8 weeks pregnant but faint line

[Feefeegladstone]

Hi there,

I’m new to this forum :) I am estimated 8 weeks and 2days pregnant but did have a missed miscarriage back in December. I have been doing sporadic pregnancy tests and today this one looked awful faint to me. This is a test I bought in denmark when I was visiting my parents so perhaps not as reliable as clearblue but should I expect the line to be darker at 8 weeks? When I miscarried perviously I thought I was ten weeks and went for a private scan a few days before xmas to find the pregnancy had not progressed past 6 weeks so I am anxious. I have been getting acupuncture regularly for 3 months so I hope this has helped. I have a private scan booked for friday. Should I keep testing or leave it for now? Thanks so much

Leave it! The line is definitely there. These tests are not designed to measure how much HCG there is just whether it's there or not and different batches might have different amounts of dye etc. it's understandable you're anxious but more tests won't change the outcome and are likely to just stress you out.

I’d say that’s quite a good line? You could be less than 8 weeks anyway depending when you ovulated.

Look up the hook effect, your levels are probably that high, that the test can't handle it and a faint line appears instead.

It happened to me at around 6 weeks, then I done a test super hydrated with no hold and got a v strong line!

Good luck for your scan!

@T2024 wow I read up on the hook effect. I just took another test, have been drinking lots of water all day and even diluted it further with water and the line definitely came out stronger!? Photo: top test was this morning and bottom test is the diluted urine at 6:30pm. Regardless thank you for all your advice everyone x

Brilliant, thought it may have been the hook effect! It was the same for me, when my levels went over 5000, the tests weren't useful. Scans are definitely more reassuring x

I wouldn’t suggest taking tests past a certain amount of weeks. I stupidly caused myself more anxiety and stress than needed after I took a test at approx 8 weeks and it was much fainter.
I’m now 24 weeks and baby is very much kicking around. I know it’s difficult but step away from the test, they will cause you nothing but worry. At this stage only a scan can give you a true indication of how your pregnancy is progressing.
I also had a miscarriage previous to this so understand the anxiety

Best of luck 💗🩵