Threatened Miscarriage, Low HCG Levels

[dreamer22]

Found out 2 days ago that I am 4 weeks pregnant. I went to the ER last night because of brown discharge and they said my hcg levels were really low and gave me papers on a threatened miscarriage. They also couldn't see anything yet on a transvaginal ultrasound. I have to go back tomorrow to check my levels again. Any one been through this? I'm not feeling very optimistic

 

[dairymomma]

Brown means old so brown blood isn't necessarily the start of a miscarriage. It could be old blood from implantation just working it's way out. Did they tell you what your hCG numbers were? You are still awfully early (4 weeks 2 days, if I read right?) and depending on a whole host of things (ovulation, implantation, etc.) your numbers probably won't be all that high right now. The 'normal' range for hCG at 4 weeks is 5-426 mIU according to the American Pregnancy Association. Here is a full list of the 'normal' range for a pregnancy from their website.

hCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :

3 weeks LMP: 5 – 50 mIU/ml
4 weeks LMP: 5 – 426 mIU/ml
5 weeks LMP: 18 – 7,340 mIU/ml
6 weeks LMP: 1,080 – 56,500 mIU/ml
7 – 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 – 229,000 mIU/ml
9 – 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 – 288,000 mIU/ml
13 – 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 – 254,000 mIU/ml
17 – 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 – 165,400 mIU/ml
25 – 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 – 117,000 mIU/ml
Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml
Postmenopausal females: <9.5 mIU/ml

* These numbers are just a GUIDELINE&#8211; every woman&#8217;s level of hCG can rise differently. It is not necessarily the level that matters but rather the change in the level.

Notice it says it's not the level but rather how it changes. I hope this helps! And as long as you aren't cramping and the discharge stays brown, try not to worry. I know it's hard not to worry when you see stuff like that but try to relax as best you can, push fluids, and keep yourself occupied. Staying busy has helped me thru several miscarriages and two successful pregnancies. It's also keeping me sane now since I found out about my most recent pg on Sunday (just 5 weeks after my last miscarriage). Good luck and I hope your repeat labs show a nice rise in hCG!

 

[dreamer22]

Thank you so much for your response. This is my first pregnancy and all the doctor could say to me is that my levels are lower than they should be. I didn't ask what they were. I just can't help but feel impending doom. I was 4 weeks, 2 days yesterday, you are correct. And I have feelings down there but idk if they are cramps. More like stretching, and stitches, and fullness.

 

[annaaabanana]

I had brown discharge at 5 weeks and when I became six weeks I started bleeding and miscarried.. I hope it is not the same for you!! good luck

 

[Blue eyes 81]

Did they say if it could possibly be implantaion spotting since you are still very early in your pregnancy? I am not a doctor but the feelings of stretching and fullness you described sound how I felt at the begining of my last pregnancy and I never felt it with my previous loss. Hoping it is a good sign for you.
As for ultra sounds in my case the first time they could see my daughter was at 5w 1d at 4w 1d we could not see anything other then my lining was thick.
Wanted to share alittle of my story to show you there still is hope.....
My first beta was only 37.2 which the doctor said was low but we went on to do more betas and my numbers were doubling nicely. (The first beta number is not as important as the fact that, that number doubles) At around 7wks I had brown discharge with streaks of red. I completely lost it and went to the er because I had a miscarriage previous to that pregnancy. Was discharged and told that there are many differnt things that can cause spotting during pregnancy and it does not always mean a mc will follow.
I went on to deliver a perfectly healthy beautiful baby girl at 38w 1d.
Wishing you luck and hope all turns out well for you.

 

[Petzy]

I hope everything turns out okay for you. I know that brown blood that early can be perfectly normal. And people are right when they say the number doesn't matter, it's about whether or not the number doubles really. I had my blood taken three times when I got pregnant because my initial number was low, so they make sure that it was doubling each time, and it was. Unfortunately I did have a miscarriage, but the hCG had nothing to do with it. Good luck to you xx

 

[Blue eyes 81]

Edit.....sorry for some reason my tablet double posted.

