Prayers needed

kgracea

I am six weeks today and just started progesterone supplements on Friday. My HCG levels were not increasing like they should, but my doctor never mentioned what my progesterone levels were. I asked her for the supplements per comments of friends and family and she wrote me a prescription... Just trying to see if they will help me or not. I don't know what is more important during a pregnancy - HCG levels or progesterone levels?? I have my first ultrasound this afternoon and I am extremely nervous

Sally1990

First of all I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Try to stay calm! What were your hcg levels and how many days apart!? Hcg is produced when you are pregnant, is a normal viable pregnancy hcg levels should double every 48-72 hours. If they don't most likely it's not a viable pregnancy. My first mc was like this, we knew I was going to mc because my hcg was not even close to doubling. Progesterone helps keep  the uterine lining thick and heathy to support a pregnancy. So it's very important but if your hcg is not doubling I don't think taking progesterone will help. 

kgracea

Thank you for the information. I'm frustrated because my doctor really isn't providing Much advice or options for me. She left the decision of progesterone up to me because she said there's no real proof they work. I've had two prior miscarriages before this current pregnancy so I'm trying anything right now. My HCG levels on 2/5 were 1200, on 2/8 were 1800, and then 2/22 were 2100.

mrskratt

Thinking of you!

missteacherlady16

Thinking of you!

2015dee

You're in my thoughts!

Sally1990

kgracea said:

Thank you for the information. I'm frustrated because my doctor really isn't providing Much advice or options for me. She left the decision of progesterone up to me because she said there's no real proof they work. I've had two prior miscarriages before this current pregnancy so I'm trying anything right now. My HCG levels on 2/5 were 1200, on 2/8 were 1800, and then 2/22 were 2100.

I felt the same way with my doctor and I thought about even switching doctors. But my numbers were much lower and not even close to doubling. Like I think my 2nd draw was 37 and my 3rd was 43. Yours are much higher and I did a lot a reading when I was going through my situation, many women who had higher numbers but they were not doubling ended up having s normally pregnancy and done even said something about having a boy, so I thought that was interesting. I hope your u/s goes well. I will be thinking and praying! 

kgracea

Thank you! Your post gives me hope. 

kgracea

So I just had my first ultrasound and There was a sac and yolk but no heartbeat. The doctor was different from my normal doctor and told me to come back in 10 days. He said he doesn't concern himself with HCG levels, just wants to hear a heartbeat. Everything appeared to look normal though. I'm 6 weeks today. I was hoping to hear the heartbeat! 

br0co1ii

Although not unhears of, 6 weeks is still a little early for a heartbeat to show up. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! 

kgracea

Thank you! I hope you're right because I cannot wait to hear that heartbeat!

2015dee

10 days?! Wow! That seems like a long time. If it were me, I'd request to come back in 4-5 days and see if anything has changed. I wouldn't be able to wait that long. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

kgracea

Does anyone know how I would know if I ovulated late or early? My last period was 1/4 and I thought I ovulated 1/15...

br0co1ii

kgracea said:

Does anyone know how I would know if I ovulated late or early? My last period was 1/4 and I thought I ovulated 1/15...

The only way to know for sure is by temping. Did you do that? If so, do you have a chart? If you didn't, it's all guesswork. It's totally possible that you ovulated later than you thought though, which would explain a lot of things you've been going through.

missteacherlady16

kgracea said:

Does anyone know how I would know if I ovulated late or early? My last period was 1/4 and I thought I ovulated 1/15...

The only way to know when you ovulated is through temping. There's no real way to now when you ovulated without that information. My guess is that you ovulated later than you think. 

kgracea

What's temping? Also, what makes you guess I ovulated later? Just curious! I've had two prior losses so I'm just trying to figure out as much as I can!

missteacherlady16

kgracea said:

What's temping? Also, what makes you guess I ovulated later? Just curious! I've had two prior losses so I'm just trying to figure out as much as I can!

Temping, as in tracking your BBT. 

