Worried about HCG levels

[isthismummy]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this board (and never expected to be here due to POF) but I'm hoping for a bit of advice.

I got a totally unexpected bfp on Friday. However I've been bleeding a little bit over the weekend and went to my Early Pregnancy Unit today. I last had a period on 17th May and ovulated on 29th (I know this because I chart) I had a bleed 8/9th of June which at the time thought was my period (they are very short) but got my bfp Friday gone.

My HCG level is 271. I'm worried as nurse told me it should be around 1000 at 4 weeks (which I should be if last real period was 17th) I have to go back Thursday to get bloods repeated.

Should I be worried? I'm really scared that I have miscarried. I'm getting married on Saturday and this is all I can think about. It's unbearably stressful.

Hi mummy and crongrats on your BFP!!

I have had several HCG tests in previous and my current pregnancies and the overriding message I got from all the doctors was that the numbers don't really matter so long as they double as they should. I will also say that saying they should be 1000 in week 4 is unnecessarily worrying you on the part of the midwife. Mine were 722 at 5 weeks and then 2500+ at 5+3 so nowhere near 1000 even a whole week later.

Obviously I can't guarantee that everything will be fine for you, but the stats are definitely in your favour! Wait and see what thursdays results are before letting anyone worry you about numbers!!

Thank you NoParticularPattern it's so hard not to worry isn't it? Especially in my case when I'd been told egg donation was my only chance of motherhood.

I will just have to wait in agony for my blood results on Thursday afternoon. Fingers crossed my levels have gone up and all is well.

Medical staff do love to panic you don't they? When I went to gp on Sunday he told me I was bleeding because of having sex that day, and that sex can bring on miscarriage in early pregnancy. The nurse in EPU was and asked if my gp is from the dark ages

HCG levels vary hugely! It's the rate of increase that matters rather than the number. Mine were below 50 at 4+1 and so far healthy pregnancy at 23 weeks.

Thank you Caterina99 I was worrying about the figure, but now I see it's the increase that counts.

I will just have to hope that everything has progressed as hoped on Thursday. Such a stressful time.

Hi, so I'm 46 and have just found out I'm pregnant! Completely and utterly shocked as I thought I'd be nearing menopause than pregnancy! Anyway I've had 2 lots of blood tests done to check my HCG levels and first was 767 and 48hrs later I had another one which has come back at 1368. They seem a little concerned as it hasn't doubled or more so I need to have another test done on Tuesday and hopefully a scan. I'm 5 weeks and 2 days, they gave me an internal scan at 4 weeks 5 days but couldn't see anything but that could be because I was so early. I had to have a termination at 41 yrs old as my 12 week scan showed up some thickness around the babies neck and after having an amniocentesis it came back as my baby having downs and also major heart problems and would probably not survive the pregnancy. So of course 5 years older I'm worrying so much that this could happen again, has anyone got any wise words for this stressed out mummy?!! Xx

Hey @Brist74 you might do better starting your own thread.
Congratulations though :)
However - your hcg rise is completely normal (doesn’t need to double in 48h, rise of 60% of more can be totally normal and yours has nearly risen by 100% anyway). your early scan was normal (wouldn’t expect to see anything really at just over 4 weeks and hcg of 760).
I think this is all normal and perhaps the scanning and further hcgs are overdoing it - id suggest it’s a better idea to wait longer for your next scan (at least 2 weeks after the first one) and stop doing hcg levels unless any other concerns come up (bleeding or pain).
However - I know you probably won’t want to leave things be now that someone has raised concerns! Assuming your hcg was done on Thursday ? Then on Tuesday your level should be at least 3500 (will likely be higher). Be aware that a scan may still not see much - ideally a gestation sac and a yolk sac but don’t be concerned if no heartbeat yet.
You’ll know that pregnancy at 46 does carry risks of miscarriage but so far it doesn’t sound like anything is wrong at all. Best of luck.

Thank you @TenThousandSpoons0 for your reply, unfortunately my hcg results yesterday (Tuesday) were not good. Only went from 1386 to 1811 in 48hrs so they're concerned something is not right. Should've been nearer 3000, I'm booked in for a scan tomorrow to see what is going on. Nurse didn't sound hopeful though, I suddenly have lost some pregnancy feelings too which has coincided with my hcg levels not rising. Just have to wait for tomorrow and hopefully get good news xx

Oh I’m sorry the levels aren’t doing as hoped - good luck for the scan tomorrow.