Faint lines @ 16dpo

[FrankieSpencer]

Hi everyone,

I’m 16dpo today and just feel like my lines are no where near strong enough. I had a MMC in October 2022 and chemical in July 2023 and have been trying since. Desperately hoping this is my rainbow baby but I know the lines are looking weak.
I’m the type of person that likes to prepare myself for bad news, rather than live in hope - I genuinely cope better this way. So please please be honest with me if you guys think this looks like another chemical! Thank you so much x

Hello there, I know exactly how you feel. Iv had 3 consecutive chemicals/miscarriages. I am exactly the same I'd rather test and prepare myself. I'll be honest it's so difficult to say if it is going to be a chemical...you could have ovulated different times to when you expected? As long as there is progression I think that's a good sign. I'm currently obsessing over testing thinking I'm pregnant. It really does take over your life when you're so desperate for your little miracle. I honestly think your lines look ok as there is clearly progress in them x

Thank you so much for your reply, I’m so scared!! It completely consumes you doesn’t it… it took us 8 months after our last miscarriage and I was supposed to have surgery in May so had kind of given up until after then - so this was completely unexpected but now I’m obviously going out of my mind!
We spend so many months obsessing over tests, praying and wishing for a second line - then when we get one, we only get worse!!!
Hoping you get your little miracle soon ❤️❤️

I agree with Frankie above. I've had two chemicals and they never progressed like that. On the other hand my son's test was much darker by 16 weeks... but progression is what you're looking for. Hopefully it's late implantation or something like that.
Might be worth going to your GP for a blood test as they can give you a better idea of your HCG levels.
Really hoping for the best for you. Chemicals are so awful to go through so fingers crossed it's a sticky bean 🤞🏼

I'm keeping everything crossed for you. Please keep us updated. And I know it's difficult but try and enjoy being pregnant. X

Thank you so much everyone, I’ve never had a successful pregnancy so have nothing to compare to. My first MMC was a very much unplanned pregnancy, when my period was late I was testing pretty much every day (with normal pregnancy tests, not these early ones) and didn’t get a positive until I was a week late! Of course, we lost that baby at 8w2days but I’m just hoping I’m a slow riser 🤞🤞I will keep you all updated, thank you again for your replies ❤️ x

Hey op @FrankieSpencer I think your lines look great!

I can see the start of a line on your 12dpo test so you likely implanted around 9/10dpo which is the perfect average!

for my chemical I tested positive on 14dpo day AF was due and they never got as dark as yours x

These type of tests take ages to get dark so wouldn't worry

Thank you so so much everyone, I feel like this is something you can’t share with most people as they just think you’re crazy so it’s lovely to have this safe place!
I’ve not had much progression between 15-17dpo but seem to got a bit darker on 18dpo, so I’m very cautiously hopeful ❤️

Beautiful progression @FrankieSpencer !

Update: at 20dpo my lines started to get lighter, so I had resigned myself to a chemical and was just waiting for my lines to go negative. This morning I was expecting a negative based on yesterday mornings test, but it’s come back stronger 🤦🏻‍♀️
I’ve had a complicated MMC in the past and have genuine issues with going to EPAU, I find it just drags things out for me and to be told what I already know but I’m worried that this could be ectopic. I’m only 5w3days based on ovulation but closer to 6weeks based on LMP. We’re also due to start fertility investigations in July on the NHS but my consultant said we had to wait a year from our last miscarriage (which was July last year) so I’m really not wanting to report this miscarriage to the NHS and get pushed back again if this could resolve on its own.
I think I know the responses I’ll get, but what would you do? X
PS - apologies for the dust on that last test, I dropped it and clearly need to hoover under my chest of drawers! 🤦🏻‍♀️

@FrankieSpencer oh you poor thing. What a rollercoaster 😔 I actually think these lines look good! Totally understand why you wouldn’t want to report it. I didn’t report mine to the NHS. Not for any reasons really other than I know nothing could be done. So if it IS worst case, fingers crossed it’s not, I don’t think it matters as such.

