Anyone got any beta hcg knowledge?

[FrozenNorthPole]

Hi,

Any ideas or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

I've got a history of 3 x miscarriages (10 weeks, 7 weeks, 6 weeks) followed by two successful but high risk pregnancies via aspirin, progesterone & high dose folic acid (DD1 IUGR, DD2 premature).

I got a positive hpt last Saturday on ?17 dpo. 20 dpo beta hcg was only 655. 22 dpo level was 1917. I go back tomorrow (25 dpo) for another blood draw. Should I have any hope? I got a little bit hopeful after I found out the levels had more than doubled, but the first one was still worryingly low.

I hate the potential of going through this again. We were on the fence about trying for number three because of the pain of the losses, but suddenly this happened. I feel angry that we're facing this situation yet again - hate my stupid body. I'm only 28, and was 24 at the time of my first losses. Carrying a pregnancy shouldn't be so hard. We had some basic tests run in 2007 (though the thrombophilia panel was only run once) and nothing came back abnormal. I wonder whether these things can change e.g. becoming positive for APA over time?

Sorry for the ramble. I hate being in limbo like this.

Hi.

Absolutely have hope. I have had 3 MMC in the past - 8,10,12 weeeks. I got a bfp a couple of weeks before Xmas, and my first Bhcg was 58 at 17 dpo. The next one 48 hours later was 85. I thought it was doomed. However, it doubled 48 hours after - but not very high. I was told the number is less important -what is more important is the fact that is is rising - and more than mine was!

I am now 10 weeks, and have had 3 scans - all good, and measuring right :). Good luck - let us know how you get on xx

Hi Batteryhen - gosh, that sounds stressful, but I'm so glad to hear that you're now 10 weeks. It definitely gives me hope. My beta today was 5190, so that gives a 50 hour doubling time since friday. I know it slows down as it gets higher but I can't help fearing that it means bad things ...

I think it's the kind of rollercoaster of hope and dread that you can't get off once you've experienced a few losses. I wish there was some way of getting some of that pregnancy naivete that I see everywhere around me, but there isn't!

When did you have your first scan? I'm considering booking one for 7 weeks ...

I had my first at 6. I think your numbers sound fine. They do say that as long as your numbers are going up by 66% (I think) then that is fine :) Have you looked at a hcg calcualtor at all?

HCG Calculator

This is the one I use :)

Thanks for that Batteryhen, the graph function is great! I'm booked for a scan on the 3rd of February (if we get that far) - which would be 7 weeks - and a final beta to be taken on Friday 27th Jan.

I keep feeling a bit of nausea and hope that's a good sign but really know that, with my history, the odds are that this won't end well. Frustrated, not least because my trousers already feel tight. It seems my body's really good at hanging on to doomed pregnancies: I've never had bleeding start before I knew a loss was coming.

I'm still using a cheapie internet pregnancy test strip each morning to see the line stay dark. I realise that it actually tells me f**k all about what's going on, but it helps maintain at least a partial illusion of control

My pregnancy tests didn't get dark until about 7 weeks! And my slow HCG burner was wiggly at the scan yesterday and measured 10&5 ...which is bang on. I thought I was doomed from the start too xx

Aw, I got a lump in my throat reading about your wriggly little one . I'm glad you're getting a number of scans - sometimes they're a bit rubbish supporting people with RMC. We ended up paying privately for most of DD1's scans for the sake of our sanity.

Today's beta is ...

17,194 at 29 dpo

which gives me a doubling time of 56 hours since the last one. No wonder I'm feeling a bit sick. Obviously not out of the woods yet, but at least it's going up. How, how am I going to wait for next Friday's scan?

Hello everyone. I have been reading this with interestin. I am on preg number 4 after 3 MCs. I have my HCGs done on Thursday (17 days since ovulation) and they were 1420. However I know from last time that the number means shit, as you all say its the speed its going up thats important. I've always been lead to believe it needs to double every 48-72 hours in the first 12 weeks. I'm having my levels done again tomorrow morning - big yikes. Very apprensive about it. Will let you all know how they come back.

Hi Dunnit,
how are your betas doing now? They're a lot better than mine were at 17 dpo this time.

As for me, at 34 dpo (yesterday) my betas were 45,217. This gives a doubling time of about 86 hours.

I have an ultrasound tomorrow - will update with what they see / don't see.

I really envy women for whom positive test = baby. It's never, ever been that simple for me, or many of us and there's no way of getting that kind of innocence back.

Hope you're okay Dunnit x

Okay, ultrasound update. Cautiously ... looks okay so far. Embryo was 9mm, dating about 6 weeks 6 days / 7 weeks which is what my dates put me at or thereabouts (I think I'm 36 dpo today). They scanned transabdominally not TV. Heartbeat could be visualised - I asked for the heartrate but they never tell you that kind of thing. I tried to count anyhow and think it was over 100. Of course, many of us have been at the point of seeing a heartbeat only to see it gone at the next appointment, so all I can say is that today, I am pregnant. Have booked a private scan for next Wednesday (so about 7 weeks and 6 days) as the only way I know to stay sane through this is having regular checks.

Fingers crossed this is sticky. A long way to go yet ...

Hi there, I just wanted to wish you luck and congratulate you on your scan news today. I have had 5 mcs, an iugr baby and a 36 weeker. I am currently pregnant, now 26 wks and all going good but I was a wreck at your stage. I was measuring a week behind too which made me sure it was all over. It's great that you were able to visualise the baby and hb with an abdominal scan as they say there is more likely to be a better outcome once visualised abdominally. It is a torturous journey in those first 12 wks, I just went into denial until the second trimester. Now I am worried about PE rearing it's head again! There is alway something to worry about! I really wish you all the best and hope to read some good news in the not too distant future.

Oh lovely news :) - I have scan news too. My slow little hcg burner is now 12+2 :) Had my scan on wednesday and all looks good. This is the furthest I have got as my last mmc was at 12 weeks. Fingers crossed for all of us that we continue!!

Tracey - thank you for the luck and congratulations, I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes as uneventfully as possible - there's always something to be concerned about, isn't there, in high-risk pregnancies?
Battery - hurray for 12+2 and passing your last loss point. Your slow burner sounds like s/he might just be making him/herself comfy for the duration.

As for me ... feeling remarkably well today, which predictably has me in an absolute panic. Less sick, hungry even ... Aaaargh, I hate this. Waiting until Wednesday for another scan is really not very long, but it feels like an eternity away. I think now I've seen the heartbeat, the stakes have been raised and I just can't get rid of the memory of seeing our first baby, its heart no longer beating, on ultrasound. I know in my heart that if there are chromosomal problems incompatible with life then an early loss is the least painful route - and I know that is likely to be the cause of any loss after seeing cardiac activity. But really ... it's so hard not to get a bit attached, despite yourself