please tell me about my hcg blood test

[tatsu15]

Hello

I had implantation on August 5th. Went to the doctor on August 8 to confirm the pregnancy and get blood test. They did a vaginal ultrasound and it showed a tiny sac. My hcg was 585. My doctor says it's consistent with early pregnancy and the ultrasound and they want me to get retested tomorrow or thursday. I'm wondering why do they want me to test my hcg level gain if it's normal. Should I be worried. I'm 37 so maybe they think I'm high risk since I'm older?

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

One hcg number tells you almost nothing, other than that you're pregnant. Hcg should double every 48 hours in early pregnancy, which is why quantitative beta hcg (the test in question) always comes in at least 2. This is standard procedure for anyone who requests a beta and perfectly normal. Typically the only people who want betas are those who've had bleeding, a history miscarriage or infertility, or some other cause to be concerned. I had 3 with my last pregnancy because of a history of early miscarriage.

That is really odd that they're doing that much monitoring for you. Anything different beyond your age? Typically vaginal ultrasounds don't happen until 6+ weeks to confirm heartbeat. So, say you'd been dealing with infertility, the common run of procedures isbeta hcg 2 times. If doubling appropriately that's fine. Vaginal ultrasound around 6 weeks to check for viability and dating. Recheck around 8 weeks (not universal but quite common), and release to normal obstetric care.

[tatsu15]

Hi and thanks for your reply,

Well I just wanted to confirm my pregnancy, but the nurse asked me tons of questions. I told her I had some on and off cramping and she told me to come and get an ultrasound just to rule out etopic pregnancy. I think that's why they did the ultrasound super early. I've never had problems with infertility. I think they just think cause I'm older, that I'm high risk.

I am, however, a late bloomer. I've had all 3 pregnancies in my 30s. (age 33, 34, and current which is 37). My two children are currently 2 and 3 years old.

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Ok, that is really weird. Cramping is normal in early pregnancy. I had plenty of it during weeks 4 and 5. The concern is when it's one sided and sharp. I had some of that with my first, but I have PCOS and thus lots of ovarian cysts. A week after my first viability scan I had a sharp stabbing pain on one side, and had I not had that scan showing a healthy embryo in the uterus I would have run to the ER to see if it was ectopic. I figure it was just a cyst popping, and thankfully that only happened once.

Have you used this practice before? Because I'd be concerned about unnecessary interventions down the road, since they're doing so many now.

[tatsu15]

Originally Posted by sunflwrmoonbeam 

Ok, that is really weird. Cramping is normal in early pregnancy. I had plenty of it during weeks 4 and 5. The concern is when it's one sided and sharp. I had some of that with my first, but I have PCOS and thus lots of ovarian cysts. A week after my first viability scan I had a sharp stabbing pain on one side, and had I not had that scan showing a healthy embryo in the uterus I would have run to the ER to see if it was ectopic. I figure it was just a cyst popping, and thankfully that only happened once.

Have you used this practice before? Because I'd be concerned about unnecessary interventions down the road, since they're doing so many now.

I never used this practice before. I was just following what the nurse told me.

BTW, My HCG didn't really double in a span of 2 days. I took an HCG blood test at 3 pm on Monday. Took another one at 9 am on Wednesday. It only went up by 87 (Monday it was 585, today it was 672). They want to test HCG again on Friday. Should I be concerned?

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I'm sorry, but yes, I would be concerned. I've had friends who've had healthy pregnancies with non-doubling HCGs, but they were closer to doubling than that. If the HCG doubles on Friday you're probably ok,but if not it's likely to be an early loss. I'm really sorry, I've had several of those and I know how awful they are.