Test line not getting darker...cause for concern?

MissyCee

Hi ladies, I may be worrying over nothing but I'd love some feedback.

I took my first test last Friday (in the afternoon, not FMU), and it was a clear line. I took another test tonight because I felt like I needed to be reassured again, especially as it looks like I may be getting some blood work done tomorrow, and while the line is definitely there, it's not darker, and it actually is a little lighter than the first test line.

I know the whole "a line is a line" thing, but I guess I thought that as some time passed my body would have more hormones and the line would get darker.

Have any of you had this happen? Does it really make a difference how much you pee on the stick and what time of the day? Any feedback would be amazing, I'm unreasonably (hopefully!) worried that it could mean something's wrong.

*Background Info: I had a CP last month and the first day of bleeding was 11/11, so using that date I think I'll be 6 weeks on Sunday. The tests were both First Response*

AudUy

Yes, I had this happen, except I was peeing every day and driving myself (and my husband) crazy as I tried to compare each stick, etc, etc.

There are many variables involved. One is that the tests often have a different level of dye. Another is that the concentration of hcg in your urine fluctuates based on time of day, when you last peed, how recently you drank anything, and so on.

It's hard to resist the temptation, but don't pee on sticks! The purpose of the hpt is to tell you if you are pregnant, not to tell you how viable your pregnancy is. I'm glad you are having bloodwork done as that is a much better way to tell at this point, but only if you have it done two times in a row (usually with 48 hours in between). The goal is to see betas increasing, at a rate which slows the farther along you are until about 10(?) weeks when it actually decreases.

cdnbird11

It does make a difference when during the day you pee. The FMU is the best, because your urine has sat in your bladder all night and has concentrated, so it's the best for getting an accurate pregnancy test. I took a few pregnancy tests when I first found out I was pregnant with this baby, and each varied a little in darkness (because I took most of them the same day).

The blood test will definitely be the most reliable indicator! I'll keep my fx for you!

MissyCee

Thank you so much for the response. I think my paranoia is making me stupid! I'm going to step away from peeing on things for awhile and just let the blood work tell me what my body is up to. It's so hard not to over think things that I probably never would have thought twice about if I hadn't had the CP.

I appreciate you being kind, I think I just needed to hear from someone else that they've had the same thing and everything was fine so I could relax. Thank you!

charris1030@yahoo.com

Ugh, I hear ya sister! While I was waiting for my first appointment, I peed on a stick just about every day to see if the line was getting any darker. All I really did was freak myself out!

JellyTwoPointO

I posted a similar thread when I got my BFP. My lines actually disappeared and I thought for SURE I was having a chemical. But I got bloodwork done and the numbers went up! And up! And up! I'm now 11 weeks pregnant and as far as I know, going strong. I don't know what's going on for you, but you have my prayers that you get the same outcome!

emeraudecephiro

Sometimes the amount of ink in the test can do bleh things too

JuddandJessica

It matters. All tests are not created equal and the quality of urine makes a difference.

Gregermis

tests aren't quantitative and taking them not with FMU makes trying to figure that out worse.  Some women don't have tests that get darker and are fine, others don't .  Hang in there!

ally2011

The main cause for concern in a situation like this is going crazy or broke

We have all been there.  I did the same thing....I peed on every stick I could get my hands on and they were all various shades and sometimes darker one day and then lighter the next.  The first one I could barely see but my friend (fellow loss mom) kept saying "a line is a line"  Honestly I think I remember them being pretty light early on for awhile...I kept thinking they would get darker the next day but it was more like weeks.

I am now 33 weeks with a healthy baby girl.  Try not to stress.  First tri goes by SO slow....second a little faster and third FLIES.  Enjoy each day with your sweet baby.

Hugs,

Jenn 

eoub

I was crazy about comparing the darkness of the test line every day.  What I found was that the test line would have a range of darkness for 3-4 days, sometimes lighter and sometimes darker, and then gradually go to a darker level.  Day-to-day comparisons were just driving me insane.  This was all with cheapo Wondfo's, too, which don't seem to be all that consistent with the amount of dye.

MandaS08

My line stayed about the same-and I freaked out.  My first beta was 650 and my second was around 1500, so obviously the line didn't match with my increasing betas!