Did something stupid and now im worried

[starshaker]

Im 8 weeks pregnant and thought i would do another test just to see how dark it would get since its twins. Well the line was really really faint. Does this mean something is wrong????

I know i shouldnt have done another test but i couldnt help myself. Now i really dont know what to think

I only ever had very faint tests, even when tested at the hospital at 8wks pg. Strength of line isn't necessarily a sign of viability of pregnancy but often a sign of strength of test/dilution of urine etc

When do you have a scan/appointment next?

Did you use a different make of test?

Did you do the test at the same time of day?

Don't worry, I have had neg tests and been pregnant, these tests are not infallible.

I have another scan in a week. Just wish i hadnt done another test

The only thing you can say with any certainty is that the test was positive. They all have their limits are are affected by certain variables.

You know you're having twins yes? So you have had a scan already? When was that?

Starshaker - it is known as the "hook effect".... once you get high hcg (and you would very much with twins!!!), the test Saturates and gives a negative. It is that the test can't work properly with too high levels. I don't suggest you do it as you have already worried yourself enough, but the way in which you check this is by diluting the wee with water and test again, the test should be darker. But you need to get the dilution just right, so not something to be done at home. Also your hcg levels go down as you get further in pregnancy too, only slightly, but it does not continue to rise through the whole pregnancy.

Please try to trust that everything is ok. Pregnancy tests mean nothing (says the person who is testing everyday still at 6 weeks!!!!)

I hope that you are reassured by knowing about the hook effect and that you can look forward to your scan next week (I get my viability scan next week too)

Try not to panic too much. When I was pg with my dd it took me a while to realise I was before I did a home test & then after xmas went to the docs, they did 5 or 6 tests & all came back negative, I must have been about 8/9 weeks when the first gp test was done. I was told the levels can drop as time goes by, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong.

Had my first scan when i was 6 weeks. The reason i got an early scan was cos ive had 5 m/c so im really worried that something will go wrong again

Yes I suppose the saturation effect would be happening by now with a twin pregnancy as the hcg is necessarily higher?

If the scan showed everything as it should be at 6 weeks then all you would expect from a test at 8 weeks is that it is positive, faint, strong etc, not relevant at this point due to enormous variables.

I don't think you have reason to worry, I really don't.

It reminds me of my lovely friend, the MNer PinkJenny who phoned her hv because she could feel her dd's heart beating through her chest. The hv said to ring back when she couldn't feel it.

The test is positive. That's the only fact you need to focus on right now.

I have had 6 m/c which is why I am getting my viability scan next week, so I do understand your fear. But home pregnancy tests will tests will tell you nothing at this point. If you are really worried then go back to the early pregnancy unit and request a scan this week rather than waiting till next week. The fear does not go away having had previous m/c. But you do need to try to keep hopeful through the fear.

The hook effect does make sense. i always found (in the early days) that my tests were very light first thing and got darker the later it got