Very Early Pregnancy

[rubylish]

Hi - Thanks so much for providing this wonderful information service... you can't imagine how helpful it is.

I recently completed my first Clomid/IUI cycle (I am 36 years old & after testing my husband and I, they've labeled us with "unexplained infertility"-we have no specific problems), & I am now 14-16 days past ovulation and have had light brown spotting & very mild cramping, which began on day 12 past O.  This is unlike my normal period, which is red, heavy & usually accompanied by strong cramps.  So I took a HPT on day 14 past O. & it showed a faint pink line (much lighter than the test line)... so I had a Beta HCG & progesterone test done.  And the results are a little confusing.  My HCG was 34, which the doctors said was positive for pregnancy, but lower than they like to see (they say they hope for a 40 or above by day 16 after O.).  And my progesterone was also what they called "borderline low"-it was a 7.  So they've put me on progesterone vaginal supositories, and are having me do repeat tests in 3 days.  

I know I'm in a waiting game now to see if my HCG levels rise sufficiently (which is very stressful!) But I have a couple of questions in the meantime... in your opinion, what's the liklihood of this being a successful pregnancy-do you agree that an HCG level of 34 on the 1st day of a missed period a bad sign?  Also, can the progesterone help make the pregnancy more viable?  And lastly-is the brown spotting & mild cramping a bad sign too or is it sometimes ok?(it lasted ab. 5 days & seems to have almost stopped).

Thanks for your time!

[Stacie30]

everything sounds aok to me. first- with clomid you usually ovulate later than without it (without the average is cycle day 14 and with the average is cycle day 17) so that more than likely accounts for the slightly lower than your doctor expects HCG level.

brownish spotting and light cramping can be caused by implantation bleeding and how you say yours occured actually is in line with the later ovulation so that is ok too.

progesterone- there are several differnt schools of thought on the progesterone, but I know for a fact that the supplements raise your progesterone level like they are supposed to. I've taken them and am pretty sure that they saved my current pregnancy (i'm currently 17 weeks). taking them can't hurt anything (the worst that could happen would be a delay in an inevitable miscarriage) so taking them as a precaution in my opinion is a good idea.

Congrats on your pregnancy and let us know how it goes!! :o)

[rubylish]

Thanks Stacie, for your encouraging words... anything hopeful helps ease my nerves!  

I didn't realize that about ovulating later with Clomid.  I thought my spotting wasn't implantation bleeding because it had started a little later.  But if I was ovulating later than I thought, maybe it was just that.  I guess all I can do now is say some prayers & keep my fingers crossed... Thanks again, and good luck with your pregnancy too!

[Debra_Maine]

My hcg was 26.5 at 14 dpo and I too was on progesterone. I didn't have implantation bleeding but that sure sounds like what you had. I am currently 30 weeks, so I'd say Congratulations on your pg!
Debra :0)

[firsttimearound]

The range for "normal" Hcg at any given week is HUGE on the charts I've seen. I think the numbers rising is more important than what the initial numbers are. Best wishes to you!

[Kishka]

i dont know too much about the HCG levels but i do know about the bleeding and cramping. I usually had very heavy cycles with a lot of cramping. I realized i was pregnant when i missed my pierod only to get strange cramping and brown spotting( also some pink spotting) It's normal for pregnant women. There is no cause for concern right now. Congratulations and Good Luck

[Bellsinger02]

I just found out I was pregnant this past Friday August 15. My hcg reading was 49, then fell 2 days later to 32, then rose 2 days later back up to 47. I have had light spotting,no clots, and mild to no cramping.I also just had my period this month August 7-12. My doctor has mentioned a dnc though I feel it is too early for that to be an option. He said it isnt doubling every 2 days like it should. Anyone had a similar experience?? Or advice??