Beta's, Early US, stress over viability

[MacKinnon]

So, who's getting them done? I did with my DS, as I had no idea how far along I was and because I had a loss prior to his pregnancy. I had a quantitative blood drawn done with DD to confirm pregnancy, but I did not have comparative betas. So, here I am with AF officially missing as of today, + tests since 11 DPO and I'm stressing out. I took another test this morning and it was very light, I took another one Tuesday night and it was negative. Granted, it had been only 1 hour since I last peed and it was 7pm. The FRER tests show a clear, non-debatable line. The $ tree tests are much lighter but still a line.

I had decided not to do an early U/S or beta's this time around. No need for the extra U/S exposure, no need to stress over beta numbers. No need to go to a lab where everyone is sick to get blood drawn. I was temping and know exactly when I ovulated. Plus, I don't have a midwife or OB to go to to order them. I haven't even called the birth center to see about their intake policies, when they start seeing patients, etc. I need to relax and not stress this. But I'm really afraid that I'll have a missed miscarriage again and go two or three weeks thinking I'm pregnant when I'm not.

What are you all doing? Betas? Ultrasound? When are you being seen by your midwife/ob (if you have one)?

[jeannineb]

I understand your stress over early viability, having had a miscarriage and an ectopic before I had DD. I have been taking tests every morning and am feeling pretty good that they are getting darker by the day. The first one was VERY light, I almost thought I was imagining it, next two have been increasingly darker. That is really reassuring to me. I called for an appointment with my old midwife's practice and they scheduled me for a 6 week app for a quick U/S, just to rule out another ectopic. Other than that I am just praying for the best and trying not to stress over something that I have no control over. Sticky vibes to us!!

[expat-mama]

I think I know how you're feeling. I had a missed miscarriage last December. I'm a little on edge now with the early cramps and twinges. I'm just 15 dpo today and I'm also freaking a little.
I scheduled an appointment for Monday and I'm going to have a Beta done and my progesterone level checked. I'm not sure, but I don't think anything would really show up on an US at this point anyway.
I don't know if any of that will make me feel better, but I'm having it done anyway.
I'm also just trying my hardest to stay positive and hopeful.
Here's hoping those of us who have suffered losses stay strong and that these new little ones stick!

[lawschoolmama]

It's hard this early on to be fully relaxed and hopeful, isn't it? Sticky dust to everyone!

As for me, I called the midwife and she wants to see me in two weeks, when I'm about 6 weeks along. They'll probably do a U/S, because I wasn't charting and I'm not sure exactly when I'm due (late June/early July sometime). I think they'll do bloodwork too.

With DD, I took like two HPTs and was satisfied that I was PG. With this baby though, I've already taken like six and find myself getting nervous after a day or so of not taking them! (And just got the BFP on Monday, hehe.) I just don't really feel anything yet--makes it kind of hard to believe it's real, right?

[bjorker]

I have to wait to get on pregnancy medical through the state, so I can't run right out and do anything just yet, though I would if I was especially concerned about something. So, right now I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do and when, except I'm meeting with a midwife for the first time on Nov 4th just to do the whole consultation interview thing.

Waiting for the state to get back to me is frustrating enough right now... :\

Originally Posted by lawschoolmama

With DD, I took like two HPTs and was satisfied that I was PG. With this baby though, I've already taken like six and find myself getting nervous after a day or so of not taking them!

Yep, this is me, too. Sigh. I managed not to pee on one yesterday, but that meant I HAD TO today. Unfortunately they're not getting any darker at this point, but I'm using extreme cheapies (ordered 20 off the internet for $3-something. That's three dollars and some-odd cents. For twenty tests. They work just fine, that's what I first got the bfp on at 10dpo, but I'm hoping that's just as dark as it gets. My test from this morning looks exactly the same as my test from 2 days ago.

[CorasMama]

I'm also testing daily, hoping to see the line get darker. It did this morning.

We're going in for bloodwork on Tuesday, and we'll decide with the midwife whether to do betas.

I'd really like an early u/s to see the heartbeat. It'd calm my fears some. I just need to figure out what the magic words are to say to my midwife that won't risk me out but will get her to not only order the u/s, but order it in a way that the insurance will pay for it.

I have a really good friend who is a fantastic u/s tech, and she's going to do any scans we have.

[tinynyota]

This question hits close to home.

