HCG levels not doubling at 5 weeks! What does this mean?

[Soniasid]

Hello. I’m new to posting and it’s because I just got pregnant recently. I’ve been browsing the threads and hoping to maybe get some positive stories.

I’m currently at 6 weeks pregnant and took four blood tests in 8 days and I’m not sure if I should already be preparing for a miscarriage.

Here’s how my numbers for HCG played out:

Monday: 2579
Wednesday: 3646
Friday: 4440
Sunday: 4764

I went for a 5 week ultrasound on the Thursday and they could see the sac and the technician said she didn’t see signs of a miscarriage but with numbers not doubling in almost a week, I’m wondering if I should just be preparing myself.

I’m worried sick and so scared.

My next ultrasound isn’t for another two weeks...and I’m going CRAZY waiting.

Any personal stories or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I’m wondering if I should be worried because my doctor doesn’t seem to want to give me an idea of what she thinks is going to happen.

 

[missielibra]

If my memory serves me right, levels don't double forever at the rate of 48 hours.

Here is a little info I found:

Early hCG Levels
•In most normal pregnancies, at hCG levels below 1,200 mIU/ml, the hCG level usually doubles every 48-72 hours and normally increases by at least 60% every two days.
•In early pregnancy, a 48-hour increase of hCG by 35% can still be considered normal.
•As your pregnancy progresses, the hCG level increase slows down significantly.
•Between 1,200 and 6,000 mIU/ml serum, the hCG level usually takes 72-96 hours to double.
•Above 6,000 mIU/ml, the hCG level often takes over four or more days to double.

So you would be between 1,200 and 6,000. Meaning, it would be about 4 days to double.

Along with:

-Beta hCG levels usually double about every 2 days for the first four weeks of pregnancy.
-As pregnancy progresses the doubling time becomes longer. By 6 to 7 weeks beta hCG levels may take as long as 3 1/2 days to double.

I didn't have any blood tests done in my case. All I had was a 7 weeks echo after some bright red bleeding. But I don't think I would thrown in the towel just yet or call it over! Your levels also have not gone down, and they are rising. I know it's easy to worry, I still haven't gotten over worrying about every little thing, but I wouldn't go on thinking anything is wrong with the little peanut just yet!

Hang in there

 

[love.peace]

Did they check your progesterone levels love?

 

[Soniasid]

I'm so anxious for a week or two from now when I can get in for another ultrasound.

I haven't had my progesterone levels checked...as far as I know.

My doctor has tried to stay neutral through this whole process. It's clear she doesn't want to freak me out...but at the same time, she wants me to be prepared.

She mentioned the possibility of an ectopic pregnant. But...since they saw the sac I should be safe from that...right?

I know this worrying is just the beginning of being a parent the worrying really never stops.

Thank you so so so much to everyone who has responded so far. This means a lot. It's my first pregnancy and with my doctor preparing me for a miscarriage, I can't help but be nervous.

 

[love.peace]

Sending love. I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so stressed with the unknown. I can relate. I had an ectopic at Christmas and had part of my left tube removed. My number were rising slowly and then tripled and then dropped. They wernt as high as yours. But my progesterone was very low. I think only 5.
Seeing a sac in the uterus could still mean ectopic as can be a pseudo sac however most don't see even a sac (from what I'm aware)
Are you in the UK? Can you ask to have your progesterone checked. Ep can be life threatening and should not be left if suspected. I spent 5 days in hospital before surgery while waiting for results.

Praying it's just too early to see anything on scan and your numbers are good. I haven't had a hcg check with this pregnancy and waiting until 7 weeks for a scan because I knew I didn't want the unknown. Sending love x

 

[Soniasid]

Sending love. I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so stressed with the unknown. I can relate. I had an ectopic at Christmas and had part of my left tube removed. My number were rising slowly and then tripled and then dropped. They wernt as high as yours. But my progesterone was very low. I think only 5.
Seeing a sac in the uterus could still mean ectopic as can be a pseudo sac however most don't see even a sac (from what I'm aware)
Are you in the UK? Can you ask to have your progesterone checked. Ep can be life threatening and should not be left if suspected. I spent 5 days in hospital before surgery while waiting for results.

Praying it's just too early to see anything on scan and your numbers are good. I haven't had a hcg check with this pregnancy and waiting until 7 weeks for a scan because I knew I didn't want the unknown. Sending love x

Thank you so much for reaching out. I'm in Canada and as of right now, I haven't had much cramping, aches, pains, morning sickness. I've been feeling ok. I don't have any symptoms of any complications but the numbers on my HCG test are definitely a red flag according to my doctor.

I will reach out to my doctor this week. I'm waiting for her to give me a call and see if she can check my progesterone levels.

Thank you for your kind words. Honestly it makes a difference.

 

[missielibra]

I'm in Canada too! I'm not sure where in Canada you are, but if you're willing to wait a little, you could always go to the ER. There's OVO where I am as well, where you can pay for a scan!

Some provinces have an online portal for them to see the PDF of their tests results. Maybe if that was checked you could see it. Also, if it was tested, you're allowed to know the result. Maybe she already has them from your many blood tests. I did that for one of my tests, I gave her a call, and she called me back to tell me the numbers!

Also, I don't know about your doctor's office but mine had a TINY echo handheld machine. At 7 weeks 2 days there were able to see the little one's HB with it. Perhaps if they have a "walk in" for their patients or can squeeze you in, you could go around 7 weeks, it would beat waiting 2 weeks!
It can be so stressful!

Hang in there!

 

[love.peace]

I hope you get some answers soon. Best wishes x

 

[Soniasid]

Thanks for all your notes.
My doctor called me today and had me go in for a blood test immediately and I'm going in for an ultrasound tomorrow at noon.

I'm very nervous. I keep sitting here and refreshing my results page to see what the hcg number is.

She said if the number goes up, then I will find out more at the ultrasound.

If the number goes down, she gave me a number of options because it means it's a miscarriage.

I'm so anxious to see some positive results and just sending all the positive energy out there...with some nerves mixed in of course.

Thank you for all your notes. It really has helped me feel like I have somewhere to share my fears and thoughts.

 

[love.peace]

Sending so much positive energy your way x

 

[missielibra]

Sending good vibes your way, hoping everything comes back great!

 

[Soniasid]

Thank you so much.

The latest update:

My HCG levels went from 4764 to 4853 in four days. Not ideal but at least it didn't go down.

I'm going for my ultrasound at the hospital today.

Trying so hard to be positive. Gosh...the roller coaster of emotions is real.

I find myself celebrating every side-effect of being pregnant. This week I got so excited to have sore breasts and being tired. I also got excited that I forgot my keys at home this morning. Hahaha. It gives me hope that everything is ok and baby will be ok.

 

[love.peace]

Have they checked your progesterone levels? X

 

[love.peace]

Fingers crossed for your scan x

 

[Soniasid]

Have they checked your progesterone levels? X

They haven't yet. Maybe that's next? Oh gosh, I'm so nervous.

 

[love.peace]

I would ask love. I'm surprised they haven't tested you already as a viable pregnancy would have high progesterone at this stage.
Thinking of you for your scan x