Dreaded line comparison help

[Mangopassionfruit]

Hi everyone. Got a positive at 12dpo. Took another one this morning at 14dpo and convinced it’s got lighter. Was certain of it then went away and came back to compare and now I’m not too sure, what do you all think?

Top is 12dpo
Bottom is 14dpo (taken about 30 mins ago)

Thank you :-)

The line doesn't neccasarily get darker. There are too many variables over the second line, how much you've drunk mainly, how long since your last wee plus also level of hormone.

Very hard to compare as I always found the line darkened as it dried, so the older one looked darker until the newer one also dried. They both look good though.

If it were a chemical pregnancy the lines get significantly lighter. As bitchinofhitchin says slight fluctuations of lines can be caused by all kinds of things.

I know we all do it but pregnancy tests are meant to tell you you're pregnant they're not really supposed to be used as a progress indicator so don't get too caught up in line watching.

Yes you’re all right, thanks so much. It’s still clearly positive and of course there will be differences between one taken 48 hours ago and one 30 mins ago. Need to put my science hat on!

When I had a chemical it went from faint to very faint, @Cakecakecheese so you’re very right!

Thank you for all being firm with me 😂.

@Mangopassionfruit

Yes you’re all right, thanks so much. It’s still clearly positive and of course there will be differences between one taken 48 hours ago and one 30 mins ago. Need to put my science hat on!

When I had a chemical it went from faint to very faint, @Cakecakecheese so you’re very right!

Thank you for all being firm with me 😂.

I'm terrible for comparing progression but I find it comforts me because with my CP/MC in November they just never progressed. They didn't get lighter but never got darker from 13dpo and 19dpo I started to spot. When i look back at 13dpo test it should of been darker and definitely considerably darker at 19dpo. Yes tests are there to only tell you your pregnant they can't tell you if you have a healthy baby but they are also designed to pick up the strength of HCG in your urine. You don't know the specific amount of HCG you have but a good progression line will indicate your going the right way in regards to your HCG obviously not development of the baby. That is only determined with your ultrasound scans. A pregnancy progressing as it should in regards to HCG to support pregnancy will do what it suppose to do increase HCG every 48 hours or so. Hence if you test everyday yesterday test could be the same as todays but tomorrow's should be darker. That's if all the conditions we're the same when test carried out. A viable pregnancy there needs to be minimum of 53 percent HCG increase in 48 hours to support a growing fetus any less than this indicates a MC is likely to happen at some point. It may not be straight away but it will there is not enough HCG to support the growing fetus. Just like mine in November my tests stood still, 5 days later I started to spot. So I can see why women like to take tests to see a decent line progression especially if they have a history of CP (early MC). All the best with your pregnancy. Here is my line progression. I have a viability scan a week tomorrow due to my history and also light spotting 14dpo this pregnancy. It was only 1 day but they want to check me at 6 weeks. I have also put 8dpo and 18dpo together to show 10 days difference. I received 3+ weeks on a digital at 18dpo which I know is quite early.

Just an update for anyone looking later on, did a clear blue digital today @ 17dpo and it’s coming up with 2-3 weeks, so what it should be saying 😊. Will test with the other digital test next week hoping for a 3+.

Checked back on previous (successful) pregnancy and while I didn’t do a 14dpo the lines look just as strong/slightly less strong at 12/13dpo so think I might just be a low rising HCG kinda girl.

It's a while since I did these tests but from what I remember you add two weeks to get how far you should be from your last period. So 2-3 weeks on clear blue means you should be 4-5 weeks from your last period - I think!

@Mangopassionfruit

Just an update for anyone looking later on, did a clear blue digital today @ 17dpo and it’s coming up with 2-3 weeks, so what it should be saying 😊. Will test with the other digital test next week hoping for a 3+.

Checked back on previous (successful) pregnancy and while I didn’t do a 14dpo the lines look just as strong/slightly less strong at 12/13dpo so think I might just be a low rising HCG kinda girl.

You definitely seem to be going in the right direction. Like you I wanted to see the 3+.

Another update, 2-3 again this morning (a week after last one so was really expecting 3+). Not feeling too hopeful to be honest. Have quite a lot of lower back cramping. Not entirely sure what to do - wait it out, more tests, contact GP/EPU? Feel a bit silly saying about the test though to be honest…

@Mangopassionfruit this is what's making me not do anymore tests, I don't want to freak myself out if the line isn't as dark or don't get what expected on cb digi. When I had a mmc in November I got obsessed and it really fed the anxiety. Can you book a private scan instead? This is what I'm doing

It took me until 25 DPO to get a 3+ so I wouldn't say it's telling you anything conclusive @Mangopassionfruit. I got two 2-3's (which freaked me out a bit but am now 13w pregnant - so far so good)

Also they seem to have quite mixed feedback if you google them. I'd book a viability scan for 6/7 weeks if you can afford it and then you'll know what's going on.

I feel grateful I didn’t know about the 3+ thing when I tested because I can see why it can become an obsession to get that 3+ but I really wouldn’t worry that you haven’t.
I have read so many posts on here from women saying they never get the 3+ and they have successful pregnancies. Try to be kind to yourself and not stress too much (difficult I know!) xxx

Annnnd an early scan this morning showed a sac much smaller than it should be with nothing in there, so it looks like on this occasion the tests knew. 4 years ago today we found out about our missed miscarriage too… safe to say I will be avoiding scans on this date in the future 🤣.

I read lots of positive stories though so I don’t think the tests are always right!

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this @Mangopassionfruit, life is not fair x