Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Do pregnancy tests get weaker over time? (I'm 19 weeks and test is faint)

34 replies

WindInTheWillows7 · 02/02/2022 22:10

Hi all. I'm 19 weeks pregnant, and I was starting to worry as all my symptoms have stopped and I still haven't felt the baby move. I heard the heartbeat at an appointment a couple of weeks ago, but I really just don't feel pregnant at all. I also have basically no bump to speak of, maybe just a tiny, barely noticeable one. As I wad worried I did a pregnancy test today and the line is really quite faint. I would have thought by now it would be really strong. Do HcG levels drop as the pregnancy progresses? Or should I be worried?

OP posts:
TaVeryMuchLove · 02/02/2022 22:21

In my experience, no they don’t. Some people will tell you about a “hook effect,” but I’ve never experienced this. I found a pregnancy test left over when I was 37 weeks pregnant, so I used it to test that theory and the line was strong as anything. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have reason to worry. Your best bet is to contact your midwife. They can have a listen in to baby’s heartbeat and give you some reassurance.

20week · 02/02/2022 22:28

Mine didn't, I found out at over 20 weeks and it was a strong line. Some people say theirs have got fainter though. I'd tell the midwife that you're worried and hopefully they'll listen to the heartbeat.

Is this your first? I didn't feel my first until the day before the 20 week scan and have never had a bump before 20 weeks even though I'm slim.

Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 02/02/2022 22:30

@20week

Mine didn't, I found out at over 20 weeks and it was a strong line. Some people say theirs have got fainter though. I'd tell the midwife that you're worried and hopefully they'll listen to the heartbeat.

Is this your first? I didn't feel my first until the day before the 20 week scan and have never had a bump before 20 weeks even though I'm slim.

I see, thanks. I had an early miscarriage in the summer, which was my first. Yeah, I heard people often don't feel anything even until 24 weeks... But I just don't feel pregnant at all :/
OP posts:
20week · 02/02/2022 22:34

I'v never really felt pregnant until I'v had a big bump and got the usual aches and pains. I think many women do often feel good and normal in the second trimester.

Do you have a contact number for the maternity unit? They'd be able to offer you some advice/reassurance tonight.

penguin303 · 02/02/2022 22:43

Mine got lighter by 8 weeks, never tested at 19 weeks though. Dilute your urine and try again with another test?

I can’t imagine that at 19 weeks your HCG would be able to significantly drop without any bleeding and/or loss of tissue.

Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 02/02/2022 22:44

@20week

I'v never really felt pregnant until I'v had a big bump and got the usual aches and pains. I think many women do often feel good and normal in the second trimester.

Do you have a contact number for the maternity unit? They'd be able to offer you some advice/reassurance tonight.

Thanks @20week :). I do, but I think I'll just call tomorrow. The only way they could be sure of anything now is if I went into hospital, and I'm tucked up in bed with a book so don't fancy driving there tonight. So maybe I'll try the midwifery team tomorrow and tell them about the faint test.
OP posts:
Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 02/02/2022 22:46

@penguin303

Mine got lighter by 8 weeks, never tested at 19 weeks though. Dilute your urine and try again with another test?

I can’t imagine that at 19 weeks your HCG would be able to significantly drop without any bleeding and/or loss of tissue.

@penguin303, yes I was also wondering if missed miscarriages happen in the 2nd trimester... Or if you'd show symptoms much more quickly. When I miscarried before the symptoms didn't show for about a month, but it was an early one.
OP posts:
BuickMcKane · 02/02/2022 22:46

Honestly never even thought to take another pregnancy test when I was so far on, so not a clue what it would have said. Won't you have your 20 week scan coming up soon?

Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 02/02/2022 22:49

@BuickMcKane

Honestly never even thought to take another pregnancy test when I was so far on, so not a clue what it would have said. Won't you have your 20 week scan coming up soon?
@BuickMcKane I have it in 8 days... Feels like a while
OP posts:
Casmama · 02/02/2022 22:53

https://www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/prenatal-health-and-wellness/article/hcg-levels this would indicate that they do come down a bit. Difficult to say for an individual because the ranges are so big but I don't think you have anything to worry about

BuickMcKane · 02/02/2022 22:56

@WindInTheWillows7 that'll feel like a VERY long time away if you're worried now. Good shout giving the midwife team a call tomorrow, hopefully they'll be able to put your mind at ease Smile

Turlet · 02/02/2022 23:02

This definitely happened for me! Try diluting your urine with water and test again. Put a decent amount of water in it. I couldn’t believe it but it worked for me. Currently 38 weeks pregnant.

Best of luck.

Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 02/02/2022 23:05

@Turlet

This definitely happened for me! Try diluting your urine with water and test again. Put a decent amount of water in it. I couldn’t believe it but it worked for me. Currently 38 weeks pregnant.

Best of luck.

@Turlet interesting, thanks! Like 3 parts water to 1 part urine?
OP posts:
Juno231 · 02/02/2022 23:07

Look up the hook effect - it's normal. It's why diluting the wee with water would work

Needtogetoffmyphone · 02/02/2022 23:12

Go and see your Dr or Midwife

Turlet · 02/02/2022 23:23

I really can’t remember the amount I used to be honest. Think it was a few mls (maybe 5-10mls) with water, maybe twice or three times this? So sorry, I can’t remember. My brain is fu&@ed! Baby brain is strong in this pregnancy!

EllieJai44 · 03/02/2022 08:02

It can due to the Hook effect! I'm only 8 weeks but this is two tests I took the other day, one was with just normal urine and the other I diluted the same urine massively with water! Definitely try diluting it!

Do pregnancy tests get weaker over time? (I'm 19 weeks and test is faint)
Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 03/02/2022 10:43

Tested again this morning, just with urine, and the line was much stronger. On the left is the one with just pee and on the right is one with pee diluted with water so I don't think it's a case of hook effect. Anyway, at least my test seems pretty normal now. I think I'll just wait for my scan in a week and not call up today, as Ive6heard mo symptoms is common in the 2nd trimester. Thanks everyone :)

Do pregnancy tests get weaker over time? (I'm 19 weeks and test is faint)
OP posts:
Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 03/02/2022 10:43

I've heard no symptoms*

OP posts:
AndTheyLivedHappilyEverAfter · 03/02/2022 10:48

Please call your local early pregnancy unit. A week is such a long time to wait/worry. If everything is fine at least you get to see your baby a week earlier but if something is wrong the sooner you get seen the better. Best of luck.

2022IamHavingYa · 03/02/2022 10:54

Completely agree to call your midwife first thing and get baby checked.
Please stop taking tests, it only makes you anxious and is absolutely no bearing on the health if your pregnancy

YouHaveMail · 03/02/2022 10:59

@WindInTheWillows7 I just wanted to add, sorry if I'm repeating, but with my second pregnancy (can't remember first one 😂), but my symptoms stopped around week 16/17. I was very anxious as it was a long awaited pregnancy. However, everything was fine, but just wanted to say to offer some reassurance Smile

I didn't try testing again during pregnancy so can't answer with regards to that (didn't occur to me to do that).

I would however, give the midwife a quick call.

Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 03/02/2022 11:11

@AndTheyLivedHappilyEverAfter @2022IamHavingYa @YouHaveMail thanks, ladies. Just wondering, do you think there is anything worrying about what I've said? Upon reflection I don't really think I'm experiencing anything abnormal... (I'm generally more optimistic in the mornings haha), if symptoms tend to ease off in the second trimester. So I'm not sure what I'd even say to the midwife.

OP posts:
2022IamHavingYa · 03/02/2022 11:17

I am a midwife. If you haven’t felt any movement yet, that isn’t unusual but to put your mind at rest, please call your midwife

Original poster
WindInTheWillows7 · 03/02/2022 11:40

@2022IamHavingYa I took all your advice and called the Day Assessment Unit. They said I can come in today for a scan, so I'll do that. Thanks, everyone!

OP posts: