Did anyone not get a dye stealer or would only have it sometimes and have a successful pregnancy?

[meje23]

Hey everyone,

Hoping for some advice. I had a miscarriage in May (surgical management) and managed to get pregnant again in the same month. My previous pregnancy wasn’t planned, so I don’t know exactly how many weeks I was or when I conceived but I don’t think I did a test until I was about 10 days late for my period. This time it was planned so started testing around 8 DPO and got a very light positive from around 13 DPO.

It was quite a low transition from light to dark and I didn’t have much to compare to as my previous pregnancy I tested a lot later and the tests were dark from the beginning, getting a dye stealer on the cheapy Wandfo the day after getting a 3+ on Clearblue.

I’ve had a lot of anxiety so got a my HCG tested 48 hours apart just over a week ago, it didn’t double (was only slightly under) but must of by the next morning (so under 72 hours) as that’s when I got a 3+ on the Clearboue and when I googled the HCG level for that, it’s just over what I needed my HCG double to be. The doctor marked this as no concern, but I can’t get it out of my head as to if something is wrong (or whether mine just rises every 72 hour)

I know people will tell me to stop testing, but with Wandfo I only get a dye stealer if I don’t wee for about 4+ hours and don’t think anything (or have very little and definitely not water). Yesterday I was away and just happened to not be able to go to the toilet first of all for 4 hours and then about 6 and both times I got dye stealers on Wandfo, but if I do then with my morning wee or any other point I don’t get them. I remember last time, I could wee at any point and would have the dark line. I also have used Easy @ Home ones and these seem to be fine and have given me a darker test line for a week or so and certain days have been stronger than others.

From the beginning I seem to have had stronger tears in the afternoon or evening but I was wondering if anyone has had either no dye stealers or only at certain times and still been fine? My last pregnancy the lines were a lot darker (not that it meant anything as I miscarried anyway) but I’m just worried there hasn’t been much change for a week or so, only if I don’t wee for a number of hours which makes me think something has happened and my HCG is around the level it was when I got my blood test done or slightly above :(

With the best will in the world, all this means nothing in relation to whether the pregnancy is viable or not, and it's driving you crazy. You have to find a way to develop some zen. (Easier said than done but you really have to try)

@WilkinsonM Yeah, that’s the most stupid thing about it! I had strong HCG last time and dark tests but still had a miscarriage. I wish I just stopped testing from when it first got darker but now I am just comparing to before when I did get a darker line every time and think “well surely something is wrong then” 😪

How far are you op?
Would an early scan give you some better reassurance ? 😊

Mate, I’ve had five miscarriages and some of them had “dye stealer” type test results. I still obsessed and repeatedly tested though, and had to remind myself with my latest (successful) pregnancy the mantra, “line strength/progresson is not a predictor of viability”, which I’d read on here.

It’s a really anxious time, but at this stage you have to remember that you’re doing all you can to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy and worrying won’t help. I’m a really anxious person but that thought was a great comfort to me when I was spiralling.

The darkness of a test line means nothing at all, honestly, nothing. It is more related to the strength of your urine and the sensitivity of the test.

I found this article useful when I was pregnant after miscarriage.

https://www.babymed.com/tools/hcg-calculator

@Mangotango39 I'm 7 weeks today (from rough estimate) - I do have a scan booked for next week, once I am 8 weeks as I thought going for one between 6-7 would cause me too much anxiety. I may see if I can get one last minute for this weekend or early next week, just so that if someone is wrong I'll know. I had a missed miscarriage before and that's what is making me spiral!

@TheCraicDealer I'm sorry for your losses. This is the thing, I know that it doesn't mean a viable pregnancy and my previous pregnancy I had really strong HCG and tests but I still had a miscarriage. My point is that I am worried because it now has just stopped getting darker for about a week now and I only get a dye stealer if I don't wee/drink for 4 hours at least. Because of that, I'm worried something happened around the time I got my 3+ on Clearblue and that's why it isn't getting darker and can only pick up a darker one if I don't drink or wee, whereas before it could easy pick it up.

It's so easy to spiral. I think why my anxiety is so bad is because I had a missed miscarriage before, so no sign other than a small bleed possibly about 1 or 2 weeks after it happened. It's that thought of thinking everything is ok and then it's not which makes my brain feel like a prison!

@BertieBotts Thank you for that, that article is super helpful and also makes sense as I think it was initially 48 hours and once it hit 2,000 seemed to go to 72. I had never realised this is the case! That's why I find the internet worse sometimes as a lot of places say 48 hours but from what I can tell from GP's they are hesitant to do HCG testing. I also hadn't realised it slows down to 96 hours.

I know that dark lines don't mean a viable pregnancy, as that was the case in my last one but I'm just comparing to before that they aren't actually becoming dye stealers until I don't wee for 4 hours or drink anything which makes me fear that it can only pick up that much because there isn't lots there and it hasn't changed as something has happened. Just so much anxiety!

My tests between 11dpo and 14dpo got lighter. They then started getting darker, eventually I got a dye stealer around 6 weeks and as I approached 7 weeks they started to get lighter again. I’m now 23 weeks pregnant and everything is absolutely fine. I totally understand the urge to keep testing but honestly all it does is cause much more stress than reassurance. I booked an ultrasound at 8 weeks to check everything was ok and got to see the heartbeat. Was far more reassuring than any test.

