations on the transfer. I wouldn’t worry about rushing about - you could argue that having something else to stress about is helpful, takes your mind off the conception stress for a while!

I’ve never experienced implantation cramps and I’ve heard the full spectrum of people having them with one pregnancy and not another, having them then getting a negative test, not having them and getting a positive… it’s all so random. I really don’t think you can do anything but be hopeful and realistic.

When are you planning to test?

And I didn’t rest up during the TWW at all, really. Carried on as normal and had a friend’s birthday weekend away, which was pretty full on. I took the view that people manage to conceive under much more difficult conditions and I couldn’t let my whole life be taken over.

Hi @Rach247 thanks so much for your reply. That's so reassuring to hear. And I think being hopeful but realistic is the way forward. It just feels like the stakes are so high now. IVF is soooooo expensive and I am 43 now so it all feels quite difficult, but trying to stay as positive as I can! And yes, in regard to stress and physical activity - I know people conceive in war zones, so have to have a strong word with myself. In the daytime, I generally feel fine and I am able to occupy myself - it's more those horrible in-the-middle-of-the-night moments. I am meant to test on Saturday 28th x

@GoldJules crazily enough, I was recently thinking about you and your Mrs and how you two are getting along. I am glad to read you two haven't given up hope yet.
To answer your question, this pregnancy (25 weeks now) is the first and only time I've ever felt implantation cramping. I had no idea what it was at the time but when I found out I was pregnant, it all made sense. And considering we weren't trying anymore, I was very active. I even framed a wall in my basement and put three new floors in by myself over those two weeks. I would say rest when you can but try not to worry too much about having had a hectic day.
Wishing you luck

Hey lovely- sorry for everything you have been through. Just wanted to chime in that my first IVF pregnancy I felt obvious implantation cramps and my second natural pregnancy I didn't. Wondering now if the cramps I felt for my first IVF round were due to the large amount of progesterone I was taking rather than implantation. I think the symptoms can mirror pregnancy?
First pregnancy I felt the strong cramps at night so there's always the chance you had them but were asleep :)
Sending you lots of luck for your OTD. xx

Hi @Releasethehoundss thanks for your lovely message and for thinking of us! That's so sweet of you. Interesting that you only experienced implantation cramping on this pregnancy and it's reassuring to read how much physical activity you were doing!! Thanks for the luck. I felt really positive on transfer day but hard to hold onto it x

@Jane1284 Thanks so much for your lovely message. Oh that's interesting that you had them for one pregnancy and not the other. Yes, I also had them in the night last time - and they were pretty strong. I am a light sleeper so I think they would have woken me up, if I had them this time. That's why I feel a bit worried that there's nothing at all. I'd love to attribute the cramping to the progesterone but I am on the same level of progesterone this time round. Thanks for wishing me luck! x

How are you feeling, @GoldJules?

Ah thanks for checking in @Rach247 . I've basically just been feeling normal. I have possibly been burping at bit more - and defo some acid reflux, but it really comes and goes and today I haven't really had it at all. It's funny - I want to make the call in mind either one way or the other like "I definitely am" or "I am definitely not", but in reality it's "I might be, but I might not be." Satistically, it's far more likely for me that it didn't work, but trying to stay hopeful without getting my hopes up too much. I really don't feel any different. Did you have symptoms in the 2 week wait? xx

No symptoms at all, and I was desperately symptom spotting the whole time! Both of my pregnancies I felt entirely ‘normal’ and i know how easy it is to lose hope.

I am keeping everything crossed that you get a lovely surprise.

@Rach247 Ah that's reassuring! Thanks for that. Well, let's see - not long now, I'm testing on Saturday. Keep wanting to cave and do it early, but I've come this far!!

Good luck!

Yes, all luck and please come and tell us tomorrow. X

Thanks @Releasethehoundss and @Rach247. Oh yes I am a bit scared. I have had a bit of acid reflux/burping/indigestion but it's all gone now, but perhaps it didn't mean anything anyway! If it's negative - which I feel it probably will be - I just don't know if I can afford to try again, and feel sad that that's what it comes down to :-(. Thanks again for your support - it means a lot

I think you can only cross that bridge if and when you come to it. Do you have any more embryos stored?

@Rach247 yes I have around 9 I think. I’ve definitely used the better graded ones already, but I’ve heard that grading isn’t everything. The transfers are hugely expensive - so it’s a tough decision. Anyway, let’s see!

Morning! I tested this morning (11 days after a 5 day embryo transfer) and it looked very negative - but there was a whisper of a line - so I did an early response test, and there’s another whisper of a line (attaching picture) I spoke to the clinic, and they said to retest on Monday. But I think it was a chemical - I was having some quite strong indigestion symptoms that dropped off - so that figures. Ahhhh deep breaths…

Oh hell @GoldJules you are not having an easy run of things. I’m so sorry. Feels like the cruelest outcome.

I don’t have anything helpful to say other than take your time, you don’t need to rush into any big decisions.

Thinking of you both X

@Rach247 thank you. Yes it's a bit rough, but onwards! Thanks for your kind thoughts x

How are you, @GoldJules?

@Rach247 hiya! Kind of you to check in and sorry for the late reply. Yep I’m okay. I did another test on the Monday which I thought was completely negative, and called my clinic to report that, but when I looked after - there was a very faint line. Anyway, came off the meds and got my period within the next few days. Had a medical review last week - they said no reason not to try again if I feel up for it, so will probs try at least once more. I’m vaguely thinking of transferring 3 embryos but let’s see….

Hello all! I just wanted to update you- I hope that's okay! I had another transfer 11 days ago and got a positive test today! Obviously, VERY much taking it one day at a time after the ups and downs of last time - but cautiously happy! xx

Oh my goodness this is amazing news!!!

I’m so happy for you, how wonderful!

How are you feeling?