Weaker pregnancy test at 7ish weeks?

[Kingsroadie]

Hi,
Am 7 or almost 7 weeks, I think (but actually I could be further along by LMP - I think i might have ovulated late). When I was 5 1/2 I had the vomit virus and had a temperature - felt completel awful and obv was quite worried. I took paracetamol when necessary to reduce temp and it never got really high. Anyway, when I was feeling a little better I did a pregnancy test again as I was worried and it came up a very strong positive immediately which reassured me!

Yesterday I thought I'd ust do another one (they are those cheapie strips from ebay which I think the NHS use but I have found they work fine) and it came up quickly but not as strong a line as before. I didn't use FMU though so I did another one this morning with FMU and again came up quickly but it wasn't as strong as before.

Am I just being stupid and reading too much into it? Has anyone else experienced this? I know HCG levels can peak at 8-10 weeks so if I am slightly further along than I think that might account for it. I don't think there's much point in calling midwife (haven't seen her yet anyway) as telling her the line on a pregnancy test was a bit fainter than 10 days ago sounds ridiculous - I know! I think we might know too much these days - 30 years ago this just wouldn't even be an issue...

I have booked a private scan next Sat so hopefully that will let me know if all okay. Have sore boobs and more tired than normal still so no symptoms have disappeared or anything. Sorry for enormous post - first pregnancy paranoia I think/hope! If anyone has any ideas it would be most appreciated. Thanks a lot

If you're getting the line, you're still pregnant. My line was so feint for ages that two of my friends claimed they couldn't see it when I waved it in their faces. (The 'line' is now dd2 and aged 3 and a half )

I also had a nasty bug during my first few weeks when pg with dd1. My go reassured me that the embryo is a very successful parasite that will happily use up all of your resources even when you think you'll die.

I'm sure you'll be fine. Your scan should be able to detect a tiny tiny heartbeat by then if you are 8 weeks by then and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Don't worry about the paranoia - it's built in to the prgnancy and is supplied via the umbilical cord. It will soon be joined by GUILT . Good luck

go ? I meant gp

Yes I think you are reading to much into it. What if there was just a bit less dye on the subsequent sticks? This is entirely possible and from the manufacturer's point of view is fine since the sticks are only supposed to be used to confirm the presence of HCG and not to reflect any increase.

Good luck with the scan. Hopefully you'll see a little heartbeat and that will make you feel better.

Thanks both of you - I thought so - just wanted to hear it from someone else really! I do feel really silly - as you say Mrs Happy the sticks are to confirm presence of HCG, not to be read as getting stronger or not. I wouldn't have worried apart from the horrid sick bug I had!

And as I said before - I wouldn't even have been aware of this had I been pregnant 20 years ago - I think I know too much. Besides, if something is going to go wrong a) there is NOTHING I can do about it and b) it means there was something horribly wrong with the baby anyway! Thanks again and I will pull myself together now...

Hi there
I am 9 weeks by my LMP but I ovulate in the last week of my cycle so would be 8 weeks by my calculations. I have done exactly the same thing. I have had no pregnancy symptoms so starting to panic I took another pg test this morning and it was much lighter so I freaked! Glad I have read this thread as it is making me feel better, plus hubby keeps telling me not to be so paranoid, but it's hard isn't it!

Hawesmead5 - yes it is hard - especially with very few symptons (loads of people will say how lucky we are) - I only have a bit of tiredness and sore boobs.

My husband keeps telling me to stop worrying too although he was slightly nervous until he looked online and reassured himself that tests are qualitative not quantative. Also I think levels start to go down at about 8 weeks. I am just forgetting about it now - it's not worth the worry - it's beyond our control anyway