HCG Drop...U/s Heartbeat

[nutting77]

I have a question.. My wife and i are going through what may be a miscarriage.

She was feeling some cramps so went to the ER. This was actually before our first OB appt...so they actually did the first u/s and bloodwork. Theys aid she was at about 5 -6 weeks. They could not see the fetus. Two days later we went to the OB and they did bloodwork again and another u/s and compared it to the ER records. Her Hcg's had dropped by 30 (She was at like 3700 when we went to the ER) They said this could be a miscarriage. But in the u/s now they could see the fetus and emasure a heartbeat 75 beats per minute. Two days later we went in for another u/s with another doctor. The fetus had grown a bit and but the heartbeat had dropped to about 59 bpm. The doctor did not take more blood.. he wants us to come back on Tuesday to check with another u/s and see where we are at with that before we do more bloodwork on Hcg's He did check her progesterone and it came back low (5) so he is giving her some progesterone capsules to take over the weekend.

I am worried, so is she..but she is being more hopeful and positive than I am (of course I am being positive in front of her, but this is how I feel privately) The fact there is heartbeat is encouraging, but not that it is slower. And also that teh baby grew. But I keep focusing on a slight drop in Hcg (and it could be more, we just ahvent tested after that second time) and low progesterone.

Again I want to be hopeful, but am fearing that on Tuesday, we will be told there is no more hb.

Oh yeah...no bleeding and her cervix has been checked three times and it is closed.

Any ideas about what may be happening.

[RunningL8]

I'm so, so sorry--my deepest sympathies to you and your wife.

[nutting77]

We were told today our baby died at some point from last Thursday when we last saw a heartbeat to to today.

[nutting77]

We were told today our baby died at some point from last Thursday when we last saw a heartbeat to to today.

[RunningL8]

I agree with mlb1234:  you sound like a very kind husband.  My understanding is that most women miscarry because the embryo has an chromosomal abnormality, and doctors don't start looking for a different cause unless you have three miscarriages.  So if in a future pregnancy the embryo is normal, your wife's HCG and progesterone levels will be good too.  If your wife is over 40, she will have fewer good eggs left and higher odds of miscarrying, so you may want to go to a Reproductive Endocrinologist immediately for advice (if you haven't already).  If it is a miscarriage, I think it's easier emotionally to have a "D and C" and put it behind you, rather than waiting around to expel the pregnancy naturally (which can take up to two months and still might be incomplete).  My husband and I went on a vacation after my D and C this summer, which also really helped us move forward.  After a D and C, you can try to conceive again after a couple of months.  God bless!

[mlb1234]

No not at all, but she may need progesterone supplementation next time too.  That's no big deal though and many pregnant women take progesterone (i did too).  The hcg is just in response to the pregnancy.  If it is healthy embryo, the hcg numbers will double every 2-3 days until like 8 weeks when they will eventually level off.  I don't believe that your wife actually makes the hcg - I think it is from the embryo itself so it really has nothing to do with her - only the state of the embryo.  Best of luck - the waiting really is hard but it does give you time to absorb all the possibilities and accept them.  

[nutting77]

I figured it didn't look good. Its just knowing that..and having to wait for all of it to happen is the painful thing.

Does the fact that she did not produce enough Hcg and progesterone in this pregnancy mean her body is not able to produce enough in general for any pregnancy? Or is this just the way her body reacted this time?

[mlb1234]

I agree with the previous posts too, it doesn't look very positive.  Ideally the heartbeat should be 120-160bpm.  Unfortunately sometimes it can take a long time for the actual miscarriage to occur.  I had two and neither time did I have any signs like cramping or bleeding beforehand.  Plus the first  one I didn't even find out about until I was 10 weeks along (my cervix was still closed at 12 weeks when I had to have a d&c).  I guess that you are still seeing growth is good but the hcg drop and HB drop are not good.  I am so sorry you and your wife have to go through this.  At least she has a very caring and concerned husband to lean on!  Just try to support her and keep her calm.  If things don't work out focus on trying again and the future.  

[RunningL8]

Once you see a heartbeat, the ultrasound results matter more than the HCG levels, which take a lot of time to drop.  I'm afraid I think you should prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.  My understanding is that the progesterone dropping is a sign the pregnancy is failing (rather than its cause); progesterone won't do any harm, but it can't save a pregnancy that is failing.  My progesterone went from 21 to 24 to 17 (which is when we saw the heartbeat at 6w5d) to 15 (when we discovered the heartbeat was gone at 9w2d).  I do hope and pray for a better outcome for you and your wife!

[1nana]

It doesn't sound good. She has three strikes against her,low progesterone, dropping hCG levels and lower heart rate. I guess the good news is that she is on progesterone (hopefully that will help) and she isn't bleeding and the cervix is closed. Unfortunately, it's a waiting game and that can be difficult.
good luck and keep us posted.