Gosh, am I in the wrong place? « Back to Group Discussions

[DandelionWine]

I was certain I was pregnant when my period didn't show up this month, but I just tested negative using the ClearBlue Easy digital tests. I had a normal cycle with a beautifully clear five-day ovulatory phase, during which our timing was perfect for a "hit." My luteal phase is faithfully 13 days, and I chart carefully, so I have two years' worth of cycles to compare it to. I'm at 18 days post ovulation, and there isn't even an inkling of a feeling that my period is coming. I don't temp very much since we still nurse at night sometimes and my basal temperatures aren't reliable, so I don't have that for a cross-reference. But I really can't imagine that with all this, I'm truly *not* pregnant. Taking Charge of Your Fertility says that it's extremely rare for a woman to be more than 16 days post ovulation with no period and not be pregnant, but that negative test shook me up.

I have read that some women get false negatives well into several weeks pregnant (one site said as high as 14% testing at day 17 post-ovulation). But I'm confused. I'd be OK if I weren't pregnant (though I'd feel a little silly!), but I wonder why I'm not showing up, you know?

We're new to this town, and I haven't chosen a family practicioner yet. How does that work? Do you just call and ask for a pregnancy blood test? Is that much more reliable than the OTC tests? I read some women *still* test negative with those! Ugh. I wish I hadn't tested. I wish I had just listened to the wisdom of my body and rode whatever came of this. 

[sallyrae17]

You can get a quantitative blood test done and that will tell you how much hcg is in your blood. If you get a qualitative test, it will just say you are pregnant or not, not how much hcg is in your blood. So, I'd get the former test done and then see what happens if you're too concerned!

Good luck!

[~Demeter~]

I'm not a big fan of blue dye tests for many reasons... I prefer the ease of the digital tests, no interpreting at all, lol. My go to test is the FRER and that's what I would recommend if you think you might be too early to get a positive elsewhere. Sometimes our cycles do silly things even after they've been a certain way for a very long time. I hope you get an answer that feels right to you. :hug:

[monkeyscience]

I guess my understanding is that, without temps to confirm it, you can't be 100% sure your body ovulated. It may very well have been gearing up to O, and then O didn't happen at the last minute. Again, without either temps or a progesterone test, I don't think there's any way to be 100% certain you ovulated, even if your body showed all its normal O signs.

BUT... you certainly could be pregnant, and just have low hCG levels (or a defective test!). Yes, blood tests are more accurate than HPTs, if they are quantitative (not necessarily so if they are qualitative). A quantitative beta test should be able to tell the exact amount of hCG in your blood, even if it is only 5 or 10 I-forgot-the-units of hCG. Below 5 is considered a negative test. Most HPTs are only sensitive to hCG levels of 25 or 50, so if your hCG levels are still low, they wouldn't pick it up yet. I'm guessing that you used FMU? If not, that's always another factor to throw in there.

I've never had a blood pregnancy test done, so I'm not sure how to request one, but I hope you can figure it out and get some answers!!

[Knitting Mama]

Go to the dollar store and get a cheap pink dye test. I also have had unclear and incorrect responses from the blue dye ones. Also, as an anecdote, with my first I didn't test positive until I was 6 weeks pregnant, so that is entirely possible too.

[iixivboots]

Cecilia's Mom, Celcilia is the cutest little lady EVER. I am such a sucker for girls with big brown eyes, as I was one :)

I second the FRER.

[Knitting Mama]

Awwww, thank you!  The funny thing is, I was disappointed at first in her eyes. No, really, as stupid as that sounds. See, I have green eyes, and my husband has blue eyes. I always dreamed that she would have my green eyes and my curls (my hair is light brown and VERY curly naturally), and she ended up with neither. There are brown eyes on my side of the family so we figure they just skipped a generation or whatever. What a silly thing to care about, LOL!

Here she is a week ago at my nephew's birthday party: http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385940_10150577315378957_500103956_11786628_811541663_n.jpg

[andaluza]

I third the First Response Early result test. I think  it may be one of the most sensitive available. I think you should trust your body for the time being. 

[DandelionWine]

Well, ladies, count me confused and embarrassed, but AF just showed up! At least I didn't have to wait in wondering for long . A happy nine months to you all, and thanks for the support!

[~Demeter~]

Oh DandelionWine, I'm so sorry sweetie! ((hugs)) Good luck to you in the future, I hope you conceive very soon :heart

[sallyrae17]

That sucks DandelionWine! I hope you get to join a DDC board soon! 

[Knitting Mama]

[andaluza]

Hope to see you posting a bfp soon 

[marinak1977]

:

[IntuitiveJamie]

Aw, sorry to hear that.