Do you have any symptoms at all? And have you taken any digital? They are a bit easier than trying to decipher the line xx

Hi @ToeBeans24, thank you so much for your reply, I’m going out of my mind over here.
Yes I’ve been doing the Clear Blue weeks indicator and I’ve never gotten higher than 1-2 weeks, so that’s not a good sign either.
I’ve had no symptoms at all, but I’m on progesterone pessaries so I think that would mask any bleeding. I think I know I need to go to EPAU just to get some confirmation either way, but I absolutely hate it there and I’d be devastated if they pushed us back another year just to confirm what I already know - not getting any younger with no living children 😞 x

Really feel for you @FrankieSpencer I’m the cycle after a CP last month and BFN with AF on her way. No where near what you’re going through but it’s just crushing. MN is a great forum but sometimes it can be a bit bias. I read so much about conceiving the month after a CP I was so hopeful and now I’m so low.

I can imagine why going to EPAU may be challenging. By kind to yourself and just remember what your feeling is completely valid.

It’s not nice at all having to go but at least you will get some answers. I’m wishing you so much luck xx

@FrankieSpencer if it's a financially viable option for you, could you go for a private scan? That way it wouldn't touch your NHS record if the worst was to happen, but you would at least know whether it was ectopic or not and make a decision on seeing EPU from there. So sorry you're in this position x

Thank you again @ToeBeans24, I’m so sorry you went through this last month - you’re so right, it’s absolutely crushing every time you get that negative & AF makes her appearance.
I never really anticipated how all-consuming TTC would be before I had my first miscarriage, we weren’t even sure if we wanted children but now our whole lives depend on it. We had a lot of complications with the first MMC (scarring, Ashermans’s etc.) and at this point I’m struggling to see us ever bringing home a baby.
I truly, truly hope you get your BFP soon and it’s a sticky one - fingers, eyes, toes and everything else crossed for you! ❤️ xx

Hi @flipflapp thank you so much for your reply! That was definitely a consideration, but I’ve bitten the bullet and called EPAU, they’re going to see me tomorrow. I’m hoping because it will be my 3rd documented, consecutive miscarriage, I’ll be sent for recurrent miscarriage testing. ❤️ maybe have a bit of a delay but hopefully not another year. The limbo of not knowing is too much! X

@FrankieSpencer hi Frankie can I ask how this turned out I’m in the same situation and last time this happened to me it was pregnancy of unknown location leading to MC x

@FrankieSpencer is be keen to know your result too, and hoping you're doing well. My tests look exactly the same after having a Frozen Embryo Transfer x

Hi I’m sorry to jump on but I’m basically the same had my digital positive sunday on clear blue … cheap tests are so faint don’t seem to be getting darker took another digital this morning was not pregnant (first wee) I was so upset. Told partner I don’t know why but decided to do another one this afternoon as I just couldn’t get my head around it and pregnant digital again! Anyone know what’s going on? My head is everywhere ?

How are things, OP?

How many dpo are you now?

And can you post your tests?

I don’t actually know as I wasn’t tracking but AF is two days late. Got a digital positive Sunday digital negative this morning and digital positive this afternoon

Bottom one is yesterday and top one is today

I think I replied to you on another thread.

I don't think the digitals are always reliable, because they need a certain level of hCG in order to work.
Since your hCG changes as the concentration in your urine changes, it's likely that the negative test was just with more dilute urine.

Leave it three days and try a weeks indicator. The lines on your tests look okay to me.

I hope things work out for you. It's horrible, wondering if you're going to start bleeding.

I know I’m so fed up of it now. I’d rather just have AF come (prefer it didn’t and everything was fine) but looking at the tissue every time I go the loo is horrible. I’m worried incase I might have had a chemical but what if my AF doesn’t come ? I’m seriously 28 day cycle to a T! And I can’t understand why it would say not pregnant but then say 4-5 hours later I am after all ready having a digital pregnant on Sunday? It’s the not knowing now have I lost it or not? I just thought the lines have gone lighter so that’s not helping people on here are sooo much darker than mine at the same stage.