Is this dark enough for 18dpo

[PlateSpinner23]

Morning all,

I'm so confused. I am - I guess - currently pregnant. I had a medium-strong positive on a ClearBlue on Wednesday at 14dpo. I then threw myself into a tailspin on Friday when both IC and a second ClearBlue were fainter. I was convinced I was having a chemical.

I'm pretty certain of my days, as I had a positive OPK on the evening of Tuesday 22 Feb.

I've just done a FRER at 18dpo and got a clear positive. But I'm still worried the line isn't dark enough for how far along I should be. What would you be thinking?

Thanks, Helen.

Forgot the final picture!

So that’s 4 positive pregnancy tests.
4 positives, so you are pregnant.

Can I ask, genuinely curious, what will you do if someone says that yes, those “look” like chemical positive pregnancy tests?
What is the process from there?
Can these tests “look” like anything other than.. negative or positive?

This is something that I see LOADS on mn that’s all and I have never had the courage to ask due to fear of being ripped to pieces. (which I brave myself for now)

You're completely right, @Bodybags - we all post our photos here and ask for others to predict the future for us, when of course all we can do is watch and wait! We probably see more intances of chemical pregnancies etc. around here than I'd entirely normal, so maybe we've trained ourselves to expect the worst.

I have been under the GP for very long and unpredictable cycles, and possible PCOS, so I will probably see if I can get bloods done this week to reassure myself that my levels are rising as they should. Xx

@PlateSpinner23 congratulations! At 18dpo my test was a bit darker, but when I had a chemical it was lighter than yours at 18dpo.
I'm currently 8 weeks pregnant and my only advice is get a clear blue digital twin pack.
I did mine at about 13dpo and it said 1-2 weeks, did my second a few days later and it came up with my 3+ weeks.
Issue with the frer is different batches end up possibly show you incorrect line progession.

@Bodybags my chemical was lighter on the frer than OP's pics and never got any darker. Then period arrived 4 days later

@PlateSpinner23 not to worry you but the progress from 14dpo & 18dpo doesn't look much. With my chemical my tests got quite dark (test time was almost same as control on FRER) but quickly lightened & then AF came a few days later. Hopefully this isn't the case for you though.

@Bodybags for me, and many others here, it prepares you for what is likely to come. I would have been totally taken by surprise & a lot more upset had I not know my chemical was pretty much imminent. The tests do (very often) show to be darker as your pregnancy progresses which in turn DOES reflect the level of HCG in your body. Of course it's not absolute in what is to come next and only time will tell but it does help possibly prepare you for a loss which helps for lots of woman on here.

@PlateSpinner23 sorry I have just realised your FRER is your most recent test (I thought the CB was), it looks a lot stronger than the rest. It's really hard to compare tests if they are different brands, and you may be the type to get stronger tests in the evening than during the day (I was). So don't lose hope🤞🏼

So it’s a way of taking some control in an unpredictable and unknown situation.

I describe pregnancy as walking a tightrope in the dark. (for me, that’s always how I felt. 7 miscarriages on).

I had no idea that the colour gave an indication of HCG levels.

Thank you for patiently explaining this and not taking offence, I genuinely struggled to word that post as I didn’t want to upset anyone.

Thanks, everyone. I think I'm feeling more hopeful this evening than I have been for a couple of days. Just got to keep everything crossed xx

Think positively op. If its any help to your sanity they look darker than my chemical lines did

That frer line is darker than mine was on 18dpo

Any updates OP? Xx

This one was a chemical pregnancy. I then had a missed miscarriage in summer 2023 and nothing since. Diagnosed with PCOS in March this year. Still trying.

Sorry not a happier update!