PGAL 12/9

paytonpedro

This thread is for those who are pregnant after a previous loss(es). TW for entire thread due to discussion of MC, TFMR, CP, etc. 

Weeks/EDD?

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? 

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? 

Any appointment updates? 

Any big milestones?

Rants/Raves/Questions?

aukeev

 Weeks/EDD? EDD is August 22 

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? We were with a fertility clinic trying to conceive with DS1 but when we started trying for a second this January, we have been conceiving very quickly on our own. Our first loss this year was a blighted ovum discovered at my 7/8 week ultrasound. My HCG kept rising and the gestational sac kept growing on track until almost 11 weeks, so we kept having these tiny twinges of false hope the baby could have been missed. This summer we had what we think were two chemical pregnancies back to back. Positive tests for a couple of days, then my period started. 

This fall when we were pregnant everything was very normal. Perfect first ultrasound at 6 weeks, normal symptoms, normal blood work at 8 weeks, then at our 9 week ultrasound her heartbeat couldn’t be found. I was scheduled for a D&C but tested positive for Covid (asymptomatic) so they wouldn’t schedule it for another two weeks. I ended up going into labor at home and had to go to the ER because she was stuck in my cervix. It was a nightmare. Still very much emotionally recovering from that. 

Then last month, another CP. 

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? 👎 

Any appointment updates? 

Going in for a beta today and will have a follow-up Monday. 

Any big milestones?
no

Rants/Raves/Questions? 

None for now.

and_peggy

@aukeev I’m so sorry you went through that. Fingers crossed everything goes perfectly this time. I also had a blighted ovum that went on until 13 weeks when we finally intervened with cytotec (didn’t work), and then the d&c. I had a lot of complications, and I feel like I’ll have anxiety about that all for the rest of my life.

darkrose88

@aukeev I'm so sorry! What a traumatic year! I'm keeping my fingers and toes for you crossed this baby sticks. 

and_peggy

Weeks/EDD? 5+3 / 8/8 (that feels forever away)

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)?
couple chemical pregnancies, 7 week m/c - 2015, blighted ovum and d&c at 13 weeks in September

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? Still sick with bronchitis. Had a virtual appt yesterday. She called in antibiotics but highly suggested not taking them. I won’t even get them filled since I’m being extra cautious and hopefully on the tail end of being sick. Emotionally, feeling good. Trying to be calm about it all and just take each day as is. Pregnancy wise though, I feel good thankfully 💙

Any appointment updates? 

Any big milestones?

Rants/Raves/Questions?

aukeev

@and_peggy So sorry you've been down this road, too  Hopefully this time you get a sweet take home baby. Have you had your first OB appointment? (I wasn't sure if the virtual appt was for bronchitis or this pregnancy)

and_peggy

@aukeev the virtual appointment was for the bronchitis. My first OB appointment is 12/22.

Thabk you! I’ve been very lucky to have had 4 healthy pregnancies with these mixed in. I definitely don’t take that for granted.

returning_bump_member

@aukeev I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. Sending sticky baby dust your way.

Weeks/EDD? 6w3d.  8/1

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? MMC in August. Went for our 1st ultrasound at 10weeks and baby was measuring 8weeks. Complete shock since I didn't have any cramping or bleeding. Got a D&C that day and now we're here.

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? Stressed as all heck since symptoms are here but mild. (I keep taking tests just to calm my crazy butt down.)

Any appointment updates? Have an ultrasound this Tuesday! Hopefully will see and hear a heartbeat.

Any big milestones? None, other than major weight gain from bloat and ridiculous constipation.

Rants/Raves/Questions? None yet, stay tuned. 

paytonpedro

@aukeev you’ve had such a tough year, I am so sorry! Crossing everything that this little one is sticky and healthy!

@and_peggy  I’m glad you seem to be on the mend! Bronchitis is no fun, especially when you can’t take the medication you need for it. I would probably side with you and not even fill it, especially if you feel like you’re at the tail end. 

@returning_bump_member You’re totally not crazy! I totally took a test today. 🙈 I’m looking forward to hearing about your appointment on Tuesday!

Weeks/EDD? 5 weeks/ 8-11-22

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? Mc at 5 weeks in July 

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? I don’t really feel pregnant. My boobs are a little sore and I have fleeting nausea at random times during the day. But otherwise, I just feel normal. Which is a weird feeling because I feel like this pregnancy is consuming every brain cell I have left. 

Any appointment updates? Thursday (a week from today 12/16) I have an ultrasound scheduled. I’m a little worried because I’ll just be 6 weeks and I know that’s kind of early to see a heart beat. 