 

[detterose]

At 4 weeks, sometimes you won't see much on an ultrasound except thickened endometrial lining. Best option is beta hCGs, because its not about the number, its about whether they double appropriately in a 48 hour period. And ask for another U/S in about a weeks time. GL xx

 

[dreamer22]

Thanks so much ladies! You are making me feel a bit more optimistic. I do have irregular cycles so I’m hoping the low levels are due to late ovulation and implantation. Some good news is that the brown discharge has been gone pretty much the whole day, so fingers crossed that it stays that way. It hasn’t been red yet so I’m hoping that that means its just old blood. And its been mixed with discharge, not concentrated like just blood.

 

[mara16jade]

I started spotting at 9dpo and still am today (12dpo). I got a faint bfp yesterday and a stronger one today, backed up with a digital. I'm really hoping spotting is not going to be an issue.

I hope your hcg number continue to go up, and the rest of your pregnancy is stress free.

 

[dreamer22]

At the hospital awaiting my second beta hcg levels. I was told that my first levels were 432, which they say is low, but according to the chart, they aren't that low. The lady today seems optimistic that I am probably going to be fine. I'll update once I know today's levels.

 

[detterose]

Mine were 460 are 4 weeks and 2 days. Sounds like a perfectly normal level

 

[dreamer22]

That's what I was thinking. Anyway, I found out that my levels had more than doubled to over 1000 in 48 hours, so I'm feeling much more relieved! But she says I'm still at risk for an ectopic pregnancy until I see baby on an ultrasound. Jeez, I'm never going to be able to relax!

 

[Petzy]

Dreamer - so pleased for you those numbers are great... I am surprised they said risk of ectopic though that makes no sense to me... try to relax best you can and enjoy the pregnancy - wish you a happy and healthy 9 months xx

 

[detterose]

Would there be any reason that you are at risk for an ectopic? From my understanding, ectopics normally have very slow rising hCG levels. Did you have an IUD or anything when you conceived? I find it very confusing they would scare you like that if it weren't necessary.

 

[holly0986]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I just went through the same thing. My numbers started off really low, doubled once, and then continued to slowly rise but nowhere near doubling. When I had my first ultrasound at 5 weeks we saw a sac. And then at 6 weeks we unexpectedly saw a baby with a perfect heartbeat. We thought for sure it was a blighted ovum. A few days later I started spotting and am currently miscarrying. But I have heard of so many people who had low and slow rising numbers who ended up having perfectly healthy babies. You have to think of all the women who don't even check their levels. I'm sure not all of them have perfect hcg. Don't lose hope

 

[dreamer22]

I'm confused as well as to why they say it could be ectopic. Maybe its because my levels are on the low side and I also had brown discharge, but it only lasted one night. But the doctor seemed pretty optimistic and said she wasn't really worried about it, but that she was legally obligated to say that I could still miscarry. On my discharge papers they put "Abortion-Threatened v. Ectopic." I'll just be glad when I hear a heartbeat and see that the baby is where it should be!

 

[Blue eyes 81]

So glad to hear your beta came back good!
When is your first us going to be?
Wishing you a H&H 9 months!

 

[dreamer22]

So glad to hear your beta came back good!
When is your first us going to be?
Wishing you a H&H 9 months!

Unfortunately, this wasn't a planned pregnancy and I do not have insurance right now, so I have to go through Medicaid. It is probably going to be about 3 weeks or longer before I can get in with an OB! By then I will probably already know if I am having an ectopic. I had one ultrasound at 4 weeks 2 days but of course my levels were so low they couldn't see anything yet.

 

[dairymomma]

What? They think it's ectopic because you had spotting? What is up with doctors lately? Your numbers were SPECTACULAR for just over 4 weeks and they rose really well. That's more than doubling! Ectopics have lower rising hormones because they aren't growing where they should. The brown blood was probably implantation...I'm getting the runaround from my doctor too. She gave me a talking-to yesterday when she called with my numbers (which also are more than doubling. I was 38 at 3+6 and now I'm 236 at 4+3.) because I apparently didn't wait to get pg like the specialist ordered me to. He NEVER told me to wait. In fact, I never talked to him after my last pg was confirmed. His nurse called me and only if I called to leave a message. The u/s tech confirmed a blighted ovum and I m/c the next day. Figured I didn't need to talk to the dr anymore so I didn't. She also said in her opinion, it's going to end badly and she's disappointed. I told her we weren't TRYING, were in fact preventing pregnancy and it still happened but she was still annoyed. Don't know if I will stay with her anymore because I can't work with a doctor who won't support me.