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Avatar universal

hcg levels and ultrasound at 7 weeks

27 year old female with a past history of 1 miscarriage at 6 weeks (blighted ovum).  I am currently pregnant again at 7 weeks.  Because I had a miscarriage last time, my midwife has been monitoring my hcg levels twice a week.  Below are the results in the order they were taken each week:

5 weeks:  hcg 2921  
          hcg 2911   progesterone  7.4
6 weeks:  hcg 3282   progesterone  13
          hcg 4036

Since my levels were not doubling nor rising very much, they were concerned with a miscarriage or ectopic.  Therefore, I received an ultrasound at 6 weeks 1 day, which showed a good intrauterine sac with fetus that measured 6w1d with a heartbeat at 124 bpm. Location of everything in the uterus was said to be a in a good place / position in my uterus.  Needless to say, my midwife was surprised.

The midwives are still wanting to monitor my hcg levels each week and they are beginning to make me nervous and telling me that my levels are not increase how they would like them to, however, the levels are still rising.  Also, they did place me on progesterone suppositories twice a day during week 5 just in case.  I'm having no bleeding or cramping at all.

My overall questions are:  
1) Do my hcg numbers mean that much now that a viable pregnancy with a good heartbeat was found?
2) Doesn't your chance for miscarriage decrease once the heartbeat is found and am I at an increased risk of miscarriage since my hcg levels are doubling every 2-3 days?
79 Responses
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158812 tn?1189755826
The u/s is supposed to override the blood work.  Yes, your chances of having a viable pregnancy after seeing a normal hb, are high.
It doesn't mean that your out of the woods yet.

I had levels that rose 60% in 48hrs, and the pregnancy failed after seeing a hb at 6weeks.
My best friend had levels that rose 50% in 48hrs, and she is due in 6 weeks, and having a boy.  

I would think an u/s in a week or so would be more reliable than more blood work....especially at this point, since a fetus can easily be found.
After 6 weeks, the levels don't double every 48hrs anymore.  

