High hCG betas not doubling FET ICSI

[Obrm]

Hi,
I have been frantically googling and searching for anyone who has been in a similar situation to me and what the outcome was.
I have found things on the internet about slow rising betas, but all the things I’ve read are about betas <1000, so I can’t relate.

My heart was broken yesterday when I received a call from the clinic to say my beta hCG levels had not doubled… although it had risen. I have been told to come in for a scan in 1 week time (seven days to me is an agonizing wait).

beta levels:
13dp6dt: 1118 (4+4)
17dp6dt: 3720 (5+1)

Im so upset, everything I have read says that betas stop doubling after a while, but that is when they reach >5000/6000….and I’m nowhere near that. My clinic said they are a little concerned hence why they are scanning me at 6+1 and not the usual 7 weeks.

i have no pain or bleeding, i dont even feel pregnant. My progesterone is fine apparently (around 200) but i am on cyclogest and Lubion so it’s to be expected.

I know no one can say much as a scan will determine what we need to know in a weeks time, but please can anyone share any experience of this…good or bad so I can prepare myself. I’d be so grateful, I’m really struggling after multiple losses and 10 cycles of IVF.

That's a good increase, please try not to worry.

Have a look at this website: http://www.betabase.info/chart/basic/single

13dp6dt is 19dpo, average beta 938
17dp6dt is 23dpo, average beta 3498

You're bang on average!

I understand it's a worry when the clinic says they are concerned but they are probably just being extra cautious. Did you have any ectopics in the past?

Your betas look fine, there's every chance that you have a healthy growing baby.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your scan!

Thanks @GreenLemonade for replying, I really appreciate it.
yes I think the numbers are fine, it’s just that it hasn’t doubled within 48 hours, indicating a possible abnormal pregnancy. the doubling time is 55 hours.

thanks for sending positive vibes, I’m dreading Thursday. No history of ectopic, but history of miscarriage.

Those levels are really good, my HCG level at 14dp5dt was 807, 3 days later was 2445. Honestly I think those are absolutely fine, congratulations x

Thanks @SH998 , your numbers are lower but yours have doubled. I think that’s the issue with mine. Even though they are good numbers they haven’t doubled in 48 hours. I have no pregnancy symptoms now either.
will update after Thursday.

How did you go? I just wanted to point out that hcg doesn't always double in 2 days it can take up to 3 days so if your clinic had tested 1 week later and not 2 days later and gave you those numbers then you wouldn't have been so stressed also your hcg levels are nice and high.. hoping you have progressed and had your scan now and all is well.

@Obrm my third test had only increased by 68% over 2 days and I was absolutely devastated obviously thinking the worse but it was absolutely fine.
Good luck x

Hi, just thought I’d send a little update.
I had my scan at six weeks, and the sack is measuring small (diameter is 12.2mm).
There are two yolks and 2 fetus, in the same sac, they are suspecting mo mo twins, however, they are both developing slower than expected (one is quite far behind, and that one’s heartbeat is very slow too).

They have said it’s a wait and see situation. I have another scan this Friday… But I’m so devastated, it’s just not looking good. The doctor was almost certain that we would lose the slow growing one… he said that might help the other one though.

I'm sorry the scan wasn't the news you wanted. How far behind was the smaller one and what was the heart beat? Not twin related but my now 3yr old son at his first ivf scan measured 5 days behind with a heart rate of 106bpm.

Sorry to read this. I hope Friday gives you better news x

Thanks everyone.
@Miraclemuma03 they couldn’t listen to the heart rate, they just saw flickers. But one of the foetus flicker was really slow and the other was ‘rapid’.
they also didn’t tell me how many days they were measuring.
1 foetus was 3.45mm (CRL) and the other was 2.63mm, I have no idea what that means, but the doctor just kept saying it was really, really small. However he also said it’s hard to measure accurately when it’s this small. Do you remember the measurements of your foetus around 6 weeks?

@Obrm Im so sorry to hear that, I hope you have better news Friday. I just checked, mine was 9.4 at 6 weeks 6 days x

@Obrm I'm sorry that your scan was not as reassuring as you wanted. The uncertainty must be hard!

There are many calculators online where you can input your CRL and get an estimate of gestational age. For example, this one https://www.londonpregnancy.com/crown-rump-length-crl-calculator/ shows that your larger twin is measuring at 5w4d and your smaller one is 5w2d. So it seems that they are a few days behind where they should.

However, I've also read studies that show that the mathematical formulas used to convert CRLs to gestational age don't work well for very small CRLs under 5-10mm, which might be why they didn't tell you how many days you were measuring. Let me know if you're interested in reading some scientific articles, I can send you the links.

It's not over yet, it's a positive sign that fetal pole and flicker of hearbeat were visible at such an early stage. There's a reason why most clinics scan at 7 weeks, a scan at 6 weeks is often inconclusive.

I hope you'll get a better result on Friday and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

@GreenLemonade thank you so much, that is so so helpful. Gives me some idea how ‘small’ they are. I would love to read the articles if you could send the links, thank you.

@Miraclemuma03 your story gives me hope as it seems my smaller twin is about 5 days behind. I’m praying they both have hearts beats Friday.

@SH998 that is an amazing measurement. I’d be more confident if their CRL were that good at 6 weeks.

ill update Friday, I really really hope it’s good news x

@Obrm have a look at this one: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46288718_Normal_Ranges_of_Embryonic_Length_Embryonic_Heart_Rate_Gestational_Sac_Diameter_and_Yolk_Sac_Diameter_at_6-10_Weeks

No I don't remember measurements but I know at my 7 week scan with my son he was measuring 6+2 weeks. I was sent to a specialist clinic to get proper scans done and scanned weekly to watch progress. By the time he got to 7+2 his heart rate dramatically increased to around 156bpm and all throughout the pregnancy he kept to his measurements at 5 days behind so at 12 weeks they pushed my due date back 5 days. I hope you you get the same positive outcome I did.

Thanks @Miraclemuma03 that’s really reassuring and @GreenLemonade that’s a fantastic article.
My scan showed that both are now measuring 9.4mm at 7+2….so they are both about 2 days behind, which seems like an improvement from the last scan!
They didn’t measure the heart rate though. I’m going for a scan next week then I’m going to ask what the heart rate is x

@Obrm that’s amazing news, massive congrats to you x

That's great news @obrm! Fingers crossed for strong heartrate and good growth next week 😊It's looking promising!

This is great news!! Congratulations!!! Heart rates might have just forgotten to tell you heart rate . I hope your next scan brings more great news

Hi, I just wanted to update this thread for anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation.
I had my 12 week scan last week and everything is perfect. They are MCDA twins and the smaller twin is now only 1mm behind in terms of CRL, both have strong heartbeats.
A long way to go, but for now it’s looking good. Anyone who is worrying about high betas not doubling in 48 hours, or a smaller twin ‘not making it’ please know there is hope.

That's amazing news @Obrm , congratulations!

What a lovely update, congratulations OP!