What a rollercoaster... Baffling hcg... Any hope? at all?

[SnookyPook]

Hi everyone...

Just wondering if anyone has any relevant experience.

I've had a tough year - MMC in April at 11+4 (baby had stopped developing at 7+5), then a CP in September. I was absolutely amazed to conceive again straight away and got a BFP a couple of weeks ago. I was at GP for bloods so asked if they could also check HCG which came back positive at 15dpo. However, a couple of days later, got a CB digital 1-2 weeks when I thought it should be approaching 3+. I know they're not always accurate but given my history, I asked GP to do a repeat blood test which they did last Thurs. I also rang the EPU who dealt with my MMC in April and kindly booked me for a scan if I made it to 6 weeks.

Got my blood test back yesterday morning and was immediately filled with despair as the HCG level was rubbish. And went to my scan today (should be 6 weeks exact) and they said my HCG was too low for a scan as nothing would show. But they did another blood test and booked a repeat one for this coming Thurs and said hopefully it will provide some clarity.

Well, the nurse rang me this evening, slightly baffled. Since the last blood test, my HCG has perfectly doubled twice (i.e. as expected in timeframe)

4+1 - HCG 69
5+2 - HCG 137 (!!!)
6 - HCG 598

They are now saying if it doubles again at next test they will be able to scan after all.

I'm completely baffled tbh. I was certain it was another miscarriage and if it doesn't sound too weird, part of me is annoyed that this has given a bit of hope. I don't see how it could have been so poor in that first week and go on to be fine.

So, I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what the outcome was? I'm even wondering if it could be a sign of an ectopic?! I just don't know. Would be great to hear from anyone whose had similar - whatever the outcome. I can take bad news at this point. It will be a gut punch but I'm kind of braced for it. Would just like to hear of similar experiences.

Thanks for reading. X

Morning bump... 🙃

For all my losses I just had the crappy not doubling HCG I’m afraid.
However, with DS1 I had lots of bleeding around 7 weeks and had a scan. Here was a sac I was told was measuring 5+2, fetal pole might be in there but no HB, and another sac that had collapsed and looked empty.
There was absolutely no way on G-ds earth that I could only have been 5+2, it would have meant getting positive pregnancy tests for almost two weeks before becoming pregnant. I was a tracker, I tracked everything - sex, BBT, ovulation sticks. I KNEW my dates. So I knew the pregnancy could not progress.
Scan 10 day later and here was a 7 week fetus with a heartbeat. And then he just continued growing on that line and was born on his due date and now he’s at a super selective grammar school and plays basketball for the borough (I tell you this not to boast, well a little bit but so you can see he was completely normal).
So for whatever reason, he took two weeks to get going and the very first part of my pregnancy with him did not progress as normal. I don’t know what we would have found if we’d done HCG but quite possibly it wouldn’t have been doubling as normal.
Good luck.

@MangoAF sorry to hear of your losses. That is really interesting re your DS. I guess because we don't routinely track everyone, there isn't really a way of knowing if some people have a really slow start before picking up as normal. Interesting that you mentioned 2 sacks... One thing that has come up as a vague possibility is that a really early vanishing twin can cause a temporary blip to the HCG. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I guess ultimately only time will tell. Like so much of TTC and pregnancy, more patience is required.

Got my repeat blood test tomorrow so will take it from there.

Thanks for replying and congratulations on your lovely son - he sounds amazing! 😊

Hope today's blood test goes well @SnookyPook

I don't have advice in this area but I recognise your name from the miscarriage boards and wanted to send a supportive hand squeeze 🙂

Ah thank you @countrypunk - so lovely of you 💕

I'm not overly hopeful as not really feeling many symptoms etc but just trying to be patient and see what comes. Blood test isn't until later this afternoon. Not exactly the smooth sailing first trimester I would have hoped for after the year I've had, but realistically I doubt I'd have been able to relax much anyway so it is what it is. I just hope that if it is a loss, it doesn't drag on too much longer. Hope you're doing ok. X

@SnookyPook I don't think anyone who's had a miscarriage can ever fully relax into pregnancy ever again! It takes something away. But I think it makes all the pregnancy milestones that much more special as well.

Thinking of you very much x

Hope it went well today x

@SnookyPook i really feel for you, I’ve only had one miscarriage (and not been pregnant again since) but I think I’d be really anxious if I did get pregnant again. Hope you have some clarity x

Thanks everyone - still waiting on the most recent blood results...

Just updating in case anyone follows in the future. Unfortunately that was another loss at 7wks. By the end I was quite relieved to start bleeding as they had started worrying about an ectopic. Still unsure what it was in the end but it resolved on its own.

On a happier note, I actually conceived again straight away (not intentional! Stopped tracking etc thinking I needed a proper break and was waiting referral to fertility consultant.. but someone had other ideas!) - 32wks today and heading to the finish line. 🙏🏼💕

@SnookyPook That is such wonderful news! Congratulations! So so happy for you.

I had our rainbow baby in March and he's a joy. Apart from his refusal to sleep more than 2 hours at once...

@countrypunk aw thank you and congratulations to you too on the safe arrival of your little man!! 🥰💙 Hope his sleep picks up soon. The first 4 months are the hardest (from memory...) - will be strange being back to the beginning with a whole new person to get to know! Ours is a little boy too 🥰