How do i know if im pregnany after mc?

[miranda1218]

Hi, i am new here so im just going to explain what happened. I had gotten pregnant a few months back, and its was a surprise, im still young but my family, boyfriend and i were already preparing for the baby. I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks, on novemer 26th. It was devastating, but we were not trying for another, due to my age and everything. Its been about 23 days, and i still have not gotten my period, but my boyfriend and i have had sex. I am getting all the symptoms i got last time i thought i was pregnant (besides tender breasts) i cant stop peeing, my hips keep getting crampy like im getting my period, but only for a few seconds, and everything makes me go "am i pregnant?" Like last time. Im scared i am pregnant again because i dont want my family to think i did this on purpose and make me feel bad about it. But if i am, i feel blessed that im getting this second chance. How will i be able to find out if i am without having to tell my mom? Is it too early to take a pregnancy test? (Will i still come up positive from my first pregnancy?)

 

[Linnypops]

Miranda - Typically women will track their hormone levels down to zero using home pregnancy tests. Only then can you really be sure it is a new pregnancy and not hormones left over. It's a good idea to track your hormones down to zero anyway - if they don't go to zero it's plausible that there could be retained tissue etc which needs to be removed - so you should make sure your levels reach zero for your own health.

23 days is not a long time to wait after a miscarriage for a period to start - typically it is longer than your usual cycle. It can be anywhere from 4 - 7 or even 8 weeks sometimes. Also, symptoms cannot be relied upon in the weeks following miscarriage. I myself experienced a lot of symptoms after the miscarriage which led me to believe i was pregnant or that my hormones were still high but neither was the case.

I'm not your mum and it's none of my business, but if you don't want to get pregnant again - I strongly advise you to use contraception from now on - particularly at this time - it's not unheard of for women to find they get pregnant straight after a miscarriage.

 

[dairymomma]

First of all, I'm sorry for your loss. Miscarriage is never easy and it's harder to go thru the further along you are.

Seond to answer your questions...1. Typically after a miscarriage, your cycle will be a little funky for a while. Some women go back to a normal cycle right away but most have to wait until their hCG (one of the pregnancy hormones) drops back down either to 0 or close to 0 before their cycle will start again. I've waited 5-8 weeks to get my first period after a miscarriage because it takes a few weeks for my hCG to drop.

2. Symptoms are normal too. It's part of the whole 'hormones dropping' thing and your body is trying to sort itself out. Also, it's not uncommon for symptoms to reappear around your period dates for a few months following this. I get phantom pregnancy symptoms for up to 4 months after miscarriage even though I'm not pregnant.

3.The only way to know if you are pregnant again is to do a test of some kind. If you want to be really certain, call your doctor and request a quantitative hCG blood test to be done now and repeated in a few days. This will tell you conclusively if you are pregnant again or if you aren't because your hCG will either be climbing (if pregnant) or dropping (if not). The other thing you can do is stock up on cheap pregnancy tests (Walmart usually has some 88 cent ones or grab a few from the dollar store. You can also buy them online.) and test now before retesting in a few days. If the line is getting lighter, it's most likely still leftover hormones from your miscarriage and I'd keep retesting every 3-4 days until the test goes negative or your period shows up.

I also want to point out that the previous poster is correct. If you want to prevent pregnancy, then use birth control. I found out I was expecting this baby just 5 weeks after a miscarriage in September. I never got a period but I knew it was a new pregnancy because I had used home pregnancy tests to track my hormones dropping after my miscarriage. Your fertility goes way up for up to 6 months after a miscarriage so it's possible you could get pregnant again easily without using some form of birth control.

 

[CastawayBride]

HI ladies just hoping to piggy back off this post. If you get a negative pregnancy test (I had a negative digi on December 1st) and then got a positive 1-2 weeks today, this is most likely a new pregnancy right? I had my HCG levels done and they were 15 on the 13th of December. I have not had an AF though....

OP, I had my miscarriage at almost 10 weeks on October 25th and I am still waiting for a cycle...it takes a long time to get back on track. Please use birth control if you are not trying for a pregnancy...there is so many things you can be doing with your life, plenty of time for babies later on when you are established.

 

[dairymomma]

Castaway-It's hard to say. I'm hoping that it's a new pregnancy if that's what you want but digis can be notoriously unreliable. I'd try again in a week or so (with a digi) or use a couple of pink dye tests over the next few days. If the lines get darker, it's a def a new pregnancy. Are you getting repeat labs to check hCG? That would be another way to tell.

 

[CastawayBride]

Castaway-It's hard to say. I'm hoping that it's a new pregnancy if that's what you want but digis can be notoriously unreliable. I'd try again in a week or so (with a digi) or use a couple of pink dye tests over the next few days. If the lines get darker, it's a def a new pregnancy. Are you getting repeat labs to check hCG? That would be another way to tell.

I took the day off today for a scan but if I am I am very, very early. I am also going to ask for bloods today and repeat on Sat. The bloods I have been getting are like every 3 weeks to see how far they went down. On Dec 15th I was at 13 or so....I find it hard to believe too. I just have not had a period and don't feel like one is in sight either...I also don't feel pregnant.

