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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Clear blue digital with weeks indicator doesn’t match dates

42 replies

CherryO88 · 16/04/2019 13:53

I am totally panicking that I am having another MC. I am 5w1d but cb digital yesterday and today are saying 2-3.
I had a mmc in Feb and managed to fall pregnant again first cycle.
I don’t really have any symptoms so far. Has anyone any experience with dates not matching?
This is my 4th pregnancy (one daughter, TFMR and mmc preciously) and when I’ve used them in the past they matched up. I have such a terrible feeling about it!

OP posts:
Lauren83 · 16/04/2019 13:56

They show weeks past conception so 2-3 on the digi is 4-5 weeks, they are also really inaccurate, I had bloods done on the day I got 2-3 on the digital and my HCG levels were around 1,000 over what the threshold was for 2-3 weeks

Original poster
CherryO88 · 16/04/2019 14:16

Yes so because I’m 5+1 I should be getting 3+ now. That’s good to hear your blood work didn’t match up to the test! My GP won’t do any bloods. I have an early scan next Wednesday but I think I’ll drive myself mad and spend a fortune on these tests between now and then!

OP posts:
Lauren83 · 16/04/2019 14:22

It's never accurate by the day so I wouldn't expect 3+ as soon as I hit 5 so try not to worry, depends when you implanted too as the range for implantation is quite big so implanting a few days later than the next person can really affect your HCG levels. I know how stressful it is I had a MMC from an IVF cycle so the pregnancy after I was addicted to tests, then private bloods, then scans every week. I'm 7 months pregnant with my second now and I used the digis again even though I know how crap they are and I actually went down to 2-3 after seeing 3+ a few days before so was convinced it was another loss

Original poster
CherryO88 · 16/04/2019 14:42

I got 1-2 weeks and then 2-3 the last 2 wednesdays. So I’m guessing if it’s not 3+ in the morning then the hcg isn’t rising as it should.
I just did another once. Held since 7.30 this morning and didn’t drink any fluids and still said 2-3.
I am really hoping it is just as you say but the fact they worked for me in the past is sending huge alarm bells off.

OP posts:
Original poster
CherryO88 · 16/04/2019 14:42

Congrats on your pregnancy btw!

OP posts:
Lauren83 · 16/04/2019 14:47

Thankyou! I feel for you I really do pregnancy is hard enough without having a previous loss. It's a shame your GP won't do bloods, mine did this time but the time before I was paying about £100 a time for same day results. That's when mine came back at 1,000 over what the CB led me to believe. I will keep my fingers crossed for you

afternoontwee · 16/04/2019 15:13

I only tested with a ClearBlue digi (had never heard they were less effective until I came on here!) at what I thought was 4w+3, and got a 1-2 weeks response. Turned out I had actually ovulated a week early and I was 5+4! So I should have got the 3+ weeks response. They can be out by quite a bit.

SunshineandPessimism · 16/04/2019 15:19

@CherryO88 please don’t panic. I know how you feel as I’m also pregnant 5ish weeks after an MC, and nervous as hell!

However, I’ve also done a lot of reading! The thresholds for the Clear Blue weeks do not match ‘acceptable’ (safe) levels of HCG for pregnancy weeks (even looking at studies that only include full term pregnancies).

To get 3+ from my reading - the Manual and forums online HCG has to be over either 2000 (said on forums) or 2753 (Clear Blue website). For reference sake: thresholds for 1-2 is >10 miu-ml. 2-3 is 153 min/ml. So HCG can be doubling without meeting the 3+ weeks bit!

Healthy expected HCG for these weeks can fall in the range of:
5 weeks :- 200 to 7000 U/L
6 weeks :- 200 to 32’000 U/L

Hope this helps. Xx

Original poster
CherryO88 · 16/04/2019 15:48

@afternoontwee was that using FMU?

@SunshineandPessimism thank you for all of that information. I am just hoping with everything I have that my hormones just haven’t met the threshold yet but all is ok. I can’t stop crying this afternoon and I’m at a loss at what to do! We have had the worst year possible TTC and it jisy doesn’t seem to be ending. Do you have any symptoms?

OP posts:
abcriskringle · 16/04/2019 15:57

Hi OP, totally understand your concern and hope everthing is ok for you. Just wanted to say I have never seen a 3+ on a cbd and I have a 2yo and am nearly 14w pregnant with my second. In fact this time I didn't even get 2-3weeks until I was about 6w pregnant but I've had my 12w scan now and all is fine. Good luck with your pregnancy.