I would ask for another u/s.....just my OPINION.
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
I'm new to this site but hoping someone out there could possibly help? By my dates I should be nearl 7wks but bled 2weeks ago and was sent for ultrasound and they found nothing but an internal scan showed something of 2mm inside- obviously too small to tell what though! I've had my bloods checked and my hcg levels are rising gradually, 1st=118 2nd=138 3rd=143 miscarriage ruled out but dr's are saying could be ectopic/ failing pregnancy, So many sites/ and people i've spoken to are saying that even tho levels are low there is still a chance of the pregnancy progressing and having a healthy baby- is there anyone else out there having same probs? If so would love to hear from you!!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi I am 6 weeks pregnant, I went to my doctor they did a U/S but only saw a sack abut no baby and heartbeat.  My first hcg blood work showed my levels at 6,500 and after the ultasound he made me to do more blood work to see if my levels were rising, this time the hcg level was 41,000.  So what does this mean?  And is this preg viable?
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I am 6 weeks from my LMP and i went into hospital with severe UPPER abdomen cramps on Monday after experiencing a very painful night. They gave me morphine for the pain and an internal US. They could only see a black liquid spot in the uterus. The sonographer said this was a pseudo sac and that it was probably ectopic. They then gave me surgery.keyhole but did nor find any baby in the tubes or anywhere around the uterus. My hcg levels were 19000 on the Tuesday. i have another internal straight after the surgery and that revealed a sac in the womb but with only a small black lump no HB. My hcg on Thurs had gone to 28000! They still think non viable, should I keep waiting, don't want another internal! I feel very sick now and pregnant. this is my third child, i have never had complications before. Someone help!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
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Avatar universal
Hi I am 25 yrs old and I had a medical miscarriage last month (May 15,2007). I had one brown spot on June 17 ,2007 and on June 18,2007 I had a bright red period that wasn't light but wasn't heavy either but it didn't smell like my usual period. On June 19th the bleeding had stopped... I had unprotected sex on June 3,2007 but I know I'm not pregnant. I do have frequent headaches,spitting,swollen feet,dizziness,back pain,nausea, and this is embarassing but I do have lots of gas. I heard these symptoms could also just be your cycle. I just wanted to know if this is my cylce trying to come back or what is going on I never had a regular period so I don't know what to expect and will it come back next month normal like 5-6 days instead 1-2 days like this month.(Note: please do not reply with judgemental opinions about my irresponsible decisions only apply if you may have been through a similiar situation or if your familiar about my situation, thanks in advance.....-----mercedes
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi found out i was pregnant last week gone from being on a high to a wreck i went in to hos sunday with bleedin and left sided pains they did my hormone levels they was 667 ..Did a scan and nothing in the womb just it thickening !!
Was told come back tues for more bloods did that they rose to 726 not very helpful was being told this was lookin as a failing pregnancy ..........Was rushed in to hos tues nite severe left sided pain they took me 4 a scan weds still nothing my last monthly was 13th of may makin me 5 weeks and 4 days pregnant i think ....... i was told that the bloods would be repeated today and a chance of a injection to abort the baby as they call it a pregnacy of unknown destination ....Well to my surprise my levels have rose to 1300 wat the chance of this being a ongoing pregnancy reading thru most comments u all could see a sac i cant even see that ... I have to go monday I am out of my mind with worry numbness dont no how to feel dont no wat to think please can some one who been in same situation contact me and let me no there out come even if it was the worse i need to no something !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am 5 weeks and my hcg is only 687 it was 789 on monday but on wendesday it was only 687 i am so worried oh God i don't want to lose this baby i love him/her so much already. please pray for me. did this happen to anyone
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just want to post a happy scenario for all you mothers to be. I went in today and we finally found the heartbeat!!! I am a long way from being in the clear, but I want to give the rest of you with similar situations a little hope. Good luck to everyone!
Helpful - 0
218870 tn?1240255655
woo hoo congratulation!!!  that heartbeat just got you a lot closer than you think!!  Im really excited for you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi everybody i am very worried about my pregnency.cuz yesterday i did my ab ultrasound and they didnt find anything in my uterus.but its unbeleivable because i did my hcg and all the tests showed that i m preg .but u/s makes me feel worried and nervous .could this b happen.they said my uterus is also enlarged but they found nothing why is this?they said to repeat the scan after 14 days but i am vorried about this.pls if anybody face this type of problem pls pls tel me honestly
bye thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My first u/s at 3-4 weeks only showed thickening of my lining they said that until your HCG levels get to 1000 it won't show much of anything. Are you earlier in your pregnancy than they say? I know they always would tell me I was farther along than I was.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is my story: Diagnosed w/ PCOD over a year ago. Been TTC for over 2 years now. Tried Clomid didn't work..went off clomid and found out I was pregnant then had my period the very next day Dr said it was a "chemical pregnancy" but said it was a good sign that I could get pregnant..then 6mo later got pregnant again...first HCG was 193 progest. 20 on monday on wednesday HCG was 367 prog 24..so it didn't double. Anyway at 8 weeks they did an U/S and it showed no Heartbeat..was devastated and had to do at D&C. --they sent the baby for testing and it was found to have trisomy 15 which my Dr said is very rare occurance. I just found out I am pregnant again LMP 5/19 and today went for HCG/Progesterone it was 200 and progest 17.7. I have to have it checked again in one week I am scared to death to go through what I had to before. Has anyone started out w/ lower HCG levels and had a successful pregnancy?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been searching, googling, etc., like a crazy person to try and make some sense of my situation.  Thank you so much for all of your stories, although I know when it comes down to it, each of our bodies and experiences are different and  what ever is supposed to happen will, but it is still comforting to hear other's experiences.

