Fetal heartbeat, rising HCG but not doubling

Ashleygib11

I went to the doctor today and baby is measuring 6 weeks exactly and we saw his or her heart flickering. The doctor came in afterwards and let us know that my HCG is rising, but not as much as he'd like to see and that I need to have a repeat ultrasound in a week. He says it's possible to have a healthy pregnancy, but it's also possible I will miscarry. I did not ask him my exact levels. Any personal stories? I want to be hopeful, but it's hard.

AdorkablePixie

I definitely would have asked for levels. Can you call back and ask? What was your first level? How long had it been between when your levels were taken?

nhunter112

My levels rose as well but we're no where near doubling until I was a little further along. I am now a healthy 18 weeks.
You can always call the office and ask what the levels were.
So it is def. Possible for a healthy pregnancy.
Is he going to continue to monitor HCG every other day?

Ashleygib11

He didn't mention continuing to monitor my levels but I do have another ultrasound on Thursday, which will put me at 7 weeks. I'm so scared I'll go in and see that the baby hasn't grown or his/her heart has stopped beating. So nerve wracking.

Ashleygib11

Adorkablepixie I'll call Monday and ask. I do know that at 5 weeks or so, I went from a 2,500 to 3,500 roughly in 48 hours. The most recent levels, though, I'm not sure.

AdorkablePixie

I think once your levels get past 2,000 they don't really double yet, so I'm not sure what level your doctor was expecting you to be at?? Let us know what happens with your next appointment. I hope all goes well!

Ashleygib11

AdorkablePixie said:

I think once your levels get past 2,000 they don't really double yet, so I'm not sure what level your doctor was expecting you to be at?? Let us know what happens with your next appointment. I hope all goes well!

I wish I knew! The gestational sac was a nice shape and there was most definitely a heartbeat, so I'm clinging onto that. I will definitely update Thursday.

AdorkablePixie

The fact there was a heartbeat is a huge plus in my mind. Do you know what it was?

clairemwalker

The HCG doesnt have to double in 48 hours, but they like to see it go up by 60-70% in that time. My numbers never doubled exactly but here i am with a 21 week healthy baby! GL for your ultrasound!

Ashleygib11

AdorkablePixie said:

The fact there was a heartbeat is a huge plus in my mind. Do you know what it was?

I don't but it will call tomorrow to get specifics. I'm kind of scared to ask, though. I fear it'll make me worry more.

Ashleygib11

clairemwalker said:

The HCG doesnt have to double in 48 hours, but they like to see it go up by 60-70% in that time. My numbers never doubled exactly but here i am with a 21 week healthy baby! GL for your ultrasound!

That's very encouraging! Thank you so much

AdorkablePixie

I'm a little surprised they didn't tell you the heartbeat. I am always told the heartbeat when I go to appointments.

Ashleygib11

AdorkablePixie said:

I'm a little surprised they didn't tell you the heartbeat. I am always told the heartbeat when I go to appointments.

I thought you meant my HCG numbers, I apologize. They tried to hear the heartbeat via ultrasound but couldn't. She recorded a video of the heart flickering instead. I'm hoping by Thursday I will be able to hear it.

longhurrdontcurr

Hcg levels can vary widely, and don't always exactly double every 2 days. Especially once you get over 2000. Once you see a heartbeat they shouldn't even be using hcg, they are supposed to use ultrasounds to determine viability at that point. Since you saw a heartbeat your chances are much greater that you'll have a normal pregnancy.

AdorkablePixie

@Ashleygib11 PP is correct, they shouldn't be going by HCG if there is a heartbeat. Have you gone back yet? I can't remember when/if you said you go back.

Ashleygib11

Update: Had my ultrasound today. The baby is measuring the same size it did last week, and the heart rate was 78 bpm. Not feeling very hopeful at this point, unfortunately. The tech said "visually" the baby looks larger, but going by the measurements taken it has not. Gestational sac appears to have gotten bigger too. I fear, though, at this point I should just prepare myself to miscarry.

ecwk

Ashleygib11 said:

Update: Had my ultrasound today. The baby is measuring the same size it did last week, and the heart rate was 78 bpm. Not feeling very hopeful at this point, unfortunately. The tech said "visually" the baby looks larger, but going by the measurements taken it has not. Gestational sac appears to have gotten bigger too. I fear, though, at this point I should just prepare myself to miscarry.

So sorry you're going through this. Many thoughts and prayers your way xx

AdorkablePixie

Aww. I am so sorry to hear that. I am thinking of you and praying for you.

clairemwalker

Awwww im so sorry to hear that. Make sure you rest and i am sending positive vibes your way

susykat77

So sorry you are going through this! It is so hard to know how to feel - preparing for the worst but also not wanting to give up hope. I don't have any words of wisdom except to offer my support.

Ashleygib11

Thanks so much to you all. I'm coping okay. I'm holding out a tiny sliver of hope, but I'm being realistic. I will have another scan in two weeks if I haven't started bleeding by then. I appreciate the support, you've all been so helpful

ch3221

Hello - so I know this thread is from 8 years ago but I was searching a topic and it came up. I was wondering if anyone had any insight for me-

Had a positive pregnancy test, doc based it off my last period which put me at 10 weeks. So we rushed to do an ultra sound to confirm and it did not show 10 weeks - more like 5 weeks this was on 9/13. So the doc had me do blood tests to check HCG levels. 1st one was 12,818 on 9/15 , then 15,338 on 9/18 with Progesterone at 11.9 , then 17,295 on 9/21 and Progesterone went down to 7.3. I had an ultrasound yesterday which they said everything looked perfect, sac looked great, baby has grown and there was a heartbeat of 111 BPM. Doc is still worried that my HCG levels aren’t doubling and that my Progesterone went down and is under 10.

Does anyone have any experience like this with a successful pregnancy? Or am I still at risk of a miscarriage? Thank you!!

babyin24

I went for U/S today. Supposed to be 6.4 weeks but what they saw measured about 6 weeks. Saw slight flicker of heartbeat but they said the embryo is hard to see and very small. My hcg stopped doubling last week so I have to come back in a week. The doctor said it doesn’t look like a healthy pregnancy and will probably miscarry.