The hook effect?

[Fermerswife]

Hi Ladies,

Wondering if anyone has any experience of this??

So I got my BFP two weeks ago and now think I'm 5+4/5.

The lines got dark very quickly and I skipped from 2-3 to 3+ in a matter of days. I had a MMC at 12 weeks in August and that time my tests never got really really dark and went up more slowly so I stupidly decided to keep testing to see if this time I could beat the control line on a FRER. Last week I got slightly darker test lines but on Monday I did another FRER and the test line was much much darker. cue me being very happy and I should have let it there...however I had another test left so I decided to do it yesterday morning and the test and control were exactly the same - cue much panic.

So this morning I bought yet another double pack (I could single handedly keep FRER afloat at this stage) and the FMU test both lines were the same colour again. So I drank my bottle of water and held it in till I was fit to burst. POAS again and back to a much darker test line???

I know I really need to stop now and I will but do you think this could be the hook effect? I wish they had some way of telling you whether things were going to work out rather than waiting weeks and weeks for a scan. Even a bit of morning sickness would be welcome at this stage!!!

Edited to add a pic - think it's more obvious in real life but bottom test is the more diluted urine one.

 

[lpjkp]

I know exactly what you mean because, after my m/c in May, when I got pregnant this time I tested around 2-3 each day! Sounds like I kept FRER afloat and you kept it going after me!

My advice for you from a POAS veteran like me? STOP TESTING!!! I worried myself sick with lines looking like they were getting lighter and, looking back, I should have just believed I was pregnant from the clearblue "pregnant" test...I must admit, once I got to "pregnant, 3+" I felt so much better...

...If you're really worried (Though there's no need to be, because if you're not doubled over in pain bleeding, baby is snuggled in there just fine!), I can only suggest what I have done this time round...I had an early private scan at 7w+3, and have been listening to baby's heartbeat (And now little kicks!) on an at-home doppler since 9 weeks...my 12 week scan went perfectly (Apart from a very uncooperative wiggly baby!), so I'm proof that the hook effect is completely true and just because the lines have gotten a little lighter, doesn't mean anything is wrong with baby!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!xx

 

[Fermerswife]

lpjkp

Thank-you for your reply, I really appreciate it and congrats on your pregnancy!

The last time I miscarried there really wasn't any sign anything was wrong until 12 week scan so I can't even take no bleeding etc as a good sign, my head is just I have an early scan in the EPU in 11 days time when I'll be 7+1/2. I'm just going to try and step away from the tests until then!

Did you FRER look something like mine at 5 weeks? You just see all these tests online where there's virtually no control line. I should just be greatful that I got my 3+ and 4 weeks and 5 days shouldn't I??

All the best with your pregnancy and thanks again.

 

[baby_maybe]

My tests with this pregnancy didn't even get as dark as the control before I stopped testing and that wasn't until about 6 weeks.

My little bub is totally happy and healthy in there to date

I know what it's like to worry, I had an ectopic before this pregnancy and my tests with that were rubbish too, which is why I tested so much this time round. The only thing that really put my mind at rest was going for the early scan at epau. Good luck for your scan

 

[girlinyork]

The hook effect kicked in for me at 5 weeks exactly (now 5+3). My IC test line was darker than the control at 4+6 but on 5 it matched the control. So I cried myself stupid and then read about the hook effect. I diluted a sample so it was 50% tap water and dipped another IC and then the test line came up darker than the control. It's uncommon before six weeks but definitely not unheard of

 

[Fermerswife]

thank you girls. I am bad but I went at lunchtime and got some cheapies and did the experiment of diluting my urine. Like you girl in york deffo the hook effect - test line is darker than the control on the diluted sample, the same colour on the full strength one. So weird. Maybe it's more common than you think just most sane people have stopped testing by now!!

Girlinyork, I see this is your fourth time, I'm so sorry for all your past losses, it must have been such a tough journey. We must be about the same stage now, have you an early reassurance scan planned?

 

[girlinyork]

I might get one but I got scanned at 6+4 with my first pregnancy and at 8+2 my scan showed the baby had died anyway at 7+4 so I'm not sure it'll do much to reassure me. xx

 

[Fermerswife]

I know it's hard to know what to do isn't it. I too had a scan at 6+5 and while the fetal pole was a bit smaller than it should have been there was a HB. It stopped soon after too.

For my sanity though, to make sure there's something there, I'm going this time at 7+2 and then back again two weeks later.

I had a read of your "blog" and I see your GP isn't very supportive of an early scan. If you do decide it's something you want I'd contact your EPU directly - that's what mine said to do, they said because I'd had a loss they could scan me as many times as I wanted up until 12 weeks. The nurses there were fab.

 

[Fermerswife]

In case this helps anyone here's my IC's from 5+4.

Top one is concentrated urine, bottom one is diluted about 50% with water.

(I know they're both dark lines but the bottom one is more like the lines I was getting a couple of days ago)

 

[girlinyork]

I might call the unit next week and see what they suggest. I might still be under them because it was they who referred me for recurrent miscarriage testing. Thanks

 

[Jarenk]

you could always go into a hospital and say "chest pains and pregnancy." chances are, you'll get a scan.

 

[monro84]

Actually mine were that dark at 4 wks 2 days but at that time I was pregnant with twins/tripelts my hcg level was 15000 at 5 wks!! Not sure if you wanted to here that or not. . Maybe you could get a blood test. Mine was a mmc at 7 wks but it was b/c of a septate uterus (which I had resected in dec). I have been trying again since May. What was funny was I even dipped a test in the tolet (not the ones below) and a pretty dark line came up. GL H&H8M.

Here are my test on 9/8/11 my hcg was 1229
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/8167800362_f70d0fd8f0.jpg
Sept 9 2011 mmc twins/triplets by monro15, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/8167800214_e92c1eb5dd.jpg
Sept 9 2011 mmc twins/triplets by monro15, on Flickr