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!

Hi hi! So I got my second tests results back - (44 hours between 1st and 2nd tests). The first one was 9888 and the second one was 15453. This isn't doubling - but I know they sometimes say that it's okay if it doubles between 48 and 72 hours. Hopefully this is okay? I asked my clinic what they thought and they've - annoyingly - said they don't interpret HCG results! xx

That sounds very positive to me - really high levels and a more than 60% increase (if my sums are right?!) in less than two days. How are you feeling about it, hopefully reassured?

Your clinic sounds fairly unhelpful, by the the way…

Thanks @Rach247 - yes I'm feeling reassured, and apparently the hcg rate doubles up to 6,000 and then slows a bit? Who knows. And yes - my clinic is being spectacularly unhelpful!!! Anyway, now I think I have to relax into the uncertainty of it and try and embrace it. I've discovered that I hate uncertainty!!!!

Hello! Me again! I just wanted to get back in touch as I’m now 7 weeks pregnant and really still feeling no symptoms- I had been feeling ravenous, but that had passed. I’m definitely feeling very anxious about this one - after the loss of the last one. I had really bad back pains in the night earlier this week, and my GP advised me to go to A and E; they referred me to EPU and I got an early scan. All was fine - they detected a heartbeat and measurements were all okay, which was a huge relief!!! There was a second gestational sac but it had stopped developing :-(. Because I have to insert suppositories, this morning I noticed that my cervix was quite low and hard when it’s previously been high and soft. Does anyone have any similar experience of this? I’ve googled a bit and in others, there have been cases of it leading to miscarriage. I think that that, coupled with zero symptoms is making me nervous! Thanks for reading and advice much appreciated! Xx

Oh goodness, you are having a time of it. Congratulations on the heartbeat and measurements!

Could the drop in symptoms coincide with the second sac stopping developing? When is your next scan?

Hi @Rach247 yes I was thinking that might be what is happening too. Next scan on Thursday which seems like ages away but sure it will come round soon enough! X

I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the cervix meanings - perhaps someone else on this thread will.

But I think if you had a scan this week and saw a heartbeat, and your symptoms were already low at that point, then it’s looking good.

Obviously it’s awful about the second sac not developing, and that must be doing some confusing things to your body and your hormones. No wonder you’re panicking.

But truly, a heartbeat and correct measurements should be really reassuring. That little one is a fighter! X

@Rach247 Thanks for your reply! Yes, I think I'm going to try and forget about the whole cervix thing. And yes it's true - I think that crazy hunger (I'm a vegetarian, haven't eaten meat for 15 years and eat three sausages in one day!) was perhaps when there were two in there. The heartbeat and the measurements were reassuring - for all of about a day! But, I know there's nothing I can do to change the outcome. I really don't feel anything at all - but I know that doesn't necessarily mean the worst, so I'm just going to try and stay calm (and distracted!) and wait until Thursday. Thanks again for your kindness x

How are you feeling now? Not long to Thursday!

@Rach247 thanks for checking in! Yes physically, I don’t feel any different. Emotionally, I swing between thinking it definitely has stopped developing and that everything will be fine, and that’s swinging between is quite draining. I’m sort of dreading tomorrow x

I can really understand. I had a series of early (private) scans, and in between each one I convinced myself that this would be the one that confirmed the pregnancy wasn’t viable. When I saw a heartbeat (but always with a qualification, like the wrong-sized sac, or measuring too small), it felt like delaying the inevitable rather than good news. It’s a total, awful headfuck and you can’t stop thinking about it for a minute. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, and fiercely hope you get a good outcome. There will hopefully come a time in the next few weeks where you have to decide to trust the pregnancy, for your own sanity, but I appreciate you feel it’s probably too early for that yet.

Hi @Rach247thanks for the solidarity - it really is a headfuck. I can’t imagine how it might be developing if I feel so entirely normal. Did you have symptoms at 7/8 weeks? But I realise everyone is different too

No symptoms for me, either. It definitely adds to the stress and the surreality.

@Rach247 yes it does add to how surreal it is. My scan is later this afternoon and feeling scared! X

Oh please keep us posted @GoldJules, I’ve been thinking of you today!

@Rach247 all was fine!!! My word, it was such a relief. Strong heartbeat, all measurements looking good. Couldn't quite believe it. Thanks again for all of your support! xx

Fabulous news! So wonderful!

How many weeks are you now?

I’m so relieved for you!

@Rach247 thanks so much! I’ll be 8 weeks on Sunday x

I am still following and am so happy for you!
So glad you had good news!

@Releasethehoundss thanks! I’m still trying to take it one step at a time, but defo one milestone down! X

How’s it going @GoldJules? have you got your 12 week scan soon? How have you been feeling?

Yes, an update, please...
❤

Hi! @Rach247 and @Releasethehoundss thanks so much for checking in! It’s so kind of you. Yes indeed, my 12 week scan is next week! I had one just before I was 10 weeks as i was quite worried about having no symptoms but all was well. I still don’t really feel anything, which feels quite perturbing but I generally feel less worried. That isn’t stopping time moving SO SLOWLY between now and next Thursday (scan date), although we have also just started work on our next extension - so between that and work, managing to keep myself distracted! I hope you guys are well and enjoying the sun and thanks again for your kind thoughts xx

Just checking in to see how's things

Yes how was the scan?