Clear blue not moving from 2-3 weeks

[Blacksheep33]

Hi all,

I am 22dpo (I know my exact dates as had ivf so am 17dp5dt) and my clear blue test still days 2-3 weeks - I should be 3 plus by now (as I know you add 2 weeks and I’m 5weeks1 day now).

i got a 2-3 8/9 days ago so really think it should have increased by now to 3 plus if my HCG levels were rising properly 😔 what do you think? Anyone had experience of this?

My clear blue never went over 2-3 weeks. Baby just turned 2. Step away from the tests.

The weeks indicators are not always accurate I wouldn't worry

I read the threshold for 3+ weeks can be above 10000 hcg. So I don't use them after I see 2-3 weeks (I think 1-2 weeks threshold is < 100 and 2-3 is 153 - so your hcg is somewhere between 153 and 10000!).

I get hcg and progesterone blood tests instead from Medichecks, except they take about a week to come back. I was panicking yesterday with an equal (so lighter) FRER line, but it was much, much darker again today (and a blazing positive easy@home test). Urine concentration must impact as well. This is the point when urine tests stop telling you anything useful and become unreliable.

Good hcg doesn't mean the pregnancy isn't going to stop progressing for me as with my MMC in Sept my hcg was over 15000. It's only a guide that that side of things is working ok. I know that is maybe still better progress than my previous losses at 5 weeks where hcg had not had a proper chance to double so I still track hcg quantitatively with blood tests to give me progress data.

My urine tests were much lighter and slower to darken this time, but they still seem to be doubling and I had a scan at 6w3d yesterday with heartbeat. My blood results at 22dpo were 321 (I'm 33 dpo), which is lower for me but totally still in the normal range and based on when I first had a BFP and got a 2-3 weeks clearblue still likely to be doubling ok. We are kind of at the point now of wait and see and hope for the best, which I know is really hard. Please try not to stress! If you are really bothered, get blood tests, but none of these tests will change the outcome. Physiologically and mentally, I am trying to get into a headspace where I can relax and accept whatever happens now.

Thank you all for your replies. @somethingluscious Congratulations on your scan - that looks so positive for you 😊

you’re right of course that no amount of worrying is going to change the outcome, I just feel very stressed as I got a 3+ at 4w6days with my son and feel like my hcg should be high enough to get the same at 5w1day this time round. The clear blue leaflet says that the dating is 93% accurate and I’ve been stuck at 2-3 for so long I just don’t think my hcg could have been doubling every 48hrs like it should be. Have read lots of women who had missed miscarriages and found out by the lack of progression from 2-3 - 3+

also have a tummy ache/sort of cramps so am now expecting the worst 😔

A MMC can have perfectly good hcg, up to the point that embryo development and therefore hcg stops. Only progressive blood tests or a scan will indicate that.

The threshold on three weeks for those tests varies so much they are really unreliable above 2-3 weeks. It states in their leaflet the threshold is 2753, but further along shows the range goes over 10000 for some to show as 3+ weeks. That can't be a valid estimation of progression / progress at that stage with such a range. They are also estimating levels from LH surge +1 day, not from implantation when hcg starts to grow. People will get positive tests at different dpo.
uk.clearblue.com/sites/default/file/hcp_cb9_professional_brochure.pdf

Blood tests are the only conclusive way to test hcg and each pregnancy can have different growth rates/starting points. Your hcg is meant to double every 48 to 72 hours below 1200, then 72 to 96 hours below 6000, then every 96 hours after that. That's a massive range all within normal parameters.

www.babymed.com/tools/hcg-calculator

www.babymed.com/normal-hcg-blood-level-by-week-during-pregnancy

@Blacksheep33 i wouldn’t worry about the 2-3 signalling mmc, I had one and got my 3+ right on time as well as really dark tests, honestly I don’t think tests mean that much! Saying that I totally get your anxiety it’s really difficult xx

I stressed over this so much when I first got my 2-3 and I never progressed to 3+. I had a 2-3 and the day after we saw a perfectly healthy heartbeat measuring 6 weeks. I hate these clearblue ones as they cause so much unnecessary upset! Don’t bother with them and enjoy being pregnant.

I didn't get 3+ until over 6 weeks. 8 month old DD is currently asleep next to me. I also had ivf so knew my dates. Congrats OP! When is your scan?

Thanks everyone for your replies! I guess it’s just a waiting game and I’ll just have to sit tight 😬

I have a scan booked for 10th jan - if I make it that far it’s going to be a looong 11 days!!

I’ve been on all sides- slow to get to 3+ and ultimately had a MMC, quick to get to 3+ with DD and slow to get to 3+ (5 plus 2 I think) with DS. They’re not an exact science.

Good luck 💗 the waiting is unbearable isn't it?

Hi OP. Sorry to jump on your post. I’m just wondering how you got on? I’m 13dp5dt and clear blue is still saying 1-2 weeks which I don’t think is good. I’m starting to worry now. I’m booked in for betas this week but should I be preparing for bad news?

Hi @coomnahorna , I’m sorry you have this stress too! I’m afraid I am still in the waiting zone - have a scan next week. I did eventually get a 3+ on clear blue at 18dp5dt - my main concern is that I was ‘stuck’ on 2-3 for so long (9-10 days) that my levels must have been doubling at a rate slower than 24 hours (as they have to be 150hcg to get a 2-3 and then you get a 3+ when over 2750).

i did find though that I got a 3+ when I dip tested so I’m hoping that maybe just holding the test in my urine stream wasn’t as sensitive? I don’t know if that makes a difference for you but it says to dip in a sample for 20 seconds.

I really hope you get some answers and a positive outcome - it really is an awful wait especially after the hell that is ivf xxx

Someone on a previous thread said that as long as it is positive that's all you need to know - please step away from the clear blue tests, they are really inaccurate and cause so much worry!

@Blacksheep33 Can you please update?

Hi, thankfully in my case the slow progression wasn’t signalling a problem and my daughter was born last month.

@Blacksheep33 Awww bless her. I am so happy for you.

@Blacksheep33 hi 👋🏻 i know this is an old post but im having the exact same issue, currently been 9days since i last got a 2-3 on a digital, took one again today and it is still saying 2-3 yet im 5+5 according to my last period 🤦🏻‍♀️ dont have much hope at all if im honest but did everything for you turn out ok in the end? x

Hi @HereWeGoAgainBaby6

in my case thankfully everything was ok so I don’t know why the progression was so slow - I did eventually get a 3 plus test but it was later than expected and only when I dip tested (held the test in a pot for about 20 seconds)

have everything crossed for you xx

@Blacksheep33 was your measuring behind at any scans aswell?

Hi @HereWeGoAgainBaby6 , no I had my first scan at 6 weeks and that was measuring on target (as were later scans at 9 and 12 weeks).

@Blacksheep33 glad to hear it all went well for you anyway 😊 what did you end up having by the way if you dont mind me asking x

Just found this thread OP:

www.google.com/gasearch?q=clearblue%20digital%20pregnancy%20test%20with%20weeks%20indicator%20not%20moving%20oast%202-3%20wwwks%20&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5

Sorry wrong thread!

How did you get on @HereWeGoAgainBaby6 ? I am still getting 2-3 at 5 weeks 5 days with a first morning urine and worrying about it. I got my first 2-3 6 days ago so though it would have gone up by now!