Any ideas on this situation?

[AiRoo]

..
Hello Ladies,

I hope you’re all well.

Looking for (sensitively put) opinions and/or theories!

Bit of a back story- myself and my wife have a 15 month old baby that she carried. I was pregnant in November 2024 using the same donor, but sadly, in a freak turn of events, managed to perforate my bowel, got sepsis and miscarried at 5+5.

Fast forward March the 1st and I got a very faint BFP at 9DPO (or what I think was 9DPO) don’t temp but tracked LH like a demon. Inseminated day of peak and day after.

12 DPO I took a digital and got 1-2, did a clear blue rapid and freaked as it was so pale then my friend reminded me the sensitivity of those are 25miu.

Due to my history I had a blood test at 13DPO, serum HCG result of 16. Well that’s it, I thought. I’ll just wait for a bleed. My GP said “I’m not worried about the number, go and live your best days and see what happens” as I’m sure you can agree, solid general practitioner style advice 😳

So now the head scratching part- my tests haven’t got lighter, but they haven’t got mega dark either. And interestingly the 25miu sensitivity are darker than the 10miu E@H?

If my HCG was dropping surely all tests should be lighter, especially the less sensitive ones?

Pics to help explain- labelled for your pleasure.

If my dates are off and I ovulated or implanted later why the positive at 9 days past suspected ovulation?

I’m mentally prepared for the worst, so please comment and do your worst, but be nice, if you can please, I’m fragile! 😂

TIA.

Rachel 💕

Hi, so that to me just looks like you're pregnant?
I'd absolutely go back in and get more bloods drawn.
I've read tons of. Here about ladies who have had low hcg but carried on to have a health to term lo.
Also, you had your bloods drawn before you even missed your period, you have no idea when it actually implanted (not just convieved) and from what I can tell it doesn't matter so much what the number is so long as its raising which you can only tell from a second or third or forth blood draw.
I'm sure people will correct me if I'm wrong
But congratulations! X

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it.
My GP and the EPAU local to me won’t do any more bloods as apparently I’m too early and I just have to “wait it out”.
Will see what the coming days bring.
hope you have a good day x

The uncertainty is so tough and I hope you get answers soon🙏🏼
Are these 5 tests the only ones you've done? I'm not an expert but I think it's very difficult (impossible?) to see any kind of progress on tests if they're not exactly like for like. The only 2 that are the same are the CB with the cross and there's a huge amount of progress in the lines there!🤞🏼 I would stick with pink dye only as generally more reliable, and same brand. I know tests aren't designed to show progress but if it's what you need to do then that's my advice. Thinking of you.

Thank you, and yes you are right, I think I’ve leant on the clear blue as the lines are darker so they make me feel better 😂

But ultimately, at 20 DPO now the 10miu that I took this morning, pink dye E@H is still as light as the one pictured, so I think I need to admit defeat.

I’m mentally prepared so I’m hoping that makes it a little easier. (Hoping)

thanks so much for commenting. And for your thoughts x

My best advice would be to do a CB ultra early 10miu and compare it to your others. I think the mix of tests can be confusing!
wishing you the best of luck xx

Thank you. Good advice. Ordered from Amazon and delivery tomorrow! You’re right, I should just stick to one brand. I’m a panicker! Xx

@AiRoo I hope you don't mind me asking and you're not obliged to answer but please can I ask about the donor sperm? Where from etc and if you've had ivf or another method. My friend bought donor sperm and had icsi (I think that's the acronym) and it failed and she's wondering what to do next. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh no, don’t mind at all. 😊
I am fully expecting to get criticised here, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do when you’re without the vital element that makes a baby being two women. 😂

we registered on a recognised website, had a few criteria such as limited donations to other families. No more than 2 others. Full clean STI check, evidenced and updated.

we literally drive to a hotel near to him, he does his bit in the bathroom and leaves and then my wife and I do what we have to do insemination wise.

we give him a small monetary donation to cover his expenses and there we are!

I can honestly say, he’s one of the nicest, most genuine man I’ve ever met. But be careful, I’ve heard some horror stories.

It’s practically IVF without the clinical setting and cheaper! Tenuous I know!

in an ideal world and if money was no object my wife and I would have done reciprocal IVF, but that is out of our reach.

feel free to pm me if you want to know more. I wish your friend the best of luck xx

The test strips (cheap ones) are notorious for taking ages to get darker. I was about 6 weeks before they were really dark with my DS. He’s nearly 1 now and digging his feet into my side whilst he sleeps. 🥰

Good luck to you!

Oh thank you. That gives me hope!

Not to go against advice given above, but today I took an Easy @ home, an ultra early CB and a CB rapid.

the comparison pic is 6 days apart. I’m 5+1 today I think…

You’re definitely pregnant. Hypocritical of me and so hard to achieve but try and step away from the tests. I found they just fuelled my anxiety.

The ones with the cross (I think rapid?) are undeniably getting darker. I'm wondering have you a bad batch of E@H? The line is broken in the latest one so maybe faulty. Are they all the same batch? I've never had problems with them but often see people on all forums saying you can get bad batches. It's a real head scratcher. How long would you need to wait it out before the EPAU would scan you? I really have everything crossed for you.

Absolutely true. I will do just that. Thank you x

Yes they’re the rapid ones.

it is a head scratcher. I just wish I’d seen a glimmer of hope on the scan.

i said that to my wife, possible bad batch. Yes all from the same box. Not doing to take any more of them, infact going to not take any more full stop!!

thank you for all of your good wishes. I appreciate them xx