Is anyone NOT testing ?

[thunderonlyhappenswhenits]

Currently 5+2 and im getting an urge to test more. I've done exactly one test, that was my postive but thing is I guess I'm scared to do anymore. Mainly because I don't want to do a test and then compare lines to my last one. If it's lighter I'll freak out.
I had a mmc in November and I was going crazy with line progression and it would just feed the anxiety.

I also thought shall I do a clear blue digi, but then I'm worried if I don't get a 3+ I will also start worrying. So I'm trying to listen to my body instead. Anyone else know what I'm feeling ?

I had my children a good few years ago and I have to say I really feel for people nowadays with all the testing options that are available and the precision bordering on obsession that people have counting almost what feels like every minute of every day and testing for this that and the other.

I fully understand it in people who are having trouble trying to conceive but for others just starting out I really wish they wouldn't put themselves through all of the angst.

I tested twice with each of my three. When my period was late, then one either on the same day or the day after to confirm. I was scanned at 6+5 with my first two and 7+3 with my youngest and apart from antenatal checkups that was it.

I can't say what to do and what not to do but please try to relax and enjoy the wonder of being pregnant and don't worry about lines getting stronger or not. Unfortunately what will be will be and testing only robs people of the joy of everything. If the worst does happen, heaven forbid, then at least you have lovely happy times to remember instead of which line was showing what at any given time of day. Just my opinion and I'm sure it won't be a popular one 🥴

Enjoy your pregnancy 💞

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits I was like this, I got a positive test and couldn't believe it at all. I took 5 tests in the one night and went to the shop and bought 10 and started taking them everyday. I was becoming obsessed with it. I took a clear blue digital date one that said 2-3 weeks and I had read about people taking them again and the date not going up. I was swaying whether to do it or not but I did and it went up to 3+, I got a scan as they thought it could have been ectopic with the cramps I was having and it showed a gestation sac and a yolk sac so I've to go back again in 2 weeks. I've been so tempted to continue testing but decided against it xx

@Mo1911 I also agree it's too easy now to constantly check on the "progress" of a pregnancy. When I had my son 7 years ago, I did a clear blue digi I was around 6 weeks. I then did another test at about 10 weeks and that was that, never really crossed my mind to do anything else apart from wait for the 12 week scan. It's so different now ! All these different types of tests around... I get for some women it helps them to see progression but for me after the miscarriage it's just a really scary prospect now. Which is sad to be honest but it's kind of tainted the experience for me.
I am thinking of booking an early scan for when I'm 8 weeks instead, no more confirmation that that at that point really is there.

@firsttimemum1xxx congrats on your pregnancy. How far along are you?
I am tempted to do a digi but I think the fear is stopping me. I would shit myself if it didn't show me what is expected by this point, you know ?
I went to epu last time as I was having pains and thought it was ectopic, all it caused was confusion for me though as obviously the pregnancy wasn't progressing as it should've been but they had to do repeat scans to confirm. I hope it turns out better for you, and I think the odds are more in your favour than against. I think you're making the right decision to stop testing, it will only feed the anxiety and make you worse probably. It did for me anyways, I actually said to the midwife st the hospital 'but my tests are postive' and she said stop testing, you've still got hcg in your system so no matter what they will come back postive. Which thinking back now it's true isn't it. Wishing you luck ❤️

As soon as I got 3+ on a digital I gave up. It gets expensive and quite often you can worry yourself more rather than getting the reassurance you want.

I get the anxiety following an MMC. I'm 13 weeks and the terror has only just subsided!

I’m 12 weeks and didn’t test regularly. I didn’t even realise this was a thing until I saw it here. It seems madness to me and it’s not what pregnancy tests are designed for.

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits thank you so much ♥️, so when I got scanned she said my gestational sac was what it would be if I was 6 weeks but I have pcos and very very irregular periods so I said I was quite concerned that it's measuring as 6 weeks but no fetal pole, the women said she wasn't concerned at all and that everything is going the right way, she said in early pregnancy really everything is just a guess/estimate. When she scanned me she did say I could have been anything between 5 weeks and 3 days and 6 weeks and 3 days. After counting I think i would have been 5 weeks and 4 days so now I should be 6 weeks and 3 days. She said that everything also changes so quick this early in pregnancy that I could have went the next day and seen fetal pole it just really depends on when u go. My next scan I should be roughly 7 weeks and 4 days so hoping to see heart beat at this appointment. Totally get you, I've seen a lot of things about the clear blue tests: some people never get to 3+ but they can be 9 weeks or more with a perfectly healthy baby so I definitely think staying away from them is best as they can cause unnecessary worry. I hope everything goes well for you this time ♥️ keep us updated xxx

As I had tried to get pregnant for roughly 2 years when I got my positive I didn’t believe it. I did a total of 3 right at the beginning just because I couldn’t believe I was pregnant. After that I never tested again as I thought if something was to go wrong it would go wrong and it wouldn’t matter how times I tested there would be nothing I could do about it. I didn’t want to add any extra stress or anxiety by testing more.

