Continuing to take pregnancy tests during early pregnancy?

[MeltAfterMidnight]

Is it wise to continue taking pregnancy test during the first few weeks of pregnancy?

My partner and I have discussed having a private ultrasound at 8 weeks (currently 5+3) but ultimately decided to wait for the NHS ultrasound at around 12 weeks. However, my partner suggested taking a pregnancy test every few weeks to keep on eye on my hCG to reassure us that "everything's okay". We're aware that hCG levels are not the be all and end all - but, even as a placebo, it might be a nice reassurance.

Is this an unnecessary, but harmless way of feeling a bit more in control prior to an ultrasound or is it completely irrelevant and only likely to cause more anxiety? All opinions welcome!

My opinion is this will cause untold anxiety and would not necessarily be accurate anyway. I had an early scan at 7 weeks and found it a really good experience, was able to see heartbeat etc. Will be cheaper than all those tests as well!

Even if anything happened or the baby stopped developing, a test would remain positive so I'd wait for a scan rather than waste money on tests

Hcg stays in the system for quite some time after a miscarriage, so repeating tests doesn't really tell you anything. Just unnecessary expense!

Do they work until 12 weeks? I think hCG levels can decrease by then. Also if anything does go wrong the hGC will still be in your system for a while. As a pp said it will just heighten your anxiety and it doesn’t really guarantee your child’s wellbeing anyway.

I would have thought that would just feed your anxiety by legitimising it.

Is there a particular reason you are so anxious?

If your 5+3 your morning sickness may still kick in with a bang... mine was horrendous until about 14 weeks I wouldn’t have needed a scan or test to tell me I was or wasn’t pregnant.

Thank you everyone for your responses!

@toomuchteaandcake I'm glad to hear you had a good experience with an early scan! One of the reasons for deciding not to bother with a private scan was worrying that we might not be able to see anything due to being overweight. I know it can be more difficult to locate things and I carry all my weight around my middle. I'd hate to go for an early scan and for them not to see anything purely for that reason.

@user16386689775 No reason for feeling anxious - just feeling very curious! Apart from missing my period and some very vibrant BFPs last weekend, I don't have any pregnancy symptoms - something which I'm sure I'll be grateful when they do finally kick in. Being cut off from everybody and only having a telephone appointment with the doctor, it's just anything we can do to "feel more pregnant" at the moment.

@Pinkblueberry Sorry to hear your morning sickness was so rubbish! My mum and cousin had a rotten time with morning sickness too, but my sister was fairly vomit-free. I'm hoping I take after her...

Well you continue to get a positive pg test for a while after you've miscarried so I wouldn't find it reassuring, no. An 8 week scan would be more valuable. I don't know how big you are but I didn't have problems seeing the baby on early scans due to my own weight, which is the wrong side of obese. Good luck OP

Don't do it to yourself. I had 6 MC. Was still testing positive with all of them. Wait for your scan. I'm an unusual case! Most people are fine, I'm sure you will be too. But I can definitely strongly recommend not getting addicted to testing! It's stressful and pointless.

I wouldn’t waste your money.
You will still test positive should the worst happen.

It won’t tell you everything is ok, unfortunately. If you had a MMC then you would still be getting positive pregnancy tests - and thus false reassurance- for several weeks afterwards. So I personally wouldn’t bother.

You could use the clearblue one that shows weeks. For a week or two at most it then just goes to 3+ weeks.
I used that once but watched the reading go back (from 2-3 to 1-2 weeks) and sadly it was a sign that the pg had failed.
There are horrendously expensive though, and if you got bad news through them there's very little you could do with that information other than wait.

Thank you everyone - I though it might be the case that it could provide false reassurance. Definitely sounds like we shouldn't bother!

@Messageinateacup Glad to hear you had a positive experience with early scans! That's quite reassuring - maybe we should revisit the private scan chat...

I think if you were to have an early ultrasound, they are usually done trans-vaginally (someone correct me if I'm wrong?) rather than over the abdomen anyway, so you wouldn't need to worry about the weight around your middle.
I agree with other posters, that more tests won't really be helpful. Keeping tuned in to your symptoms can be much more reassuring. Things should start to kick in after about six weeks. Look out for more subtle ones too!
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

@MeltAfterMidnight if it helps my BMI at 12 weeks was 31 but they could see on my early scan no problem