strong HB but declining hcg-was told will miscarry

[msacha]

For those of you who have not followed my story I'll update you a little.  The day before my D&C for a missed miscarriage, (at week 8 the baby was still 6.5wks and no heartbeat), the doc called me in for one more u/s.  He had just received blood work that suggested that I may still be pregnant. Impossible is what we all thought!  I had been waiting to miscarry naturally for almost two weeks and had confirmed through u/s that the baby still had no heartbeat. So, at 9.5 weeks, we discovered that the embryo that now measured 6.2wks suddenly had his/her heart beating at 133bpm.  Mind you, all of this happened after it had been "dormant", and of the same size for almost 2 wks.  As astounded and worried as we all were for the late development of the baby, we kept praying for the pregnancy to go well. Today, (3 days later),  I went for a new ultrasound.  The baby measured 6.4, which is what we hoped for, and the heart continued to beat at 130bpm.  The sac is much bigger (I think it goes with the 10 weeks pregnancy it should be).  With all of this, the doctor still said to me that I will more likely than not miscarry soon (I give it no more than 2 weeks-he said).  The reason is because last Friday, the HCG level was 64,000, on Monday it was 40,000, and today it was 30,000.  That fact, coupled with the slow development of the embryo tells him that this pregnancy will be over soon.  Typically women have declining HCG levels right at around week 10, (which is exactly where I'm at) but because my baby is not the size of a 10 week embryo, the doctor's opinion is based on what he expects an embryo of that size to do.  So now he is just waiting until the baby dies so that we can do the D&C.  Has anyone out there had an experience like this?  Do you know of a case that resembles mine?  By the way, my progesterone levels are holding just fine at 30.  Which is not consistent with a body that it trying to miscarry.

[msacha]

Thanks for the warning. We are all very well aware of the fact that this could very well mean that this baby is very sick.  Thankfully we are truly at peace and leaving it all to God as it is our belief that he is in control and his will is always perfect, even if it is hard for us to understand it.  :)

[martikadragoon]

Just so you know, not to scare you but sometimes a slowly growing embryo can indicate a genetic issue.

[martikadragoon]

My prayers are with you. A friend used IUI and IVF and all to conceive they started with 4 babies! it went to 2 by 5 or so weeks, then  both had heart beats, then 1 stopped beating now she has 1 baby and is 14 weeks along.

[udbe2]

I'm so sorry you are going through all of this.  I can't imagine what you are going through since all my m/c's happen around 5-7 weeks.  I'll definitely keep you in my prayers and hope that your baby continues to develop and the heart beat keep strong.

[msacha]

I thank you all for your support and stories.  Adgal:  The dr checked for HCG because even though we were scheduled for D&C, the reason I gave him for having it done ASAP was because I still felt preggers and it was interfering with my life.  That was a a clue for him that something could be wrong.  So he ordered the HCG done on Friday right after an u/s that showed no life in my uterus.  He got the results back on Monday.  They were 64,000.  He did another u/s and now we had a HB.  More HCG test on Monday, which is the one that started to decline to 40,000.  We did yet one more u/s and HCG test on Thursday.  The HCG levels declined to 30,000, but the u/s showed a baby with a HB of 130BPM.  My doc told me that he won't do any more HCG because he now has to monitor the baby's growth and heartbeat.  That makes sense to me.  I decided to just take it day by day.  Send good vibes to the baby and let it be.  In God's hands always.  I can't do anything about it.  You are right though, the loss, should it happen, is always more manegeable for me than the waiting, and waiting.  But once again, I put myself in God's hands too.  I'm just going to keep busy and continue to live my life as best as I can.  Thanks for the love.

Marie    

[melimeli]

I am very sorry for the stress... with my second daughter I was told it is unlikely this pg will result in a baby based on hcg numbers.. she is now 7... good luck

[alikat1205]

I had this in my last (unsuccessful) pregnancy.  I went in at 6 weeks, no hb.  Great hcg.  So wait.  At 8 weeks, found a heartbeat of around 121 so wait.  I was told not a good pregnancy.  Wait.  At 12 weeks, my hcg plateau-ed around 64000.  I thought yay! but at 13 weeks, it dropped to around 52000.  Dr. not hopeful, but I thought same as you, no big, hcg does drop around this time.  Sac not growing, and natural m/c around 14 weeks.  I hope your situation goes better.  I think drs are usually right, and occassionally wrong.  Still, I like to wait until at least a natural m/c starts (even if D&C is eventually required) just to be SURE there was no chance.  I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

[bernie40]

Oh hun what a rollercoaster!  I've not heard of this before but then over here we don't test HCG levels at all.  The fact that everything is looking good on the u/s is a positive sign and i shall keep my fingers crossed for you xx

[Courtcoop]

I am so sorry hun...wishing all the best and hoping it turns out fine.

[adgal]

I will share with you what little I know about declining HCG levels.  At a certain level (not necessarily week) HCG levels will level out and often go down.  Typically this happens between 8-10 weeks, but again, much can depend on what your actual levels are.  In all honesty I am a bit surprised your Dr. even bothered to check HCG levels. Once a heartbeat has been detected, most don't as the ultrasound is a far better indicator of viability.  At that point HCG levels just don't tell you much.  Again, this is how it was explained to me and it is possible I misunderstood something.  I do know for certain that I have seen women on these boards (myself included) completely stressed out over HCG levels and all was just fine.  I think once again all you can do is wait.  I am curious though...was his opinion based more on the HCG levels or the shape of the sac?  I'm sorry, I wish that I or anyone could offer more reassurance.  There is only wait and see at this point, and honestly, I think that is almost worse then the actual loss should it occur.  Not knowing.  I will continue to keep sending you positive thoughts and hope for a good outcome.  This is really putting you through the wringer isn't it.  (((((hugs)))) to you.  

[teachnz]

wow.....my heart goes out to you.....this is a very trying time........
I can't even imagine what you world is like right now......I pray for you.........
I wish I was there to give you some comfort......

[Maxine77]

The doctor would expect the sac/baby to grow at the appropriate gestational age it should be and the HCG levels can only tell you so much. For example, in my case, at week 4 I had slow rising HCGs and spotting so I was told the pg might not be viable. Then I waited a week. At 5 weeks 3 days, I was scanned and we saw a sac. Then my Ob told me that  my HCG was expected to be at least 1000 for 5 weeks to be viable. And I was relieved that it was 1093. With that we never did any more HCG as the HCg was considered ok and the sac was seen with that HCG level. We depended on bi weekly scans to track the growth of the baby after that. I think yr doc has to go based on the size of the embryo and what it should be at a certain gestational age. But I hope you will wait it out - and see what happens. Stay positive - I have read of some ladies whose pg were slow at first and then the baby caught up. Hang on.

[Kricket212]

I am so sorry that this is happening.  I did hear of someone being told that same thing before there D&C although I can't recall who it is.

My prayers go out to you though. I know it's so difficult but try & Hang in there.