@firsttimemum1xxx ahh I see! It's very similar to mine, I thought I was 6 weeks but I was measuring two days behind but everytime I went back I was measuring further and further behind so it was pretty clear it wasn't viable. We found the fetal pole in the end but no heart beat and I was 8 weeks by that point. It was awful it really was, it was also an ivf baby so even more worrying.
I'm sure you was too early, 5 weeks is very early I think the heart only starts beating between 5 and 6 weeks? So makes sense what the nurse said. Please keep me updated ❤️

@Dogt17

As I had tried to get pregnant for roughly 2 years when I got my positive I didn’t believe it. I did a total of 3 right at the beginning just because I couldn’t believe I was pregnant. After that I never tested again as I thought if something was to go wrong it would go wrong and it wouldn’t matter how times I tested there would be nothing I could do about it. I didn’t want to add any extra stress or anxiety by testing more.

See it makes me think should I do another to confirm ? But then I think well I used a frer, it was a real strong line and I've also felt pretty crappy since, boob pains and on and off feeling sick so I'm trying to listen to my body. As you said, we can't change the outcome can we ! I have to believe this was meant to happen, after 7 years ttc and ivf for it to happen naturally is amazing and I need to hold onto that.

I've stopped at 5 weeks as I was going crazy interpreting the lines... my midwife said to stop as lighter lines could be more dilute wee etc etc. I was tempted to do a clearblue to check if got to 3+ but I know it would make me crazy if it wasn't and then there isn't anything the doctors will do... so would be extra anxiety that I can't change, Anyways I had a MMC at 8 weeks last time and my tests were perfect so it's no guarantee so I'm just going with it now and hoping all is fine! I know how hard it is tho... the urge to pee on a stick is crazy!

The problem is that pregnancy tests pick up the HCG in your urine and that can vary from woman to woman, pregnancy to pregnancy and even the same woman and same pregnancy depending on the concentration of the urine. Different brands have different thresholds that they will pick up HCG. Digitals have a huge range for weeks and are notoriously inaccurate. If a woman has less than the average HCG the digital might say she’s not as far as she thinks she is and she panics thinking something is wrong, if she has more than the average HCG she might panic and think she’s having multiples. HCG will also stay in your system for a short time after a miscarriage and be picked up in your urine, so it could actually create a false sense of security.

It’s such an anxious time and such a long wait to the scan. Fingers crossed for you.

I’m totally understand and I’m in the same boat at the moment.

Tomorrow I’ll be 5 weeks pregnant, I told myself that I would do no more tests but gave in to temptation today and I got a fainter line than I had two days ago and fainter than I’d expect for 5 weeks, though wasn’t FMU, so obviously very worried now!

I totally agree with what others have written though and that you shouldn’t continually test (wish I’d take my own advice!) but it’s very difficult to do once you’ve had a few losses.

When I had my son 5 years ago I think I did 2/3 tests max and then didn’t even think to take anymore tests.

Unfortunately I’ve had 3 chemical pregnancies since, last one was just last cycle. I’m also 41 so time and biology are against me! I guess you just have to hope for the best and as others have said what will be will be. Easier said than done though!

I tested from 10dpo until yesterday just so I could see line progression. Im 4+1 today and im not feeling the urge to test anymore in case I get a fainter line and freak out. I've got a horrible uti at the moment so I'm also not testing in case the antibiotics affect the test.
I totally get how people get hooked on testing, after 14 months it was bliss to see the lines and see them getting darker.

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits congratulations 😊

I only ever tested once, if its positive thats it. Why do people keep testing? If the pregnancy is not successful you'll soon know about it?

I agree it's easier said than done, and even though I love coming on this board sometimes I see things and then it plants a seed! Especially harder when you've had losses. But I do believe no amount of testing or worrying will change the outcome. I'm trying to just embrace it this time. I've spent so so long wanting to be pregnant and then when it finally happened in November I spent every waking minute worrying like mad! I felt like I ruined that short time for myself...