Two different HPT brands - two different results!

[TentativePoster]

I have a question and would be grateful for any advice. I had a baby 15 weeks ago and my periods returned just before new year.

I usually have 26 day cycles and I'm on day 34 of my current cycle, although this isn't unusual - I also have a 21 month old and had a cycle of 35 days at this stage after having him. However, I have yet to have any spotting, which is very unusual for me.

As there's no sign of AF yet, I've taken a couple of HPTs. I bought a Boots own brand and a clearblue. I did the Boots test at lunchtime today and got a positive. It was faint at first but now looks darker (although I know you're meant to discard them and not keep looking at them!) As it was a test with lines rather than words, I decided to buy a Clearblue and try that. I PIAC and dipped the Clearblue into it and got a negative result. This was about 2-3 hours after the first test and the urine was almost clear in colour (perhaps because it was weak?).

I'm not sure what to make of this. Was the CB negative because I didn't use FMU and the urine wasn't strong enough having not long been to the loo before or was the Boots one positive because it may have picked up residual pregnancy hormones left in my system from having my last baby? Has anyone else had false positives/negatives with either of these brands?

Sainsbury's and asda home brand ones are meant to be the most sensitive.

Thanks NappyAddict. Sadly, I'm out in the sticks and not able to get to Sainbury's or Asda easily.

Does anyone have any experience of false positives at all? How likely do you think it is that residual hormones from having my last baby are the reason for my positive result? My periods came back and I'm no longer breast feeding or producing milk - would that mean that it's safe to say that any pregnancy hormones being picked up by an HPT aren't from my last pregnancy?

I think the only way to get a definite answer is to get another test and use first wee of the day. Have you had unprotected sex???

I know that the CBD tests aren't actually very sensitive so with midday weak wee it's quite possible to give a false negative. However, I also know that it is possible to have false negatives (altho quite unlikely).
I'd say you're gonna have to go and get another test but do it with your first morning wee.
Not sure about pregnancy hormones from last pregnancy, would say it would be quite unlikely. Maybe u could speak to your GP on Monday?
Gosh you're gonna have your hands full with 3 LOs aren't u?

All the Googling results i found said HcG would disappear by 6ish weeks after childbirth.

I would say you are pg

What's that going to make your gaps?
17mo & 12mo? &

I would also say do another test with FMU if still in doubt ask gp for a blood test.

thanks for all of the replies - much appreciated! i think a test with fmu is going to be the next step.

we haven't had unprotected sex - we've been using condoms. however, dh tends not to wear one until things are somewhat underway rather than from the get-go, iyswim.

if i am pregnant, i'll have 3 under the age of 3 (2.5 yrs, 12 months and a newborn) so look out for threads with titles like 'tell me i'm not insane' or 'is it possible to survive?'

googling seems to say 4-6 weeks after the birth of your baby, the hCG level is the same as wk 3 of your pregnancy (less than 5 mIU/ml). By 15 weeks I wouldn't have thought there was enough left to show up.

thanks for that soupdragon; makes sense as i've noticed my hair thinning out for the past few weeks, which would indicate that pregnancy hormones have well and truly vamoosed.

also, i've had a small amount of blood streaked CM so I'm guessing that I either had one of those rare false positives and my period is on the way or it was a true positive and this is a very early loss. Nothing to do but sit it out, I suppose.

Oh dear. Blood streaked CM is now TMI ALERT brown and creamy. Like CM mixed with brown blood. So not looking good really. Trying to be rational about it as there's nothing that can be done and I'll just have to sit it out. Thanks for the replies though everyone. They did help answer my questions.