Any big milestones? No

Rants/Raves/Questions? So I’m going to sound crazy here but I’ve been down a rabbit hole all afternoon… high hcg and correlation with multiples and/or female babies? I’ve found a few studies for a correlation between high hcg and a female baby. I’ve also seen that high hcg could be just normal or whatever OR possibly lean towards multiples. Anyone have any insight, experience or anecdotes? I’m very eager to see this U/S in a week… hcg at 18dpo was 2876 and at 20dpo was 5766.

EmilyE13

@aukeev I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. 

Weeks/EDD? Maaaybe 4w5-6d if ovulation was as late as we’re suspecting. 

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? Lost DD’s twin around 7.5w in Feb 2017–the week after hearing both heartbeats we were down to one. CP in July 2021. Had one positive test then line started fading the next day. 

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? I’m an emotional wreck after my beta on Tuesday. The result was 32.83. I’ve never had one that low before in my previous pregnancies. Second draw was this morning and I should hear tomorrow. I stopped doing pregnancy tests on 12/6 because I was making myself miserable and the lines kept staying light (though still positive). Physically I do still have really heightened sense of smell and a lower backache, along with some stomachaches. But every time I go to the restroom I’m afraid I’ll be bleeding. 

Any appointment updates? 2nd beta was today. Results tomorrow. 

Any big milestones? None at the moment. 

Rants/Raves/Questions? I know logically the first beta number isn’t what matters; the key is the increase in 48 hours. But is there any reason to have much hope for a beta of 32.83? 

paytonpedro

@EmilyE13 I mentioned I spent the day deep in a rabbit hole, I came across this website. It’s a compilation of betas from healthy pregnancies and the range of normal is super huge. 

http://www.betabase.info/

EmilyE13

@paytonpedro aahhh I remember that site from my last BMB! Thank you!

aukeev

@paytonpedro and you, as well! On the HCG note - my numbers are typically pretty similar to those! I've only had singleton pregnancies. I also like to read too deeply into things like that lol.

@EmilyE13 Thank you Fingers crossed for perfect second beta results! Did you do the beta at your doctor's office, or at a lab? I live in a semi-rural area and my doctor is almost an hour away, so for "routine" bloodwork they have me go to the closest lab. I can usually call the lab the same day and ask for my results where my doctor usually doesn't call me until the next day.

EmilyE13

@aukeev Thank you! They were done at my doctor’s office so no luck calling for earlier results. For the first beta I kept obsessively refreshing the online chart and when my results finally popped up I got a call within 5 min. 

ETA words

starkette

@EmilyE13 oh man, that's so nerve-wracking. I did betas last pregnancy and I remember obsessively waiting by the phone for the call. When 5pm rolled around and still no call I was so bummed. But then I got the call at 6pm. Guess they just do all the called at the end of the day after their clinic closes. Wish they'd told me that. Crossing all fingers and toes for you.

@paytonpedro haha, we are the same. I keep googling all the things too. It's weird to think I've only known about being pregnant for like 10 days. Waiting until 16ish weeks to find out gender is gonna be an eternity. 

coco2787

Weeks/EDD? 3w5d 8/22 

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? 
4 losses between Dec 2017 and June 2018- MMC @ 9 weeks followed by two back to back CPs and then another MMC @ 14 weeks. Lots of testing done on me and our baby after the last loss and no reason was ever found. We finally conceived our daughter in the fall of 2018 and she was born July 2019, so I've had a healthy pregnancy since our losses but PGAL brain never goes away. 

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? 
Feeling grateful, but pretty anxious. It still hasn't fully sunk in, I've been testing every day because I have no chill and have been happy to see the lines getting darker. I know that doesn't guarantee anything because I've had pregnancies start out perfectly in the past, but it's something to give me hope. 

Any appointment updates? First beta draw this afternoon. Hopefully results will be pretty quick.

Any big milestones? Well I feel pretty confident this isn't a CP at least but I've got a loong way to go before passing any milestones. 

Rants/Raves/Questions? nope

coco2787

I’m sorry for everyone’s losses, it’s a club no one wants to be in, but I’ve met some of the most amazing, supportive women in PGAL and loss groups. I’ve made serval life-long friends on TB and definitely wouldn’t have made it through all my losses and pregnancies without them. 

@EmilyE13 like others have said, there is a wide range of normal levels and the 2nd number is the most important. When did you get your first BFP? A FRER can pick up HCG levels as low as 6 but most tests are 15-25. If you do some math based on when you got your first positive that might give you an idea of where your number should be. FX for a strong 2nd number! 

