HCG More than Doubling in 48 hrs but Progesterone Dropping!

[lararobin]

I am 4 wks and 6 days pregnant. Menstrual cycle began 9/8/07. I ovulated on CD 17. My prog at 8 DPO was 22.4. My HCG at 11 DPO was 53 and Prog was 20.1. My HCG at 14 DPO (Mon 10/8) was 299 didn't run prog. My HCG at 17 DPO was 1451 and Prog was 13.7. My OB said she is encouraged by my HCG levels more than doubling and is not too worried about my progesterone b/c the labs can have a pretty good margin of error. She said she is going to prescribe prog suppositories (200mg at night once a day) to ease my worries. I had a chemical pregnancy last month and I have been very worried about this pregnancy. Please give me your thoughts on my progesterone levels and your experiences with the suppository success rates. Thanks!

[lararobin]

Good luck on Tues... Might ask your perinatologist to make a guess. You will be 12 wks right? Worth a shot.

[guatmommy]

You can tell the sex at 12 wks>???  I have been told that teh earliest is 16 wks...  and that is still pushing it.  I have a sono appt at 15 weeks..ughh...  I had an "episode" of bleeding from a hematoma a few weeks ago (was on bedrest for a week- it was a killer)- so my OB is keeping me on Progesterone for a while.  I hate these things- they are so gross and yucky.. but whatever keeps my baby healthy- I am willing to do!!  I also feel like this is a girl-- don't know why- I just do.  The heart rate ranges anywhere from 175-183 usually.  Keep me updated- I will let you know how I make out at my 2nd ultrascreen on Tues!

[lararobin]

So glad things are going well. My OB said that the perinatologist during the UltraScreen can typically guess the gender 85% of the time. My best friend found out she was expecting a girl at 12 wks. I am going to the same perinatologist and I'm hoping she can tell me as well. She told Carey that she can predict 80% of the time. We will see! Just had our third sonogram this morning and the baby looked great. It had grown 1/3 inch in just one week. The heart rate was 172. I'm still thinking girl but we will have to see. Just praying for healthy. My OB was also able to pick up the heart rate by Doppler. It was 172-178. Baby must have a treadmill in there! I can't wait to be done with my progesterone suppositories. She wants me to stay on them through at least 12 wks then she is weaning me off around 13-14. Cannot wait... so tired of being tired and nauseas.

[guatmommy]

I just got back from the perinatologist!  I was suppoesed to have an ultrascreen but the ilittle bean wouldn't move it's head off the wall...lol... so I go back next week.  I am 11 wks 6 days!!!  YEAH!!!  I am being so spoiled with all of these sonograms!   You are able to find out at 12 wks boy or girl??  I thoughtyou had to wait until at least 16 wks??  

[lararobin]

How are things going? We had our second sono last Friday and the baby looked great. Heart rate was 159. I just scheduled our Level 2 sono with the perinatologist on 12/5. 3 weeks until we find out what we are having! I can't wait. I am 9 wks and 2 days along. Hope everything is going well.

[guatmommy]

I went to the dr the other night because I started toget sciatica pain and a little crampy in my belly..  I get real nervous at little things because my previous m/c.  Everything was fine!!!  I am 9 wks and 1 day today :-)  Great News for you!!!!  

[lararobin]

We had our first sonogram this morning and everything looked fabulous. The baby looks completely normal and the heart rate was 125. For 6 1/2 wks, she said that was very good! I feel reallly encouraged now and pray everything continues to go well. The OB warned us right before we went into the sono room to be prepared for twins. My HCG level is 80000 (blood drawn yesterday), which is really high. I guess I am just one of those folks with high HCG levels. She thinks I'm having a girl b/c the levels are high. My progesterone is 25.8. Thank heaven. I hope it continues to rise as well. Hope everything is going great in your world!

[guatmommy]

I woudn't worry about high #'s....  very poss. TWINS!!!!  What a blessing that would be.  I had a mis in July due to abnormal chromosones and my #'s were not ordinarily high.  Just unbuckled my antsin themirror and boom this belly poopped out :-)... I love it.  I don't know how I am fitting it in these pants.    I go back to perinat. on 10/31-- seems so far away-  I want to see the baby every week...lol... Amazing how much "it" grew from last week to this week.  It would also make me feel better :)

[lararobin]

I am 5 weeks and 5 days! I think my OB is going to let me come in for a sonogram earlier now... probably next Fri 10/26 b/c I am so worried about my HCG levels being too high. I am praying I don't have a molar pregnancy or chromo abnormalities. My HCG has been doubling every 1.5 days. It went from 53 on 11 DPO to 299 at 14 DPO to 1451 at 17 DPO then 12328 at 22 DPO. Seems way high to me. Praying we are having normal, healthy twins! That would be amazing. My OB isn't worried at all. She didn't even want to tell me the last level b/c she knew I would start worrying immediately. I think she knows me well already :)

[guatmommy]

I was having real bad nauseau, extreme (I mean extreme) fatigue and headaches in my eye.  Don't know if it was from prog or just preg.  Dr put me on iron pills (I may be anemic) and since I started taking them it is like night and day!  The nauseau is for the most part gone- comes and go's but not as severe.  As far as my fatigue--- wow, what a difference!!  I go back to high risk 10/31.  Another sono then OB on 11/6 (more sono :-)  They said I will prob get sono every appt. because of my clotting.... fine with me!  I love looking at the little munchky!  I am thinking I am going to have to find out - I can't go that long w/o knowing!  How many weeks are you???  I am 8 today!  

