Clearblue digital saying 1-2 at 16/17 dpo. Bad sign? Anxious about chemical pregnancy

[Skylark1990]

Hi 👋 I posted this on the conception thread but no response, so think maybe best here...

I'm now 4+2 and having relatively light bfps (although undeniable lines, just not dye stealers or as dark as control lines) and still 1-2 with clearblue... Is this normal? I'll explain context below... I'm especially nervous as had a chemical in January.

I got faint bfps through FRER and clearblue early response on the weekend - at 10/11 dpo. The FRer line was darker second day I tested. I then took a clearblue digital with weeks on Monday, 12dpo and got pregnant 1-2 so was super happy.

I've taken a couple of cheapies since but I'm on holiday and never used these ones before, the lines are still relatively faint but definitely there and I'm not sure how dark they should be anyway at like 4 weeks or 4+1. I have also done another couple of clearblue non digital ones on Wednesday and this morning, the lines are very clear but again not super dark (not darker than control line) although they werent the early response ones but the normal ones that pick up 25iu. I also think perhaps the line from this morning was lighter than Wednesday night so I'm worrying about that...

I did another clearblue digital this morning too, and hoping it would be 2-3 but it's stl 1-2 😬. I'm not sure if I should worry or not - it's been 4 days since I last tested with a digital so maybe I should have waited a full week? Has anyone else had this at around 16/17 dpo?is 4 days too short for a change? Also if the lines aren't getting darker every two days should I be worried? Is it all tests that do this or just FRER? Wondering if perhaps what I'm testing with are just not sensitive enough. Will test with FRer again when back in UK tomorrow.

I have a complete POAs addiction ATM, and I think I need to stop but I'm just worried as I had the chemical pregnancy, that it's going to happen again!

If anyone can offer any reassurance I would appreciate it x x

Please stop testing with the digital week CBs, they're notorious for not being accurate since everyone's HCG levels can be wildly different. They can make you completely crazy and are a massive waste of money.

Ideally you should stop testing completely, but if you can't then at least stick to the same brand and just test every 2 days.

Honestly OP, having had a chemical myself, stop torturing yourself. What will happen will happen, whether you pee on 15 sticks a day or none.

As above poster said, try and stick with one brand for consistency (not clear blue digital) and test every couple of days.
HCG levels differ from person to person and fluctuate, you aren't learning anything new from these tests and I don't think it is helping you feel happy. Unfortunately nobody here can reassure you one way or the other.

Take a breath, try not to obsess too much and see what happens over the next week. Good luck, I hope you get your BFP.

It might be that you ovulated later than you thought? I was pretty sure of when I ovulated (from urine strips) but I got moved back a week at my 12 week scan. I had really light positives from when my period was due which got a bit darker and a 1-2 week digital but then stopped as I was getting paranoid. You could always book in for a reassurance scan in a few weeks if you’re still anxious :)

Those week indicator tests should be banned. They're notoriously unreliable.

If you're really worried save the money that you would have spent on all the tests and have a private scan at 6 weeks, or even better 8 weeks as then there should be a heartbeat. That will be much more reassuring than a test which tells you nothing about the viability of the pregnancy.

In my experience. Iv had chemicals and normal pregnancies. The line should be as dark as the other line the day you turn 5 weeks pregnant. Clear blue still saying 1-2 isn’t a huge problem as your only 2 days over the threshold so don’t worry about that. With my chemicals the line never even got dark what so ever it was barely there each time

Really wish they would ban those ruddy tests. They're not a medical tool.

Please stop testing OP.

Thank you all. Wise words x

I'm silly and tested again and it came back super faint positive on a clear blue 😕😞 I also used one of the sensitive ones, 6 days early (but I'm 4+3 now). Feeling deflated. I don't understand why still faint? Feel something must be wrong.
I know I shouldn't have tested and feel so silly but also worried.
Maybe it's all fine though. I guess could ask for my bloods done when back in the UK...

Could be anything, you could have ovulated late.

Please stop testing, you'll drive yourself batshit.

When I was 4+3 my tests were faint too, I'm now 19+5. I waited a full week between doing the digis and did see a rise, I wouldn't have done them any earlier as they're supposed to be a week indicator, so it's not likely to go up a week in 4 days, but I do agree with others you should step away from the digital tests.

You're not doing yourself any good with all this testing, just working yourself up and getting stressed, which is no good for you or baby. I know it's easy for other people to say but what will be will be. It's far too early to do anything if it does turn out to be a chemical, so please stop worrying yourself and enjoy the fact that you are pregnant TODAY!

1-2 is correct for 4+2. The CB weeks indicator is from conception, whilst pregnancy otherwise is dated from LMP, so 1-2 is roughly 3-4 weeks pregnant. The range of HCG for each stage of the weeks results is also massive, so lots of variation between pregnancies for when it changes or if indeed it does - some women never get a 3+ for example and have birthed healthy babies anyway.

Pregnancy tests are only designed to tell you whether you're pregnant, not how pregnant you are, despite any marketing claims. Put the tests away and relax - nothing has happened until something happens. You're currently pregnant.

This is my mine progression if it’s any help. First test was 10dpo. I took two tests per day until the day I was 5 weeks and the line was not going to get darker. I’m 16 weeks now with a girl. And I worried just as you did that my lines were not getting dark quick enough and that I was having a chemical. I obsessed over tests and lines.

How has your test been today?

Thank you all, I do really appreciate the support and advice.
Sadly I've started to bleed today so I think I'm losing this pregnancy early - 4+4 today.
Very sad especially as I had another early loss in Jan. I do have a daughter already she is 19months so hoping it's not a sign that anything is truly wrong.
Thanks again ❤️