If you've already got to 2,000 this is a really really positive sign. If you wanted to pay for a private scan, you'd be likely to see something. Although best to wait for 6+ weeks if you want to see a heartbeat.

Keep the faith!

As I understand it, the darkness of the line only matters when you're close to the boundary - so if your test has a sensitivity of 25 mIU then you'll get a faint line if you're somewhere in the region of 20-30. And then it will be stronger once you get well past 25. There is a certain level of tolerance in the calibration of these tests so they don't always activate exactly at 25.

However, if you're already in the 2000+ region, your tests aren't going to get any darker. It's a binary test not a spectrum, and you're well past the threshold. The only test that's going to give you an indication of rising hCG levels is the Clearblue weeks one - BUT - again - I'd urge caution with this because again they are not always calibrated well. They report their own sensitivity levels as 10, 153, 2753 for 1-2 weeks / 2-3 weeks / 3+ weeks. So in theory, you could take one to see if you're over or under that 2753 threshold, but I have seen people compare them to actual hCG tests and it seems like the upper threshold sometimes doesn't trigger until people are over 3000 / 3500 ish. This can cause worry.

If it's going to upset you if you get a 2-3 week result, don't buy one. But if it would help then that's the info about it.

@PickledScrump Was your dye stealer constant? I wonder if yours was so strong that they would have to be diluted - I had this last time once my HCG got to about 22,000. The problem is that I can get one if I don’t wee or drink for 4 hours, but any other time it’s just as dark as the control line. I’m 7 weeks today & feel like it hasn’t changed in about a week and can only get it sometimes which just makes me worried it’s because there isn’t enough there.

It’s weird because the Easy @ Home I get really strong ones most times but they are the same sensitivity so I just can’t work it out. I’m trying to tell myself maybe this time I just don’t have as much HCG as before but it doesn’t help the only symptoms I have are bloating and needing to wee more often.. last time I got super sore boobs, bad stomach, insanely tired etc!

@BertieBotts I got a 3+ on Clearblue last Thursday - the day before (the Wednesday) I had my second HCG test which was 2,023 so that’s how I could work out that it technically doubled within 72 hours, as I took the ClearBlue the next day and the threshold is double my Monday result. That’s what is also stressing me out, as last time I got the 3+ I then got dye stealers every single time I tested, whereas this time only if I hold my wee for 4+ hours and don’t drink.

Last time my hormone got up to 22,000 and I was having dye stealers constantly so I just can’t work out why this would be different 🥹 what’s throwing me is my Easy @ Home ones are always dye stealers and they both have the same sensitivity!

Everything you are describing is completely normal, your test lines/ HCG levels sound completely fine. You are driving yourself mad over a non issue xx

I empathise with your anxiety. More information about HCG levels and tests isn't going to help you.

All you can do is focus on is the things that you can control. Fresh air, exercise, nutritious food, relaxing activities, things you can't do with a baby in tow.

@Golaz I know 😪 I think I’m just so worried because my miscarriage was a “missed” one, so I am convinced it will happen again and I won’t know, so anything out of the norm I notice. I’ve booked a last minute scan tomorrow as I will be 7 weeks 1 day, so I can stop driving myself wondering and just know either way x

I don’t know what a dye stealer is but I’ve had 3 babies, 5 pregnancies in total and can tell you that the strength of the line on my tests had absolutely no correlation with whether my pregnancies were successful or not.

Aw I totally empathise. I had a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks and was a complete mentalist my next preg, and still a bit sometimes. So sorry for your loss, but there’s no reason to think it will happen again. The overwhelming odds say you will have a healthy successful preg.
There’s nothing wrong with how you describe your tests lines. Totally normal xx

I totally get the anxiety - I have had two MC and one was a MMC. But I do think the testing with sticks can do more harm then good at this point . I believe tests are for the early days which you are past.
Did they tell you have far you were with your MC when it was found?

great news getting a scan tomorrow, I think this could be the reassurance you need.
we are exactly the same time frame I think - due 16th Feb ? 🤗

someone shared in a group I'm in that once you get a heartbeat at a scan of 7 weeks the MC rate dramatically drops . This has given me comfort 🤗

Hope your scan went well op xxx

@Golaz Very pleased to say that I saw the baby today & strong heartbeat - measuring slightly behind thinking I was 7 weeks at 6 weeks 4 days but not entirely surprised as I didn’t have a period inbetween MC and getting pregnant again so wasn’t sure on exact timing.
The somographer thinks the brown discharge was a late implantation bleed that came out with the change in my hormones. I’m not 100% sure on that but she knows more than me!
I know it doesn’t mean it’s definitely all going to work out, but trying to remain hopeful now xxx

@Mangotango39 Thank you lovely. I had my scan and saw baby and heartbeat 😭 I actually cried in the scan room as I was so relieved lol! She thinks it was a late implantation bleed that came out due to the change in hormones suddenly (which would make sense as I suddenly got my acid reflux this morning which I had previously when my progesterone rose).
I’m slightly behind dates at 6 weeks 4 days instead of 7 but not entirely surprised as I didn’t have a period inbetween MC also didn’t know for sure. Due date has now changed to 20th but could change again I guess once I’m further on!

Awww that’s wonderful news OP. So glad to hear! Xx

Yay this is fabulous !!!!!
You must be over the moon.

no more pee tests now 😉

@Mangotango39 For sure!!! I ran out yesterday morning which I took as fate 🥰 hope all goes well for you x