Just before I got a BFP I had been in for a consultation with an RE. We hadn't started any interventions, but he said he wanted to monitor the 1st trimester when I next got pregnant (about 2 weeks later, as it happened!) So, I made the decision to go back to the REs office for bloodwork, etc, rather than my regular OB. I'm not sure it'll make much difference, but my rationale was that they have a lab and fancy machines right in the office, and if I was going to go with all this medical 'handholding' in the 1st tri, I might as well go for the one stop shopping experience!

I've had 2 betas done this week, and I'll probably get an u/s at 6.5 weeks (if I get that far, of course!)
To me, my betas seem on the low side, but they ARE doubling, so I guess that's OK for now.
13dpo = 52
15dpo = 111

I'm trying not to obsess, but after 2 losses in a row and no live births it gets really hard to assume that all will be well. But I'm trying

deep breath deep breath deep breath.....
& to all!!

[CorasMama]

ok, this is just me rambling my own thoughts here, and I hope I don't offend anyone.

My concern about my doing the betas is this: if it's just to measure hcg, then it's not like there's anything anyone can do about it if it DOESN'T double, right? I mean, if there's a progesterone problem discovered, that I'd want to know about, but that's not something that needs every-48-hours testing, right? So, whatever the hcg numbers would tell me, it'll either happen or it won't, and while seeing the numbers doubling would be reassuring, NOT seeing them double would just stress me out over something I can't control.

I guess I especially think about this since 2 of my miscarriages were AFTER seeing the heartbeat. Like, is it really worth it to drag myself and dd, on the bus (most likely 2-3 buses), to whatever lab would be doing the work, when I can barely stay awake, and need to put all my tiny amount of energy into her schooling, if it's not going to make a difference? And do this every other day?

I dunno. Maybe if we can get the order to go to a lab that's close enough, with pre-8am morning or post-6pm evening hours, so that DH can drive me before/after he goes to work.

[MacKinnon]

I'm driving myself crazy over here... I keep thinking I've "lost" all my symptoms, just to wake up the next morning to super sore breasts, that funny full feeling, and a need to eat everything in sight. I'm sitting here feeling not pregnant. My breasts don't seem sore, I'm not exhausted or nauseous at the moment. I'm just worried. I've decided to get do betas early next week, I'm going to see if my family doc will order them for me. I know I won't relax until I have at least some indicator that things are headed in the right direction. That negative test just keeps weighing on my mind. I've run out of test, so I can't test again in the morning and look for that darker line. Ugh...

[LisaSedai]

Hi all. I'm officially in the June DDC but I may end up with a July baby if s/he isn't ready to come out 6/23.

I had betas done on my 2nd and 3rd pregnancy. When I was pregnant the last time the betas didn't double like they were supposed to and I had alot of stress going back and forth to the doc to get them drawn and stress waiting for the results ( slowest darn lab I ever saw) I pretty much felt it was doomed from the start and it wasn't a good experience. This time doc didn't suggest betas & I didn't ask for them. I'm having some reassuring MS (which I didn't have last time) and getting an U/S my 7th week. It's a relief not to be worrying over those stupid numbers.

vibes to you!

[veesmimi]

Now I'm having cold feet about betas! I want reassurance, not stress! The last time I had betas it was post-m/c. I will just go thru the process... I like to have info... whatever the case. In the meantime, back to my mantra of enjoying each day. Tomorrow and Fri are my blood draws. Results Monday or Tuesday, I think.

[maranapanda]

I just wanted to say that I am here, and oh so nervous with all of you ladies! I wasn't planning this, its a huge shock. I am so overwhelmed and worried about the outcome. I had a really bad ectopic years ago. I have had two healthy pregnancies since then. Somehow it doesn't bring much peace in this early time. I have a consult with a mw on Monday, and she said she would schedule me for an US if I wanted. I think I will, seeing that little sac can be so reassuring. I can't believe I am here, and I am afraid to post, if I talk about it... it might not be real. I am super duper crazy right now. I just wanted to say that I am here with you, and oh so nervous.

[veesmimi]

Had my first beta blood draw today (results tomorrow) and forgot how painful that can be :P Two sticks to get any action. Ouch!

[EMandM]

Had my progesterone and first beta drawn today. I'll go back Friday for a repeat beta. I didn't do any testing with the last two pregnancies until I started bleeding, so I'm trying to be proactive this time. Good or bad, I just want to know, ya know?

[veesmimi]

Knowledge is power, right?! My first draw at 19dpo was 2350! Gotta wait until Monday for 2nd result... so far so good.

[CorasMama]

Got my 2nd beta today, will have Tuesday's results tomorrow (probably could have had them today, had I remembered to call), and Monday for today's results. So, tomorrow we'll find out if I need progesterone supplementation, and Monday I'll be able to breathe easier.