Beta hcg level with slight decline

[vickilion]

I am a 38 year old non-smoking mother of 2, whose pregnancies and deliveries were unremarkable. My daughters' ages are 8 and 6. My LMP was approximately Oct26. Dates of intercourse were 11/10, 11/11 and 11/12.  I went in for an early ultrasound 12/24 mearly to make sure everything was "where it should be, yolk sac and gestational sac were seen, but the embryo measured to be 6 weeks, not 8. A fetal heart beat was not seen, with some concern from the sonographer.  However, I do realize that conception could have happened 2-3 days after intercourse and the gestional age could be off.  The Dr. said we could just be too early to have the heart beat show up, but if I wanted to I could have a beta hcg test and repeat it on the 26th.  Which I did, results were 95,000 on the 24th and 93,700 on the 26th.  I have experienced no cramps, and no bleeding at all. I realize that the hcg levels should double over two days and my levels have not. In all that I have researched thus far, almost all women state that they have experienced some form of spotting or heavy bleeding along with the hcg level plateau or decrease.  My Dr. thinks that I am looking at a possible miscarriage and another ultrasound in scheduled for Jan. 3. If I am heading for a miscarriage, what time frame am I looking at.  Could it be days, weeks, etc? At what point is a D&C considered. Any additional information that you can provide would be much appreciated.  Thank you.

[Forum-M.D.-DT]

Thank you for visiting the Family Practice Forum.

This question comes up quite a bit. There is very little one can do in the first trimester, if in fact a miscarriage is about to occur. However, I don't want you to get too ahead of yourself here. While it is true that the HcG should be doubling every few days, you have no symptoms of a miscarriage right now (i.e. cramps, bleeding, abdominal discomfort). Certainly you don't HAVE to have these symptoms to be having a miscarriage, but it is much more common to have them, then not to.
Therefore, since I really can't say for certain that you ARE having a miscarriage, it is impossible to give you an anticipated time the (potential) miscarriage will occur. A D&C is considered typically after there has been significant cramping, bleeding and if/after tissue has been passed. Again, lets not get too ahead of ourselves here. The heart is not fully formed until week 7-8. It is possible that either due to the position of the baby or the gestational age, that a heart beat could not be seen.
I realize that I am in some respects being optimistic, but you really need to understand that all you have told me that would point to a miscarriage is a dip in the HcG, which MAY occur in normal pregnancies. Worrying is the last thing you need to be doing.
Eat well, get enough rest, take your prenatal vitamins, follow your doctors advice and get an ultrasound on 1/3 ... the rest is up to "mother nature". I hope all turns out well for you.

[demogurl]

thank god i found this forum. i am experiencing the same exact "thing". i tested positive on 12/31. my last period was on 11/29. this of course tells the practitioner that i am 8 weeks pregnant however i know that i am 6 weeks pregnant at best. i had an ultra sound and the yolk and feotus were seen but no heartbeat or movement. they basically dismissed this as a missed abortion however drew my blood to check my HCG levels. the first test came back much higher than they expected 29905 (however i noticed much lower than the woman who posted above). i test again two day later and my level came back at 28670.

yes i am freaked out and i know i should try and remain calm but after having been told that i did in fact lose my baby...on wednesday they began to reconsider. evidently my HCG drop isn't as high as they expected which leads to more confusion.

i may or may not miscarry. i have had no bleeding or cramping although i must say i'm not the "right" person to be told what to look out for and to "rush to the e-room as soon as you begin to cramp or bleed".

this morning i found myself completely depressed and afraid to do anything. i felt some sharp pains on my right side and again this could be gas.

the ultra sound measured a 6 week pregnancy. okay...so it isn't ectopic if it is seen in the uterus correct? i know this but as you can tell i'm a bit freaked out by all of this.

crying on monday and tuesday and then suddenly i may be pregnant after all.

any ideas???

i've only been told that i surprised them with how high my HCG count was on monday and once again with how little it has dropped.

comfort please? ideas? anything...

[demogurl]

sorry for the typos. i must try and re-lax. thanks.

i have never carried. i have had 5 abortions over the last 20 years.

[ineedofanswers]

I am going through the same things that you are. I just found out that I am pregnant about a week and a half ago. Over the weekend though, I ended up in the er because of bleeding and cramping. On my discharge papers, it said that if the bleeding and cramping stops, that the fetus would have a better chance of surviving. Well, it stopped the next day, but I still don't feel like I am pregnant nor have I had any pregnancy symptoms. I have an appt on March 31 to go and see my ob,but I am just so worried that if I wait to long that they may miss an oppurtunity to help save my pregnancy. This will be my 2nd miscarriage if so, and I am just so worried that I will not be able to carry another pregnancy to term. If anyone out there has any suggestions or comments, please let me know so I can ease my troubled mind.

[desperate to be a mom again]

My hcg beta level the first time was a 7.  I spotted the next day and was told to rest over the weekend.  On Monday the 2/24 i was tested again and it came back a 6.  It was then assumed I miscarried.  I was told to come back the following Thursday to recheck my levels 3/6 .  This time they came back in the 80's to our suprise I was still pregnant.  I was tested again on 3/10 and they went up to 239.  On 3/20 I was tested again and they only went up to the 700's.  Now I have to go in on Monday 3/24 to test again.  Why aren't my numbers doubling or tripling every 2 - 3 days like they should?  What could this mean?  Shouldn't I have an ultrasound by now?  Do the numbers have any thing to do with the size of the baby?  My son was born full term and he was only 4lbs. 14oz.  My numbers are going up but at their own pace.  Have you ever seen this before?

[ToniDenham]

Hi - I'm going thru the same thing as everyone that's posted here already.  Friday I was at 13,781 and Monday I was at 12,000.  I'm a little concerned and constantly worried.  If any of you who have posted in the past could post a follow up, that would be greatly appreciated.  I'd like to see where the dip in hCG eventually took you.

Thanks so much for posting,
Toni

[spacecoast_mom]

My beta went from 51 (12dp5dt) to 47 (14dp5dt)... anyone had any luck after numbers that dropped???

Stephanie

[deegee]

I am having the same kind of question.  I was having cramps, and when to the hospital, and found out that I was 16 days pregnant.  Very early.  My level was at only 189.  I went back 3 days later, and my level was at 89.  So low.  But, the next week, I only had 3 days of light bleeding, and since then, nothing else has happened.  My doctor says that sometimes you don't have alot of bleeding and cramping.  I'm just wondering if anyone else has heard of this?

[lilypup]

A related discussion, my beta levels decreasing...... was started.

[MSMIASMOM]

A related discussion, MY HCG LEVELS ARE DROPPING??? was started.

[ShexShe]

I had went to the doctor for some light bleeding no cramps just bleeding they had tested me 2 days prior because ii went in for previous brown spotting .. The doctor before did an ultrasound and found a sac but couldn't find a pole. But my hcg levels were 33000 considering that two weeks prior they were 4000. They tested me that day and my levels had declined. The doctors said that I may be having a miscarriage but wasn't sure because my cervix was tightly closed.  Today's the bleeding has stopped .. so idk