Here is my story:  I found out I was pregnant 6/1 after missing my period (due May28th) and frantically taking 3 HPT's.  I was totally shocked when they all came back positive, as this is my first Preg., and we weren't trying.  I went in to my doctor 6/5 to confirm the HPT's and  receievd confirmation with levels about 1500.  According to the chart, I was 6 weeks, but I think I was only around 5.  On 6/14 I had some very faint, light brown spotting, mostly after wiping, but a tiny little bit was on my underwear as well, no cramping, but I called the doctor immediately.  I went in for an HCG test.  I recieved a call from my doc's office later that afternoon saying my HCG levels were only at 3,563, not where my doc. would like them to be.  They scheduled an u/s for the next day (6/15).  She wasn't able to see a defined sac and sadly told us that this was "not a good pregnancy' and didn't want to give us false hope.  I was devastated and cried the entire day.  Although she didn't see anything in my tubes or elsewhere on the U/S, she wanted to me to have my levels taken again on Monday (this am), to see which direction the pregnancy was going, The spotting completely stopped on 6/16  i went this am for my HCG levels.  i just found put they are at 3,685, only up a tiny bit.  Can anybody shed light on this? I keep reading about ectopic preg. and that slowly rising HCg is consistent with an EP.  I am so scared, I really wanted this baby and feel there is just no hope and I am trying to prepare myself for the worst. I love my doctor, but she seems so dismal, that there is no hope for a normal pregnancy, how long will it take to find this out, has anyone had the same thing happen? Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated!
Helpful - 0
218870 tn?1240255655
Hello everyone.  If you are like me you are finding a bunch of sad stories and not so many with a happy ending.  My assumption is that people with happy endings abandon the sites that they clung to during hard times and never came back to tell their stories.  I am urging everyone with positive results to come back and post their stories to help everyone who is currently experiencing the anxiety we were once in.  
I found out I was pregnant on 1/1/07.  By 1/3/07 i was spotting, mostly brown but it did have some red in it.  This continued through the entire month of January.  I went on 1/3 for my first blood test which said my pregnancy was viable, however the second blood test showed that my hcg only went up 20%.  My doctor told me that there was a small chance everything would be fine but to expect a miscarriage.  She said to go get an u/s no earlier than 7 weeks otherwise nothing would show up anyway.  I went at what i thought was 7 weeks 1 day and saw the heartbeat.  I called the doctor who said that despite the bleeding the heartbeat voided all blood test results and I now had a normal pregnancy.  I am now 29 weeks pregnant with a normal healthy baby boy.
I know it seems like everyday goes by so slow but once you feel the baby move the days will go by so fast.  
Good Luck to all expecting moms and dads!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi! I am 6weeks and 4days pregnant. I had my 1st ultrasound yesterday and we could see the sac, but nothing else. The doctor sent me for my HG levels and they came back at 3000. He said that he was fine with this number but wants me to go back tomorrow to see if there is an increase. This is my second pregnancy. My daughter is 2yrs old now. I don't know what to do with my self. I am so nervouse that something is wrong with this pregnancy, but I feel pregnant. I am feeling sick throughout the day and my breast hurt. What could be going on? The doctor says not to be concerned, but how can I not be. Am I suppose to be excited or am I suppose to be crying. My prayers are with everyone. Please pray for me too.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It is truely amazing to me the amount of women (and men) having such similar situations! I can understand the perspective of the MDs helping each of us. Each situation is so individualized that it is not definative for anyone.The MDs try to prepare us for the worst, but the shred of light is what, in turn, drives the ones it occurs to INSANE!!! I am too in the same quandrey. After being told 12 years ago, after my last laparoscopy for endometrosis, plan on never having children. Finally, at 40 years old, I am "maybe" 5-7 weeks pregnant, to EVERYONES amazement.(I did have a MC when I as 32ish) We attended my first pre-natal visit, thinking we were 8ish weeks, the US gave a different time frame.  We visualized, was "normal" 5 week gastational embryo. Fetal pole,yolk sac, etc..But, this concerned my OB/GYN ( who is a friend of mine and my S.O) She asked if we could really be off that far from our estimation? She suggested to do the blood test for hGc levels. The first level came back at 17200, on june 7, then on june 9th the levels rose to 19800, but obviously not doubled. I was upset, but figured better to find out now, instead of 7 months later. My background is molecular biology(genetics) prenatal diagnosis and RNFA in surgery, so trying to maintain medically practical.hahahah The OB in the office said to prepare for a MC and if it was during eve or night to go to the ER. The next day, I was in surgery with my OB and she said DO NOT do anything drastic...again giving that hope that just kills!!! I have another US june 22. No cramping, bleeding nothing. I never had morning sickness, still fatigued, headaches, I am showing and continuing to gain weight, yippy on that one. So we sit in limbo like so many others on this page! My heart goes out to everyone that has unanswered questions and the uncertainty of it all. The Master Physician has plans for all of us born or not.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I need help if anyone can provide some. I am pregnant once again, my first was a stillborn at 36 weeks. I have had one miscarriage since then. So third times a charm I guess. When I first got my blood tests done, my HCG levels were at 2100, 10 days later they rose to 18,000. I am supposed to be in my 7th week and they still have not found a heartbeat. They tested my levels again and I am now up to 28,000. The doctors have told me that there is a 90% chance that this pregnancy will fail as well due to the heartbeat. I have done nothing but worry since I got pregnant and now I have to wait another week for another ultrasound to see if they see something. Has this happened to anyone else?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok I had another blood test today and it is 936 it is not doubling every 48 it is more like 72.  But they said that it is very reassuring that it is going up I am feeling a whole lot happier now.  I have to go back for one last test on Wednesday.  What does my HCG level have to be to see anything on a US I will still continue to pary for ya'll.
Helpful - 0

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