10 weeks pregnant and confused if all is ok!

[Water767]

Hi

It’s my first time posting on here and just looking to see what better experienced/expert info you all may have to offer me!

I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, following a previous miscarriage last year. I have had a couple of early scans (6.5w and 7.5w) due to slight bleeding twice. Both times a strong heartbeat was seen and I was measuring a few days ahead of where I should be (IVF so the usual fixed days for dating purposes!).

In the last 4/5 days (so about 9.5 weeks) my symptoms have very much lessened, particularly the evening nausea. My symptoms haven’t been outrageously strong at any point, just twinges, evening nausea and eating a LOT LOT more than normal. I’m now left with very minimal twinges, slightly sore boobs, very very mild nausea (not sure if I’m even imaging that or causing it through worry!) and a hugely reduced appetite.

I am also on a very high dosage of drugs (prog and oestrogen) which gave me some of these symptoms pre embryo transfer anyway.

I am quietly flapping that I’m having a MMC.

I’ve obviously trawled here, and online in general, and seen the refs to

a) placenta taking over

and

b) options for private scans (worried to start down a route of scan addiction every time I need paranoid reassurance) and also my DH is away currently and I’d rather do that together in case bad news.

I suppose I’m interested in any advice from anyone more experienced.

Also, I’m a little confused re hormone levels and pregnancy testing at this stage. If symptoms are lessening then I believe that might be due to levels plateauing due to the placenta and therefore body getting used to it.

If it was due to a MMC then hormones must be reducing, even if only slowly initially, in order to reduce the symptoms surely? I know you can test positive for weeks afterwards. However, if it WAS due to a MMC then wouldn’t a pregnancy test lighten, even if only slightly initially? My tests are still coming back as strong as ever.

Sorry for the very very long post. I just wanted to explain fully my thoughts which are going round and round in circles.

Any thoughts obvs HUGELY appreciated!

OP, I don't think you should read that much into pregnancy tests except to say that a strong positive is probably a good sign. But depending on urine, time of day, hook effect etc I just don't think a slightly darker/paler line is going to mean much. Do you have a 12 week scan booked and can you handle waiting till then? It's really common (as you've read) for symptoms to ease from 9/10 weeks onwards. If you've had good scans so far the odds really are in your favour, I guess what you have to work out is how to deal with the anxiety and the waiting. If you have another scan now and then at 12 weeks can you allow yourself to relax? This never goes away I'm afraid, you can worry all the way through so it might be more worthwhile finding some ways of thinking to help manage it.

Thanks @Keha for your speedy reply.

I don’t have a date yet for my 12 week scan. Just I’ve been told it should be before 14 weeks. I guess that sort of answers it. I could wait and see if it’s nearer 12. If it’s closer to 14, then go for a private sooner to know the situ.

As you put (very politely! 😁) it’s a long trawl of driving myself nutty over every this and that. I keep thinking, as a bottom line, that there isn’t any bleeding or any pain so not a whole lot of evidence.

I had guessed the testing was sort of pointless!

I think I need to keep my mind busier on other things and not a previous miscarriage, so thanks for the sound advice and gentle nudge! Much needed! Good to hear a voice of reason and I really appreciate you taking the time to reply

x

My symptoms subsided massively at this point in both my pregnancies (one IVF and one natural conception). By around 10 weeks it felt like a fog had lifted. I believe it is the placenta taking over and your hormones levelling out a bit. My first was the IVF pregnancy and I had exact same worries as you but he is now a healthy 2.5yr old. When the symptoms subsided at the same point in this pregnancy I was just relieved! I’m 28 weeks now and all is well. Hopefully a little reassurance for you.

Hi OP, if it helps my symptoms didn’t change whatsoever when I had my MMC but my 1st trimester symptoms were very variable with my subsequent pregnancy (37 weeks currently).

In other words - and it’s SO hard because we want answers and want to feel in control! - there’s just no way of knowing for sure how a pregnancy is going without a scan - symptoms, or lack of, cannot be relied on.

I also wouldn’t trust the tests as I sadly still had strong positives a few weeks after my D&C.

I dealt with my anxiety with an embarrassingly high number of
scans (both NHS and private) because it
was what I needed to stay calm in those early days. I also had quite bit of bleeding on and off so felt like I needed constant reassurance.

Pregnancy after loss is rough - do whatever you need to do get through it and remember to be kind to yourself. I wish you all the best of luck xx

@Water767 I woke up around 9 weeks feeling like a new woman, feeling so normal it made me worry, but turns out it's normal and it was just the placenta taking over as all was fine at my 12 week scan x

Thanks @Betsyboo87 @Emalouise25111 @MillieKitty

it really is amazingly reassuring hearing from someone else outside your own head. I appreciate it may not all be ok for me, but it’s still reassuring to know it’s not just me, and hear some other more rational points of view.

Thanks for your kind words as well. And @Betsyboo87 here’s to a stress free remaining weeks for you!

x