6 weeks pregnant . HCG rising but not doubling. U/S today showed Gestational sac and yolk sac...

[bbywsh]

13 dpiui morning HPT negative, 13 dpiui evening HPT faintly positive, HCG 14 dpiui - 26, 16dpiui - 69, 19dpiui - 156, 22dpiui - 738 , 26dpiui - 2498 , 29dpiui - 3600. Currently 6 weeks pregnant and U/s today showed Gestational sac and yolk sac but no fetal pole. Doc said the sac looked like 5 weeks pregnant. Scheduled for another U/S next thursday . Is there any hope ?

[MarineWife]

Yes, there's hope. First, maybe I'm not calculating things correctly but your HCG seems to be rising appropriately to me. It has more than doubled each time. Normal doubling time is anywhere from 48-72 hours but it's not abnormal or necessarily indicative of a problem for it to double more slowly. All of the numbers and doubling times and expectations of what to see on u/s at certain times are averages. There are normal variations higher and lower and more and less, iykwim. 6 weeks is early to expect to see much on an u/s. It is possible to see a fetal poles and even sometimes a heartbeat but not absolute. I think most docs don't really expect to see a heartbeat or anything like that until 8+w.

I know how stressful this time can be. I've been through it. Hang in there. I hope you see a heartbeat soon.

[thencamehenry]

FWIW, my OB told me she doesn't expect to see a baby on ultrasound till HCG is 10,000. That last doubling time is worrisome but it's only one out of a bunch that do look perfect. I'm sorry to say that you are stuck in limbo for at least a few more days. Sometimes that feels like the worst answer you can get. Hang in there!

[Jaimee]

I agree with the pp's.  At 6 weeks you would be lucky to see much.  An 8 week u/s is much more indicative of what is going on as you would expect to see a strong heart beat at that point.  hCG levels are so varied from woman to woman.  Have you checked out this site?  You can really drive yourself crazy with the numbers, but what it does show is the huge range of normal, which might be helpful.  Also the pp's are correct about the doubling time being between 48 and 72 hours so your numbers mostly look good.  There is absolutely hope!

  Sending sticky thoughts your way! 

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by thencamehenry 

That last doubling time is worrisome but it's only one out of a bunch that do look perfect.

This isn't worrisome considering the actual level and how far along she is. Doubling times slow down the further along you get. Check out this website: http://www.babymed.com/tools/hcg-calculator. It says once hCG reaches 1200 it slows to doubling every 72-96 hours.