Pregnancy of unknown location, bleeding, but HCG doubling

[Sowalk08]

Hi all,

I posted the other day that I had been bleeding but found out I was pregnant. Upon being scanned by my local EPU they told me it was a pregnancy of unknown location and ectopic was possible though unlikely and I had likely miscarried.

They took a blood test and I braced myself for a low result. I was was rung and told my HCG was 246 and in the range of what they would expect and to wait for my progesterone result. The next day they rang. My progesterone was 17 which they said was on the low side again I prepared that I had already miscarried.

I had a second blood test today... My HCG has gone to 464 in 48 hours which is double and what they would see in a healthy pregnancy.... Bleeding has almost stopped and now I'm really confused. I keep bracing myself to be told it's over but it's like I keep getting a glimmer of hope that frankly I'm trying to ignore at the moment.

Wondering really if anyone has any experiences of unknown locations for pregnancies? What was the outcome? Does anyone understand progesterone levels more than could explain what level it should be at?

I'm also unsure of dates as I wasn't tracking my periods so I thought I was around 5 weeks but am possibly earlier than that....

How many weeks are you OP?

Hi I have had something very similar. I was always told it is unlikely to see a pregnancy on scan until your hcg is over 1000. It could be a pregnancy of unknown location, or you might be very early still and therefore it would be too early to know for sure. You could ask for another hcg and keep tracking it until they can see for sure on scan xx

Hi, had this exactly and mine was blighted ovum.

Hope yours is a happier story!

I estimated around 5 weeks but it was a rough guess as I wasn't keeping track of my cycle. I know conception was no earlier than 4 weeks today though due to when our "accident" occured

The EPU will be ringing me on Monday so I'll ask them what can be done in the meantime. I don't think I have high hopes. I'm more confused than anything!

I had one of those a couple of years ago before my second child. It wouldn't surprise me if it was unfortunately. I'm attempting to not get my hopes up and prepare for the worst. I just wish I could get an exact answer 🫠

An update - had my second scan today. They could see a gestational sac and estimated me at 4 and a half weeks which is less than I had estimated but it was a very rough estimation as I hadn't been tracking anything.

They said that the growth is what they would expect after seeing nothing last week and I now have to return in 2 weeks for another scan where hopefully They will see continued growth and maybe a heartbeat. I have also been put on progesterone at my request.

Wondering if anyone has experience of being behind dates? I wouldn't be surprised if I was later than I thought as I don't even really remember when my LMP was in September! Hoping this is the start of a bit more positivity. Bleeding has stopped for a while now and pregnancy symptoms are kicking in 🤞🏼

That's good that they could see the gestational sac forming in the right location OP, and that sounds right for what you'd expect to see at such an early gestation!

I have long and irregular cycles and am consistently measuring 10/11 days behind what LMP would put me at - I'm almost 20 weeks, had a scan a few days ago and baby is doing great.

Keep us posted how the follow up scan in 2 weeks goes. Good luck

Unfortunately, that is what it was like for me with the blighted ovum. First scan, just thickened endometrium, then gestational sac, then yolk sac and then the yolk sac disappeared. Before the last scan, they were just moving me further and further with the dates. I knew deep down that is not possible, I was pretty sure of my dates.

I was very nauseous too so I was clinging onto that. At the early stage, my HcG even doubled as it was supposed to do. But as I said, I was pretty sure of my dates.
How far is it from your estimation?

I would say it's putting me about a weekish behind based on my rough calculations. But I don't know when my September period started not when I ovulated so it's a very rough estimate. I'm keeping a level head. I've had a blighted ovum myself, although for me I had continuous bleeding and a loss of all symptoms and other losses too so I'm getting used to not getting too excited! Thank you for your experience though, I'll have to see what happens in 2 weeks 😬

Yes will update after the scan. Hopefully with good news but also preparing for not so good news. Normally I've been tracking everything as we have been actively trying so not knowing makes it very hard to know what to expect! Just have to keep a level head and not think about it for two weeks (as much as possible!)

Finger crossed it's all good.

Are you going to get a private scan in the meantime or are you good at waiting?:)

Yes. Me. I had an unknown location pregnancy. Hcg was a little more than doubling and I'm currently 24 weeks now so was all okay for me. Sorry you're going through this too. It's very hard and I remember just wanting some closure no matter the outcome in the end!

Just read through the whole thread and see you've had a scan with gestational sac. So for me I thought I was 6 weeks from LMP so I booked a private scan to see if it was 'real'. (We've been trying for 4 years so was very shocked and in disbelief!)
At the scan my uterus was completely empty but my 'lining' was 13mm. Don't know what that meant but it was wrote on the scan report. A few days later I was getting symptoms of ectopic so I had hcg bloods done. Now back tracking from how pregnant I am now, the scan was when I was
Just 3w3 so obviously wouldn't be able to see a thing. Even though I thought I was at 6 weeks at that point but I wasn't!

3w5 - hcg was 96
4w1 - hcg was 244
4w3 - hcg was 630 and progesterone was 127

I was discharged and told to wait until 12 week scan.

At 5w5 I went private again and seen gestational sac and yolk sac but NO heartbeat or fetal pole (they'd like to see a fetal pole at this stage atleast they said). I was referred back to the nhs for a pregnancy that likely wasn't viable.

NHS scan at epu was at 6w4..fetal pole and heartbeat visible!

12 week scan..active little baby..perfect heartbeat and all looking healthy!

16 week gender scan .. a healthy little boy!

20 week anomaly scan - everything looked perfect.

Now 24 weeks and baby boy likes to kick me in the ribs every night!😅

I hope my story gives you some hope but of course it can go either way..I hope you get some clarity on your situation at the next scan

Any update OP?

When I was pregnant worh my DD I had an early scan due to previous losses. I'd been tracking so knew exactly when my LMP. I got to the scan expecting to be 7 weeks pregnant and I was actually 5 weeks.

I asked how when my LMP was such a date and the woman said that some women can ovulate later in their cycle, DD is now a healthy 9 year old x

Not yet, my scan isn't for another week so I'm just trying to patiently wait it out and try not to think too much on it. Some days I feel optimistic. Other days I'm sure it'll have all gone wrong. I'm finding it best to not think about it. The wait is a killer for me 🫠

@anonny55 and @TubDubDeRubTub thank you for your stories. Hopefully I'll be able to come back with positive news next week. I kind of wish I could have had a scan this week just to see if it was developing or not. But I get why they want to wait 2 weeks. Just a nightmare to wait so long!

I also realized, that when I had the blighted ovum, my pregnancy tests never really got much darker. Never had a dye stealer. Have you tried to test?

I did one before last week's scan and it went dark quite quickly. I might do another one though just to see how dark and how quickly it goes...

Oh I never had that so that sounds hopeful!

I just wanted to say that I hope your scan goes well next week

Thank you very much. Trying to keep a rational head on and not build up my hopes too much!

My EPU actually told me to keep testing!

At my first scan I should have been 6 weeks and all they could see was a gestational sack and a yolk sac and said I was much earlier than 6w. Consultant put on my notes there was no sign of a fetal pole. They got me back a week later and I was bang on 7w (my dates were right and I was 6w the previous week) and baby had a HB.

How many weeks will you be next week, OP? Hope all goes well. The wait is awful x

Hi all,

A little update. I've just had follow up scan - bean is measuring just over 7 weeks lovely strong heartbeat and I have been discharged.

I'm so relieved and happy and had a big cry. If anyone reads this in the future and is in a similar situation I wish you all the luck and hope you get a happy resolution too ❤️❤️