Do HCG levels stay the same after having a miscarriage?

[confused and scared]

HI, I recently took a pregnancy test and it came out to be +. I also did a preg test at the hospital and that was also +. I was spotting for about 1 week before the test and thought it was my period. It went from brown to light pink to period like. I had an ultrasound and nothing was found. But my HCG levels stayed the same at 700 over a 4 day period. I'm confused! My DR thinks it has been completed, but why are my levels the same, and why did they not find anything in the ultrasound if I have HCG levels of 700?? Could I still be pregnant? I have only had cramping and low back pain. The spotting has gotten less, just when I wipe. But the other day it was like a period. Im scared, I just want to know if I am pregnant or not. Has anyone gone through this before? What should I expect? I am going foe another HCG test in 3 days time, and maybe another ultrasound, in case the baby was not picked up on the fist one. I just need some answers, advice, information anything. Could I still be pregnant? If it is ectopic shouldn't I have really bad pain somewhere? And is it normal for HCG to stay the same at 700, is that low or high. Help!! Confused and Scared!!!

[Tryingforone]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I was going to mention ectopic, but didn't want to scare you, until I saw that you had a question about it. The answer is, no, you do not have to be in pain to have an ectopic, especially since you hCG is not rising. It does seem early to see anything on an U/S, but it doesn't appear to be a viable pregnancy based on your hCG levels staying the same. I'm concerned that you had bleeding but no decrease in your hCG. Ectopic pregnancies are really hard to diagnosis this early, but most ectopic pregnancies reabsorb on their own without the risk of rupture. If you start to have any pain, please go to the E.R. If you feel that your doctor is not being proactive, please seek out a second opinion. I'm so sorry that you are going through this.

[cutiemama]

From my understanding, it is hard to detect anything on an ultrasound until hcg levels reach 1200. I hope everything works out for the best, but this early on in your pregnancy your hcg should have probably doubled twice in 4 days. It may not have begun to drop yet because there is still fetal tissue inside???? I know that even after my little angel's heart stopped beating my hcg continued to rise well into the hundred thousands. I sincerely hope that everything works out well for you and your little angel.

[confused and scared]

Thank You for responding and your support. This is all new to me I haven't gone through any of this before, pregnancy, miscarriage, etc., so this is really hard, espically around the Holidays. My boyfriend and I haven't told any family about this either, as we don't know what is going on. Hopefully I'll have some answers soon and I will post them.



Thanks Again tryingforone!!

[Tryingforone]

Your welcome, "confused and scared". I can honestly say that I have gone through this. In fact, two years ago, on Christmas Eve, my tube ruptured from an ectopic pregnancy. Ten months later I had a second ectopic pregnancy in my OTHER tube. Miraculously, we were still able to get pregnant with a healthy baby in the uterus. The reason I am telling you this is because I have been there, at Christmas time, grieving the loss of my first baby. It was so difficult and I hope and pray that you will have the strength and peace to get through these next few weeks. (hugs to you). Honestly, though, my theory is that maybe your hCG was increasing after the original 700 draw, and it decreased back down to 700 by the time you had another hCG draw. Whatever you do, please be persistent with your doc and always err on the side of caution, when ectopic symptoms are present.    

Take care, sweetie and try to enjoy this time with family and friends. I know (belive me, I know) that it will not be easy.

[confused and scared]

Thank You for all the support everyone!!! It really helps!!

[chysmom]

A good friend of mine had her 2nd m.c back in Nov and she was the same way.  They said she m.c and that it was complete but her levels were not going down at all.  Come to find out her body for some reason wasnt letting the levels go down so she had to be put on some meds to get them to come down and make sure everything was ok.  They even did a D&C to make sure it was complete which it was.  The dr said that its sometimes common for them not to drop for a wk or even longer.  I hope all  goes well with you.

[JenMS]

I would get an U/S right away to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.



I just had an ectopic pregnancy 2 weeks ago and had to go to the emergency room, and ended up having surgery. If you have an ectopic, you might not feel any pain, but when you do a strenuous activity the pains will appear - which is what I experienced. My HCGs were also staying around the 500 level and I would have been around 6 weeks pregnant - which is low for what it should have been. I wish my Drs would have given me an U/S before I had to be rushed to the hopital because if caught early, I would not have had to have surgery. They could have just given me a shot of methotrexate, which would have dissolved the tissue. Now my fallopian tube is scarred and they say that my chances of having another ectopic pregnancy is doubled.

[confused and scared]

My DR actually called me the morning of Christmas Eve and she wanted me to go see a gyno asap. I went and ended up being admitted for the methotrexate drug. I am back home now and I am feeling ok. I have to get blood work tomorrow to check my hcg levels, to see if they came down. So actually it was caught early, hopefully the drug worked in time.



To JenMS,

I have a friend who had her tube rupture and part of her tube taken from an ectopic preg. She got pregnant with a healthy baby girl a few months after the surgery. So there is hope for you. I wish you all the luck!!

[lippylou_72]

I didnt even know im pregnant untill i was rushed into hosptial from clotting heavy last friday, doc told me i was pregnant which i was very suprised as i had only just lost my baby in feb 08 i was 4 months pregnant but the baby had died inside me i had to go for a DNC, since friday 2nd may ive been bleeding bright red and pain in my lower tummy and lower back i went for a blood test and they told me my hcg levels are the same i did asks what that means but the nurse just told me i have to go in again to do another one this friday, im really concerned and worried i have 5 children already and have never experienced this before does anyone know what im going through, i'm not sure whether to go to a/e but my right side is very painfull

[Natolee]

it sounds like an eptopic pregnancy. i don't want to worry you but you should probably go in right away. i might have one too... im waiting for hcg levels from blood work.  my hcg is going up but very slowly so the doctors think it might be a tubal.  i hope everything goes ok and let me know how you are doing.
good luck.