Original poster
CherryO88 · 16/04/2019 19:39

Hi @katnisskringle. Congrats on your pregnancy, glad to hear it’s all going well for you. I think I’m most panicked because I’ve had 3+ in my previous pregnancies so this isn’t the norm. Just can’t take much more bad news!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 16/04/2019 19:42

They're not a diagnostic tool, they're an expensive 'bit of fun' but they're anything but.

I wish they would ban those bloody tests. Please stop testing OP.

anonforthespies43267 · 16/04/2019 19:49

They aren’t accurate however I went from 2-3 to 1-2 again when I had MC. Went to the doctor as was concerned about the weeks reducing, was told they’re inaccurate (which they are) and unless I have bleeding not to worry. Miscarried a few days later. HOWEVER have also had friends where the same has happened and they carried to term x

agteacht · 16/04/2019 20:04

Hey I think it's just inaccurate so wouldn't stress (easy to say I know).

I tested:
3+5 - result 1-2
4+5 - result 2-3
6+1 - result 3+

If you're really worried test again once you pass the six week mark in a few days time.

miracleon13th · 16/04/2019 20:06

Have you seen the table of what level of hcg is required for clearblue digital?

There is actually a really big jump between the 2-3wks and 3+ - if you remember the day you first got a 1-2 weeks use that as a starting point of 25 and double the number every 2 days and see when you reach the threshold - you need a urine hcg of 2753 to get a 3+ compared to only 153 for 2-3 wks

(Remember urine hcg is much lower than what a blood test would be by as much as double or more)

afternoontwee · 16/04/2019 20:24

@cherryO88 - nope, mid afternoon! I had no clue how crap they’re meant to be, would have used a FRER otherwise.

pinkpushchairs · 16/04/2019 20:37

With my MMC I never got to 3+, didn't think much of it but found out at 10 weeks that baby stopped growing at 5 weeks so makes sense.

With my daughter they matched up perfectly to my dates.

I'm now pregnant with a boy (nearly 20 weeks) and they matched up for 1-2 and 2-3 but then took a few more days to get 3+.

Good luck OP xx

Original poster
CherryO88 · 17/04/2019 06:32

Tested again this morning with FMU. Basically dehydrated myself yesterday so urine very concentrated. Still got 2-3. Last Wednesday I got 2-3 so now that’s over a week on same results.
@miracleon13th by following your advice e I should be going over 2000 today and I’m not 😭

OP posts:
ellesbellesxxx · 17/04/2019 06:41

Hi @Cherry088 just to say I didn’t get 3+ until over 6 weeks... and I was expecting twins so plenty of hormones!
If you search online, yes for some they are accurate but there are plenty of threads like yours worrying as they are notoriously unreliable!

SammySamSam09 · 17/04/2019 09:52

For goodness sake you don't need to dehydrate yourself to get an accurate response on a pregnancy test!
You need to calm down and stop testing all it leads to is stress and anxiety. Book an early scan instead.

gamerchick · 17/04/2019 12:22

So you basically made your body (which is doing a hard job of growing a human) suffer from lack of fluids, just to get some numbers on a pregnancy test?

That sounds logical to you? Confused

Stop.testing. you're going to drive yourself mad.

Original poster
CherryO88 · 17/04/2019 13:13

I wish I could just calm down and stop testing but I can’t. The last time I had no idea the pregnancy had ended until I was scanned and it was horrific. If this isn’t a viable pregnancy I would like to know rather than getting another shock at a scan.

@gamerchick since I lost my daughter at 24 weeks all logic has went out the window! I’ve already driven myself mad!

OP posts:
Original poster
CherryO88 · 17/04/2019 13:14

@ellesbelles congrats on your pregnancy and twins! I hope it works out the same way for me. It’s just that usually I would have 3+ in previous pregnancies that I can’t let myself just think it’s due to inaccuracy this time

OP posts:
gamerchick · 17/04/2019 13:29

OP please stop testing. This digital test is not a medical diagnostic tool that tells you how a pregnancy is progressing. They were never meant for that. If you're at the point of witholding fluids because of fear then maybe ask for a GP appointment to discuss those fears. There should be somewhere to refer you that will help.

Lamaitresse · 17/04/2019 13:53

Please don’t stress about this OP. I mean this in the kindest way, but if your pregnancy is going to work out then it will, and if it’s not then there’s nothing you can do about it.
I too have driven myself mad with CB digi’s, and in my last pregnancy I was so relieved to get 3+ at just 5 weeks. I then went on to miscarry at 8 weeks.
Today you are pregnant, and I will keep everything crossed for you that you stay that way. Please stop testing if you can - I know from experience that it just increases the worry 💐

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