HCG levels at almost 15 weeks?

[rareimer]

I had a subchorionic bleed 3 weeks ago, and just brown spotting since then, and then last night the red bleeding started again.  Ultrasound showed baby is still doing well, but they took blood to check my HCG and i go get more blood drawn tomorrow.  I'm just wondering if this far into pregnancy (i'll be 15 weeks on Friday,) if HCG is still a reliable indicator of whether the pregnancy is progressing "normally" or not...i thought after the first trimester that the levels declined anyways?

[HappyMamaBeth]

I think you're correct.

"The hCG levels will peak at about 8-12 weeks of pregnancy and then will decline, remaining at lower levels throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. If the levels are questionable, an ultrasound scan should be used to diagnose the pregnancy outcome. Ultrasound findings are much more accurate at diagnosing pregnancy viability after 5-6 weeks gestation than hCG levels are."

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/earlyfetaldevelopment.htm

[kalamos23]

Yeah, actually the recommendation is only draw HCG betas until 6ish weeks because after then an u/s is more reliable. That is really odd that they would have you get a beta done at 15 weeks. 

[Lisa1970]

It does not double at this point. I would seriously worry about the qualifications of a doctor who is trying to check how good your pregnancy is at this point in this way. This could be a big red flag to find a different provider.  Sorry you have been having a hard time with pregnancy.

[rareimer]

this was a doctor in emergency, so he's not my care provider.  the ultrasound showed the baby is doing well at this point, and i have a regular prenatal appt tomorrow with my doctor.  i'll probably do the bloodwork anyways, but i'm not really sure it's going to be helpful.

[rareimer]

saw my regular doctor today, and she thought it was weird they did a beta too.  i didn't get the second blood draw done, she said not to bother.  got to hear my babe's heartbeat again though, so far everything looks okay, though i'm still spotting :(