Im just guessing based off of your LMP. How were you confirming ovulation before? 

kgracea

I wasn't tracking my body temp, just tracking my period with an app and using an ovulation kit which is how I found I was ovulating on 1/15, even though my app said I would ovulate about 1/19.

kateleap

So sorry you're having to wait! Keeping you and your little one in my thoughts and prayers. Some advice that helped me when I was anxious for my ultrasound was to tell myself, "I'm anxious to get good news," instead of repeating all of my fears to myself. Sharing in case that helps at all for you--sometimes it's just a matter of whatever takes the edge off for 10 seconds, right? xoxo

SuperKristy85

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Fx for your next ultrasound! 

missteacherlady16

kgracea said:

I wasn't tracking my body temp, just tracking my period with an app and using an ovulation kit which is how I found I was ovulating on 1/15, even though my app said I would ovulate about 1/19.

OPKs do not predict ovulation. They detect LH, which is the last hormone to surge just before ovulation. Ovulation could occurr 24-28 hours following a positive OPK. However, many women can have more than one surge in a cycle. 

Cycle tracking apps go based off of averages (i.e. All women have perfect 28 day cycles and ovulate exactly half way between). The truth is that menstrual cycles vary from woman to woman and even cycle to cycle. Without temping to confirm ovulation, you have no real way of knowing when it occurred.

Your current EDD is based off of LMP, which goes off the assumption that you ovulated 14 days after the start of your period. If you ovulated later than that, it would explain the difference you saw in the u/s versus where you or your doctor think you are. 

Of course, the hcg levels are concerning, but for now follow what your doctor says. 

br0co1ii

I agree with all of what @missteacherlady16 said. Just to add my own personal experience with opk's, sometimes I ovulate the day they turn positive, others I ovulate 5 days after. I wouldn't know that without taking my temperature every day.

I really hope this pregnancy holds for you. If it doesn't, once you're ready to TTC again, I highly recommend lurking on the TTGP board and learning from those ladies. I just really hope it doesn't come to that though.

I don't know how to word this post without sounding snarky. I truly don't mean to come off that way. I really do want you to continue your journey here on O16 BMB.

kgracea

Thank you @br0co1ii @missteacherlady16 for the advice and information! I hope hope hope everything turns out positive and I get to stick around for the long run...

Sally1990

Aw that's good! I always knew when I ovulated because of temping and charting/ using opks and my dates would always change a bit when it came to ultrasounds. For example when I was pregnant with my 2nd I went in and had an ultrasound according to my dates I was 5w6d but ultrasound showed just a sac and a yolk sac and it dated me at 4w6d. I went back two weeks later around almost 8 weeks and at that point we had a baby and s great heartbeat and that time baby was measuring about a week ahead. I would not worry about it too much now, your dates could be off. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you! 

purelex

Also, for what it's worth, I also had 2 previous miscarriages early on (both between 6 and 8 weeks). My doctor basically said the same thing about progesterone but felt that it couldn't hurt to try and so I went on vaginal suppositories about 4 days after my BFP (she did not bother to test my progesterone levels).  This time around, I am measuring on time and have the strongest heart rate of all 3 pregnancies so far so I am hopeful that the progesterone is helping.

The earlier you start progesterone, the better, or so I hear.  If you do end up losing this pregnancy, see if you can 1) switch to a doctor that gives information/advice more readily and 2) start progesterone ASAP!  Some doctors even have women take it after ovulation and stop if they dont get a BFP that cycle (although that may require temping).

My thoughts are with you, I hope it all turns out ok!

bornmommy

2015dee said:

10 days?! Wow! That seems like a long time. If it were me, I'd request to come back in 4-5 days and see if anything has changed. I wouldn't be able to wait that long. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I'm assuming he is pushing it off because he wants to make sure there is something to see next time.  Probably knows it would be devasting if she went back and there was still no hb but the problem was because she is still too early along.  

Wishing you luck.  To answer your original question - hcg is the hormone you produce when pregnant and progestrone is the hormone that makes your uterus healthy to carry a pregnancy.  They are both important but different.  Keep us updated. @kgracea