[lararobin]

We definitely plan to find out... I couldn't make it to save my life. My husband is big on knowing ASAP too. I think it gives you time to bond with the baby. We had named our little guy before he arrived, Jackson and for us... it helped to strengthen the bond with him. I have many friends who wait who strongly advocate it, so it's just a personal decision in the end. As for the traveling, I'm sure your high risk Dr. knows his pregnancy do's and don'ts, but I would be very nervous too. I'm certain he wouldn't allow it if he was concerned. I am so overly cautious this pregnancy... first pregnancy I was riding jet skis up until a few days before I had our little man. My how times have changed! My next appt with my OB is on 11/2... first sonogram. I am trying to make it without any more bloodwork. It is all just stressing me out. We will see if I can make it. My OB and nurse suggested I wait until the sono b/c all looked great during my last round of blood work. Are you having any prog side effects yet? I have really been nauseas today and yesterday. I am wondering if the prog is starting to affect me or if it's just normal baby/preg stuff.

[guatmommy]

I'm not sure about finding outthe sex.  I am torn....  one part of me wants a surprise but I know that I don't go good with suspense...lol.. do you plan to find out??  When do you go back to Dr.  i go back to high risk on 10/31 and the ob on 11/6- seems so far away!!  My high risk is letting me t ake a business to Portugal but I am so nervous I almost don't want to go.  I think I associate miscarriage with travel because my 1st mis I started to miscarry after flyingto TN.  I am very apprehensive about this.  I have a history of clotting and I know the flight is VERY long!

[lararobin]

They want to see the heart beat over 120... so 154 is a fabulous sign. My best friend just found out she is having a girl and her heart beat at 8 wks was 163. Honestly, I think that really doesn't play into it, but the rumor is a girl's heart beat is fast and little boys are slower. I can't remember what my son's first heart beat was but I think it might have been in the 140s. So who knows! Are you planning to find out the sex of your bambino?

[guatmommy]

I guess they took my prog levels in those 800 vials of blood they took.  LOL... My ob said to remain for the 1st trimester.  154 is strong heartbeat??  I know nothing about this.  Don't they say a strong heartbeat means a girl???  

[lararobin]

Congratulations! That is wonderful... so exciting. STRONG heart beat. I am counting down the days until my sono. Are you going to continue to monitor your progesterone or did they suggest no more testing?

[guatmommy]

Wonderful news today :-)  Said all looks well.  I heard the babies heartbeat :-)  154 beats per minutes.  I have to go back in 2 weeks and he is going tomonitor me very closely.  He is allowing me to fly to Portugal (on business) in Nov.  So I was excited, my reg ob said no.  He told me to go ahead just get up every 30 minutes and walk on the plane.  

[lararobin]

I received the results of my bloodwork this morning and my prog is back up to 24.8. That is even higher than my first reading of 22.4. My HCG was 12328. This blood was drawn on DPO 22. Thank heaven the prog suppositories seem to be working so far. I hope you get wonderful news from your high risk Dr. today! Hope to hear good news from you soon.

[lararobin]

I know what you mean re: being nervous. My heart races sometimes so much... I have trouble even breathing! My first pregnancy was so smooth and so easy. This round has been WAY different. Last month we had a chemical pregnancy, which really shook me up. Also, I was flagged for having PCOS a couple of months ago... my OB believes I'm borderline and our fertility specialist doesn't think I have it. So who knows! After all this blood work and hormone worries... I think we all know too much these days. Too many resources and web sites are out there to arm us with all of these what if's and worries. My first sonogram will be on Nov 2nd, which will be a huge hurdle to cross. Once I see a strong heart beat, I will start to enjoy this pregnancy :)

[guatmommy]

I am not taking my waking temp. I will let you know how I make out tomorrow.  I had a m/c in July so I am so nervous!!!  I get crazed at every little thing!

[lararobin]

Thank you for sharing your story! I wish you the best this week and hope we can both stay in touch regarding our progress. Are you taking your waking temp in the mornings... BBT? Mine has stayed around 98.4 even after starting the progesterone. Hope that doesn't mean the progesterone suppliments aren't working. Still no major side effects... just your typical sore breasts, fatigue and a little nausea.

[guatmommy]

I am 7 1/2 weeks.  My prog. went from 14 to 7 abetween weeks 5 & 6.  Last week it was 12 w/ the prog. supp.  I take 100 mg 2x a day.  I don't think I am having side effects.  My boobs are sore but I attribute that to the preg.  I am also nauteous on and off throughout the day but I also attribute that to the preg. as well.  I go back on Tues to my Ob and I am assuming she will run another test.  I go to the high risk dr. on Wed.  so maybe they will have some more insight.  

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

There is no known harm in using progesterone supplementation in the setting you describe, however, there is no good evidence, in a spontaneously conceived pregnancy, supplemental progesterone decreases the risk of a miscarriage.

With respect to the progesterone levels, the fact they are dropping is undoubtedly concerning.  I don't measure serial progesterone levels in the setting you describe, as it would not influence my management.  Your subsequent ultrasound and repeat hCG level should be quite informative regarding the possible early success of your pregnancy.

Stay encouraged,

Dr. Downing  

[lararobin]

Thanks for responding! How far along are you? And what are your levels? Also, what side effects are you having? I am taking (1) 200mg suppository at night. My OB didn't feel it was necessary to take the full 400 mg yet. I haven't really had any major side effects, although I have only been taking them for 2 nights. She warned me of hot flashes, nausea and sore breasts. My breasts were already sore and haven't really gotten worse. I am nauseated a bit this morning but my first morning BBT hasn't jumped up (stayed the same around 98.4) and no hot flashes. I hope this doesn't mean they are not working!

[guatmommy]

I have the same issue.  My #'s are rising but my prog levels had dropped.  I was put on Prog. Supp. 2x a day and  my levels have rised.  They are not as high as my dr would like them but she said she would take it.  Prog supp. are not very pleasant buthey, I will do whatever I have to do to sustain this preg.  Good luck!