Doubling but low HCG

[SarahR0]

Hi all
I’ve just had my second blood draw results and in just under 4 days they have gone from 38 (14/15 dpo) to 148 (18/19 dpo) but doctor still worried and wants more draws. Everything I’ve read says that it shouldn’t matter what the starting value is, as long as HCG doubles in 48-72 hours but my values are still on the low side. Anyone had similarly low levels and had a healthy pregnancy and baby? TIA

I believe if they are doubling with a positive increase, you should be more than fine.

When I had my blood work drawn last week, it was on the lower side, after 3 blood test, my numbers began to more than tripled.
I was in the 200's jumped to over 2000 in about 4-5 days.

Lower numbers might just mean an implantation started a little later :)

btw congratulations and stay positive!

Congratulations! The fact that they are increasing is positive and it maybe worrying but maybe with time they will catch up. I had the opposite experience unfortunately where I also started low but they did not increase doubling at all and it was all over one week and a half since I found out and was confirmed today it was chemical. I think for the moment try to keep relaxed eat a lot of good things spinach eggs I hope all will be ok.

Thank you ladies - that helps a lot. I’ve been spotting for about 5 days also (but apparently “normal” when on progesterone) - but the two combined are sending my anxiety through the roof! Third bloods tmw so hopefully it will keep increasing.

@Leala20 I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing when this must be a very painful time for you.

Thank you so much. The support here has helped me.

Unfortunately it doesn't sound good. The lack of doubling aside at 14DPO studies show that for the best chance of a viable pregnancy hcg needs to be over 100 - less than 50 and it's more likely to be a chemical x

Thanks @ivfgottostaypositive - not sure I agree with the over 100 at 14 dpo. My 2.5 year old who is sitting next to me was 43 for my first reading and she was clearly viable.

However, I think it is highly likely to be a chemical this time around as I am bleeding.

I’m sure it wasn’t meant as such but your message is quite abrupt. I have no problem with people providing non positive thoughts as it’s good to be prepared for the worst and I am reading this after bleeding has started to get heavier so fairly certain of the outcome and I’m dealing with it - but perhaps to some your message could be taken as being written a bit harshly.

However thank you for commenting

@SarahR0

Wow! Not sure how else I could have sugar coated it? Unless you wanted a few disingenuous "huns" and 💐 thrown in there

My response was factual and to the point not sure what else you wanted really??

You're obviously feeling emotional etc (and I know I get it - I've lost 7 pregnancies) but my response was not abrupt or harsh although I do find your reply rather rude.

I hope sincerely it's not bad news and best of luck

Also not that it really matters but I was replying whilst waiting to go in for a 5th IVF egg collection and was typing quickly but at least I took the time to respond which I thought would be better than just scrolling through

I’m not going to get into an argument with you online - as that clearly isn’t helpful for either of us. This isn’t my first loss and When I’ve responded to people who’ve been in similar situations but in that horrible waiting stage as gently as possible. You wrote very clinically - I do appreciate that you took the time to post and I was making it as a suggestion for future comments to other people, as not everyone handles harsh truth very well.

Either way I hope that your collection went well and that your IVF round is successful.

Just as an update for anyone on the future googling/scrolling, my spotting started Sunday 31st May, it almost totally stopped Wednesday 6th but start with light flow on Thursday 7th which got heavier on Friday 8th. I’ve had bloods done in the interim, 39 on 14 dpo, 148 on 18 dpo, 245 20 dpo and 281 on 24 dpo. Doctor has now told me to stop my progesterone support and to expect the moderate flow to increase to full mc in next few days.

I am so sorry. I had experienced this with lower hcg and was also asked to just wait. It happened and was heartbreaking even though some may say it’s chemical as it was 4/5 weeks and some wouldn’t have even noticed. I found it very difficult. I had my final blood test done last week to confirm it’s all gone. We are now looking at next stages to take my mind off it but my period came soon after and I have been bleeding longer after. Thank you for sharing as each case is so different and the support here helped me, keep strong.

@SarahR0 I’m so so sorry for your loss xxx

Thank you @rainbowm

@Leala20 - I hate the term chemical pregnancy. I don’t think it matters whether you mc when your period is due, a couple of days later or a couple of weeks later, it’s still devastating and it’s the potential and dreams lost. This is my second mc but I am lucky enough to have my daughter who has no idea what has happened and is with me during lockdown and has brightened my day. Thank you for you support during the last week. Good luck and baby dust to you x

@SarahR0 thank you for the baby dust. Sending across to you too! I totally agree with you regarding ‘c.p’ I bought myself what to expect when expecting and decided to read the chapters up to the last stage of my pregnancy. I burst into tears when reading about similar to my experience. It’s a loss and grief and it’s all relative to anyone but very unfair to hear such a classification.