The decision to wait to do a beta.

[Maze]

Hi everyone,

Since I got a positive pregnancy test yesterday morning, I have been stressing out over getting in to have my betas checked. I've been worrying about my stiff back and basically able to think of little else.

Today, I have made the decision to wait till Monday to have my first beta screening. Last time I was pregnant, which didn't end well, I only waited 48 hours from my positive pregnancy test and my numbers came back pretty low, I was only made to worry all the more. It could have been that my pregnancy was just really early or it could have been that my numbers were already dropping. I had to wait another few days to find out that I was indeed losing the baby through another test, all the while trying to find hope that everything would be OK only to find out that it wasn't.

My thought is that if I wait till Monday, my numbers should be at a certain point. Since my pregnancy test measured 20 miu. I feel like waiting the 6 days to have my blood drawn will ultimately give me a better answer on the first go. Then, if I happen to lose the pregnancy before that, I avoided the heartache of waiting for my test results.

Has anyone done this, is it a good idea? Is there any reason that I shouldn't wait?

 

[ncmommy]

It is really up to you how you want to do it.

For me, I just want to know good or bad. I had betas done the day I got my bfp but I know that the first number doesn't mean much but seeing the following numbers.

I totally understand your point though about waiting. Just remember that first number alone doesn't really mean much. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and I hope this is your sticky bean!

 

[momy2angel]

I know how you feel and can't tell you what is best. For me though, I found it best to get betas checked right away. (This way, they were able to check my progesterone at the same time). I wanted to know if I was off to a good start or not. (I've had 2 mcs, one being a chemical that was lost at 4+5). I figured I would be anxious anyway, so I got my blood work drawn. Fortunately, my levels went up quite significantly with the 2nd beta.I was immediately put on progesterone (just in case) and I was able to relax a bit knowing that I'm off to a good start. Now, the stress about the 1st ultrasound! Either way, I guess you never stop worrying! Best of luck to you and congratulations on your BFP!

 

[Maze]

Thanks for your replies.


Yeah, I have debated doing it for progesterone too. With my last successful pregnancy it was really, abnormally high (in the 40s) but for whatever reason, when I was getting my tests done in November, they wouldn't test my progesterone. At one point I was told that they don't test for progesterone on the weekend/outside regular hours or some crap like that. (It was at a hospital.)

I guess I am just scared of being told "22" or something like that again. Maybe I will get my blood drawn tomorrow, but also have my doctor give me a second referral for Monday so that I won't have to wait too long for a comparison, since I won't be able to get my results from my first test till Tuesday anyway.

 

[Jamandspoon]

Hi, I didn't choose to wait per se, but I got my BFP in the middle of the Christmas holidays, now I live in France and all the doctors / obs etc were all on holiday until after New Year!! So I had to wait about a week and half, I have had 3 previous miscarriages and was lucky (?!?!?) enough to know our local pharmacist quite well so I stocked up on my progesterone and waited it out. I was actually a lot calmer because I didn't know the numbers and then when they all Came back from holidays the numbers were higher and doubling nicely. But the week when I did get the tests I was worried, the wait for the first number then another 48 hours for the second was REALLY hard and stressful... So I would say if you don't generally have progesterone issues I would wait it out and just enjoy not having to stress about the numbers. Good luck on whatever you decide to do xxxxx

 

[Biotechick829]

For both my pregnancies I tested very early and had requested a beta the day after the BFP. My first numbers came back in the 20's, which was totally normal for how far along I was.

It's the doubling time they're concerned about or if you're 3 days late for your period and your beta is less than 10. If you're seeing nice pink lines on your tests (can be lighter than the control) then your beta should be good.

 

[Maze]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Right now I am pretty depressed and confused. I took a dollar tree test today (measures 25 miu) and it came back positive within the wait time, a pretty decent line too. So that made two positive HPTs. I went to my doctor's today and when they tested my urine it came back negative. I had just had a pretty clear positive test not an hour before!

I asked them to find out what the measurement for their tests are and they said 20 miu.

I don't get it.

They were worried I might have an infection in my kidney, so they sent me to the lab today and I just got everything done. I don't expect my results to be that awesome though if I was able to get a negative urine test two days late for my period. Sigh.

 

[momy2angel]

How did everything go? I hope everything is ok with your pregnancy....

 

[Maze]

Thanks.

I won't know anything till Monday, but then again, unless the result is insanely low, it might not even give me my answer.

No spotting, nothing like that. No real pain. Totally exhausted, but otherwise fine.

 

[momy2angel]

Praying all goes well....

 

[ncmommy]

Hoping all goes well for you tomorrow!

 

[Maze]

Got my results from my Friday test. 15 DPO HCG came in at 74 and my progesterone was a whopping 45. So they said it looks good and hopefully they will rise properly. I got the second blood draw done today and will have those results on Wednesday.

At 16 DPO during my last loss my numbers were only in the 20s, so I am more optimistic now.

 

[ncmommy]

That is great news!

 

[ncmommy]

How did everything go with your numbers?

 

[Maze]

They came back 6x higher at 441, so they are doubling every 25 hours. Yay!!!

 

[ncmommy]

They came back 6x higher at 441, so they are doubling every 25 hours. Yay!!!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!! That is great! I truly hope you continue to have a healthy pregnancy!