@aukeev I’m sorry you had such a traumatic experience, that’s awful  

@paytonpedro those are some impressive numbers!  Sometimes high HCG means twins, sometimes it doesn’t lol. Hopefully you see at least one healthy bean with a HB next week! 

EmilyE13

@coco2787 my first (really faint) positive was 12/1 on a FRER. I was trying to reassure myself that ovulation had to have been really late—which I still think it was given that I had been tracking with OPKs and not seeing any surge during my usual window, and there were only 2 possible days I could have conceived this month.
@starkette I still hadn’t gotten a call or any update to my patient portal as of 3 PM Friday, so I called the office to discover that they were closed—despite claiming to being open til 3:30 on Fridays. I had to connect to the after hours nurse who called me back after looking me up on her laptop once she got home. 

I know this whole thread is a TW but adding a TW anyway….

It was bad news. My HCG went up, but only barely. It’s only just over 40. I’ve been crying the whole weekend. So, now I guess I wait to hear on getting more blood tests to confirm what levels are doing and assume they’ll start dropping. I’m devastated and frankly really hurt that my OB and nurse couldn’t be bothered to call me on Friday. So do I just wait to MC now? When I had my MC with my DD’s twin, nothing really happened (other than grief) because DD’s pregnancy continued. And with my very early CP in July, I only had 1 positive, but then it went lighter the next day and negative the next, and AF started a couple weeks later. I am dreading this. 

coco2787

Oh @EmilyE13 I’m so sorry you didn’t get better news. Sending you hugs. 

As far as your question, if your next blood draw shows your HCG is dropping you’ll likely MC on your own soon. If it goes up, but not as it should, your doc will probably want to do more draws and possibly an ultrasound to rule out an ectopic. 

returning_bump_member

@EmilyE13 sending big hugs! I'm sorry it wasn't good news and that the office didn't call you, like they should have! 

maggiemadeit

@EmilyE13 I’m so sorry. 

EmilyE13

Thank you all so much. You’ve been incredibly kind, empathetic, and supportive, and I’ve appreciated every virtual hug! I wish all of you healthy and happy pregnancies. I started cramping and bleeding this afternoon, so I will be bowing out of the Aug22 BMB. Fingers crossed I may resurface in another before too long. 

at0525

Weeks/EDD? 4 weeks 4 days/August 22 (estimated)

Previous loss(es) (share as much or as little as you like)? This is my second pregnancy. I had a loss during my first in August 2021 at about 5 weeks 5 days.

How are you feeling? Emotionally & physically? Emotionally I’m anxious. Physically I’m feeling bits of nausea here and there but nothing intense yet. Also sore boobs. 

Any appointment updates? My first is Jan 6 for ultrasound viability check… my husband is a physician and he’s trying to get me to go in for blood work to check how things are going. Idk if I really want to do that. It would be nice to be reassured, but also feels unnecessary right now because it won’t change anything, right? 

Any big milestones? Nothing really yet

Rants/Raves/Questions? I took pregnancy test day after my missed period and it was a faint line. In the afternoon I took digital clear blue and it was positive. Today (a few days later) I wanted to see if the line would be darker and I took a test midday and it’s still a faint line. That has caused me some anxiety, but I’m trying to just be positive and think my pee was oversaturated with my coffee. Does anyone have thoughts on this? Is it necessarily a bad sign to have a faint line at 4 weeks 4 days? 

coco2787

@at0525 when I test with FMU my lines have gotten consistently darker but if I test at other times of day line darkness is all over the place, (but always more faint than in the morning). I would go ahead and get the bloodwork so you don’t drive yourself crazy analyzing the lines 

darkrose88

@at0525 you should definitely ask for blood work if you're getting anxious.. it can definitely help ease your mind since the line isn't getting darker the way it should be. As for a viability u/s I've done one for all my pregnancies I've been offered (even ones I've lost). It is a personal choice but I've found from an anxiety standpoint, seeing a heartbeat on an ultrasound helps ease anxiety, and not seeing one helps me except the inevitable of the loss. 

anniemarie887

@at0525 I don’t like blue dye tests, go buy a FRER

at0525

Thanks for your input @coco2787 @darkrose88 @anniemarie887 ! I just called to see if they could do the blood work for me. I’m trying really hard not to panic - my boob soreness has went away right now and I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad sign… but that’s what happened the last time so I’m feeling a little triggered 😞

darkrose88

@at0525 I 100% get that feeling of being triggered. FX they can get you in quickly so you don't have to worry much longer.