 

[dairymomma]

Hang in there. I felt the exact same way and even argued up and down and inside out with my dentist way back in October because he refused to do any more fillings until I knew if I was pregnant or not. I swore I wasn't and there was so little chance of it happening that it'd be fine to do the dental work but he just said, "Nope. Nothing doing" and cancelled my appointment. I didn't have one pg symptom and my test that morning had been a BFN. (I knew the dentist would ask so I tested but he wouldn't do the work until I got my period.) Four days later I got a new BFP and bloodwork confirmed it. A later scan showed I was probably 12 dpo when I got my first BFP and I didn't have any symptoms whatsoever until I got my positive. Even then, they've remained mild until the last week or so when my morning sickness has kicked into high gear. But I'm now 11 weeks and so far everything seems to be going pretty good.

 

[CastawayBride]

Hang in there. I felt the exact same way and even argued up and down and inside out with my dentist way back in October because he refused to do any more fillings until I knew if I was pregnant or not. I swore I wasn't and there was so little chance of it happening that it'd be fine to do the dental work but he just said, "Nope. Nothing doing" and cancelled my appointment. I didn't have one pg symptom and my test that morning had been a BFN. (I knew the dentist would ask so I tested but he wouldn't do the work until I got my period.) Four days later I got a new BFP and bloodwork confirmed it. A later scan showed I was probably 12 dpo when I got my first BFP and I didn't have any symptoms whatsoever until I got my positive. Even then, they've remained mild until the last week or so when my morning sickness has kicked into high gear. But I'm now 11 weeks and so far everything seems to be going pretty good.

That is wonderful news for you! Glad it is going well! I went to the doctor and his test was negative! He said he was shocked I got a false positive on digi as my numbers were only 13 about two weeks ago so he sent me for bloods and I go back for bloods on Sat to see if the HCG is going up or down. The whole thing is very strange to me, and here I sit here at 9 weeks post miscarriage going I just don't know!! lol

 

[dairymomma]

Was the test the doctor used a pee stick? If it was, those tests are notoriously reliable for being negative with an early bfp on an hpt. My former doctor said (and I quote) "It's virtually impossible to get a positive home pregnancy test before 5 weeks." This despite the FRER box saying "Can be used UP TO 6 DAYS BEFORE MISSED PERIOD." and my having not one, not two, but 4 bfps on cheapies and FRERs and one bfp digi. Her test starts at 100 mIU or something but the ones in the store start as low as 25. I'd say it's still possible and probable that you are pregnant again. I'm glad your dr is doing labs though. That should give you an definite answer.

 

[CastawayBride]

Was the test the doctor used a pee stick? If it was, those tests are notoriously reliable for being negative with an early bfp on an hpt. My former doctor said (and I quote) "It's virtually impossible to get a positive home pregnancy test before 5 weeks." This despite the FRER box saying "Can be used UP TO 6 DAYS BEFORE MISSED PERIOD." and my having not one, not two, but 4 bfps on cheapies and FRERs and one bfp digi. Her test starts at 100 mIU or something but the ones in the store start as low as 25. I'd say it's still possible and probable that you are pregnant again. I'm glad your dr is doing labs though. That should give you an definite answer.

Well labs came back, I am at 2!!!! Finally I might add, 9 weeks later but STILL no AF in sight! So that means a 2 set off a CB Digital Weeks Estimator! I called them and said I was disappointed in the fact that they are not super sensitive and yet pulled up a negative as a positive pregnant test! They are sending me a refund for all 3 tests in the box. She did say they can detect 10 miu, which I always thought they were 25....good to know I guess. So now off to try again I suppose...but honestly I don't think I have even ovulated since the miscarriage and I am starting to get really really nervous....

 

[dairymomma]

I know it's hard when nothing seems to be happening but it's normal for things to be a bit wonky for a while after a m/c. I've had to wait up to 8 weeks post-m/c for AF to show. Normally I get my first period 3-4 weeks after my hCG drops back to 0. I know it might mean you might not get a period for another month but that's what's happened for me. Thinking of you and I hope AF shows soon. As for ovulating after a m/c, this pregnancy is proof that I apparently can ovulate after a m/c. With my other 7 m/c, I'm nearly certain I did not and that's why it took so long for my body to regulate. Did you ask your doctor about your lack of period and the hCG hanging in there this long? I think there is a medication they sometimes prescribe to force a period to come.

 

[CastawayBride]

I know it's hard when nothing seems to be happening but it's normal for things to be a bit wonky for a while after a m/c. I've had to wait up to 8 weeks post-m/c for AF to show. Normally I get my first period 3-4 weeks after my hCG drops back to 0. I know it might mean you might not get a period for another month but that's what's happened for me. Thinking of you and I hope AF shows soon. As for ovulating after a m/c, this pregnancy is proof that I apparently can ovulate after a m/c. With my other 7 m/c, I'm nearly certain I did not and that's why it took so long for my body to regulate. Did you ask your doctor about your lack of period and the hCG hanging in there this long? I think there is a medication they sometimes prescribe to force a period to come.

He said some woman take a long time for HCG to leave there system....I think I baffle him to be honest. I was always so regular the uncertainty scares me I guess...

 

[dairymomma]

Well, hopefully now things will go back to normal and you can go back to ttc.