Pregnancy test getting lighter 10 weeks

[Lilacdream]

Had a scan at 7 weeks all fine
I've had miscarriages in past but this is furthest I've got. I'm 10 weeks exactly today.
I have been paranoid and testing once a week until i get my 12 week scan. My test one week ago was lovely and strong. Today I tested and light is much lighter than control. This is really frightening me because on Friday evening I carried a really heavy box 20kg. Heavy to me ive no muscle. and had cramps and back pain. Id convinced myself since that it has affected baby as it says heavy lifting can cause miscarriages.
It's taken years of ivf get pregnant and this was our last chance financially. I feel I've fucked thing up. Why did I take the risk. I know its not the hook effect was I've diluted it down and test is even lighter diluted . I'm so mad at myself

I'd always thought the hormone being tested for decreased and so tests are lighter the further along you are.
That might not be accurate, but i can't believe lifting something heavy, which if done correctly, shouldn't impact your womb at all. Stomach muscles contract yes, but they do when you sit up, or do most things. The lower back works, so do the legs, but lifting something at this stage is unlikely to damage the growing sesame seed sized baby.

I know it’s easy to panic, but it’s worth remembering that pregnancy tests are not designed to “track” pregnancy. They have 2 answers- Yes or No, they are not intended or built to be used to measure “how” pregnant you are, and actually as a friend of mine found, they don’t just go negative after a miscarriage they can actually stay positive for weeks. It’s hard, but you have to almost just accept that this is something completely out of your control, you tested, it was a positive test result, you are pregnant until told otherwise. That’s the best advice I was given in early pregnancy and wracked with anxiety, you can’t change it so you just have to go with it. I’m now 23 weeks and it does get easier, fingers crossed for you x

https://www.pampers.co.uk/pregnancy/healthy-pregnancy/article/hcg-levels

Totally normal- hcg levels are supposed to drop as you get further along.

The line colour doesn't reflect how pregnant you are, and remember embryo is tiny at this point, it's exceptionally unlikely that any movement could have had an affect on it. Wishing you all the best.

From google:

The hook effect can occur when hCG levels are above 500,000 mIU/mL. The hook effect in pregnancy tests is rare. While hCG levels can vary greatly from person to person, in a typical pregnancy, hCG levels may peak around week 10 at around 100,000 mIU/mL.13 Oct 2023

@LightToTheWorld I haven't reached the 12 weeks. I've only just hit 10 weeks today. I know my hcg levels aren't exceptionally high as I've had them tested by blood twice

https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/ask-heidi/hcg-levels.aspx

This link is better than the one I posted above and says the peak can be between 7 and 12 weeks.

@Winnipeggy my hcg levels were done over 2 weeks ago and only 9, 000 at that stage which is on the lower end but they were doubling

I guess I'm coupling this with the fact I haven't felt right for days. I've been light headed, and the whole pregnancy I had a tender tummy and and now I'm just not feeing the same at all . I feel so different and now with the tests being lighter. Epu won't give me a scan and earliest I can book private is Saturday

I know it’s hard not to worry OP but it’s also completely normal for symptoms to come and go especially during early pregnancy. I barely bad any symptoms other than a bit of tiredness and occasional nausea right up until I was 14 ish weeks even.

Yes, symptoms of pregnancy are not generally continuous and they come and go.

Hey, did your pregnancy end up progressing successfully? I'm in a very similar situation 😑