how come some people

777luckyinlove · October 2008

get hcg levels checked early and some don't? My first appointment is when I'm over 9 weeks and it's not until Nov. 5. My doc didn't want to see me any earlier. Is that normal? Wouldn't they want to see where my hcg levels were at? How am I supposed to know if everything is okay?

BlairWaldorf · October 2008

Are you a high-risk pregnancy? Have you had a m/c before?

777luckyinlove · October 2008

not considered high risk.. this is my first preg. wouldn't they want to make sure things are going okay? what if there was something wrong, i'd like to find out sooner than later.. you know??

cnchavez69 · October 2008

it just depends on your doctor. They aren't going to treat each pregnancy as high risk unless they have a reason to. My first appointment wasn't until 8 weeks and that was after I'd already had one m/c. They never checked to see if the levels were increasing.

Jen&John2005 · October 2008

Infertility treatments generally involve early monitoring. That's why I got my HCG levels checked early at 4w1d and 4w3d.

Mrs.C042807 · October 2008

I had mine checked b/c I was under the care of an RE. Most GPs don't do it b/c a HPT is accurate 99.999999 % of the time. It's unnecessary to have a blood test unless you have a history of m/c or other health conditions.

BlairWaldorf · October 2008

I'm pretty sure the majority of girls who have their betas tested are high-risk or have had miscarraiges in the past.

Flem052204 · October 2008

I'm PG with my second baby. I had blood work done at 4 with #1 and 9 weeks with #2, but I have no idea if an HCG was run. I assume it was done but it was never mentioned to me so I assume the numbers were "normal" There was no reason in particular why I had blood drawn at 4 weeks other than I had scheduled my annual exam months earlier and they had me keep my appointment and just used it as a prenatal visit. If it had not already been scheduled, I would have waited until 9 weeks, which was their policy.

I think that unless you have reason to believe otherwise, the doctors typically assume all is fine and have you wait. I think if you had help conceiving, a history of M/C, endo, cycts or anything else of concern, then they watch you closer early on. If you have a problem-free medical history, then they usually don't do any sort of early testing.

DaisyAdair · October 2008

My OB office always does them. They do HCG and progesterone. Twice, at least, more if the numbers don't look good.

My ectopic was discovered through blood work. My OB's office thinks they're important and so do I. If progesterone is low, why miscarry? Why not have it tested and get supplements? If a pregnancy isn't viable, why wait to try and hear a heartbeat at 10wks? And, discovering an ectopic early is crucial.

Anyway....my OB office does it for everyone as part of routine pre-natal care.

easjer05 · October 2008

777luckyinlove:
not considered high risk.. this is my first preg. wouldn't they want to make sure things are going okay? what if there was something wrong, i'd like to find out sooner than later.. you know??

There is your answer. There is no reason to run tests. HCG levels only tell you so much. I get the anxiety, I do. But realize that a more medicalized pregnancy is not necessarily a good thing. Realize that less monitoring means that they think you and your pregnancy are healthy enough and proceeding normally enough that you don't need that extra monitoring.

sevans1975 · October 2008

I'm pregnant w/ my 1st, I have diabetes so some would consider me "high risk" (although my OB won't label me as such unless my blood sugars are soaring out of control), I had 1 m/c 2 years ago and I haven't had my hcg levels checked at all.

Basically, my family doc confirmed I was pregnant from a pee test and then a week later, I had an early u/s to make sure things were ok because my blood sugar HAD been so high. I never had any blood work done at all until I was 10 weeks.

So, all that to say don't panic! If your doc had cause for concern, they'd check. If you are really worried about it, maybe give their office a call and see what they have to say...maybe they can help ease your mind. Smile

MegDC · October 2008

I only got betas drawn when I was having spotting. And they really don't bring as much relief as you think. You would worry either way. At this point, be happy things are going well and try to wait it out until your appointment. And if there is something wrong, at this stage they really can't do anything about it anyway, so being as calm as you can is the best way to move forward.

That said, I know that its hard and worrisome, so try to hang in there.

kikis7780 · October 2008

My dr saw me at 4w3d for papsmear & bloodwork, and this is my 1st pregnancy and I'm not high risk. My dr is just very conservative and proactive about preventing a m/c.

I guess it just depends on the dr.

mrsg052904 · October 2008

For me, I believe it's my doctor's policy. I have a high risk doctor. I wasn't high risk w/ my first pregnancy, but he takes non-high risk patients. However, I had a mc so I am glad I am already with a high risk doctor. I think every doctor has a different method.

JennR · October 2008

Unless you are high risk or you have a history of m/c, there really is no reason to get your levels checked. HPTs arevery accurate and there really isn't much for the dr to do before 8-10 weeks. WIth DD i didn't see the dr or have any tests done before 9 weeks. Everything was fine. 2nd time that was the plan, but it went wrong so here was are. You just get to trust that everything is fine until something tells you otherwise.

meghanchrisaz · October 2008

I had mine done because I had a previous m/c. ?I DIDN'T have them for THAT pregnancy until after the u/s that showed that I had a blighted ovum.

?I didn't have them for my first pregnancy either.

?

ValSept10 · October 2008

with my first pregnancy, i only got my levels drawn because i had a little bit of brown spotting. with this pregnancy, i haven't had any spotting so my doctor didn't have my levels drawn. my first appt. is tuesday, but i still won't get an u/s until probably 12 weeks or so. they can palpate your uterus at your 1st appt. and tell if you feel like you are as far along as you should be. if they have reasons to doubt anything, they will either do your levels or get you an u/s. good luck!!

izzybella · October 2008

My dr requires prelim bloodwork done before they'll even schedule my first appt. They draw all the blood needed for 1st tri work ups then too. Every dr is different.

alli&pat · October 2008

kikis7780:

My dr saw me at 4w3d for papsmear & bloodwork, and this is my 1st pregnancy and I'm not high risk. My dr is just very conservative and proactive about preventing a m/c.

I guess it just depends on the dr.

unless you are miscarrying because of low progestrone, it is impossible to prevent a m/c. this is a false statement and makes it seem that others m/c because their doc's don't care enough or because they did something wrong. to the op, your doc hasn't done your bloodwork because there is no real reason to.

i've only had betas this pg because of my past hx and ya know what...i kinda wish i didn't have them done! after my first 2 draws (at 4 wks) my doc told me my numbers sucked and i would m/c. well i scheduled a 3rd draw and my numbers were much better and now i'm having an u/s tomorrow. i really wish i had avoided that worry for no reason as i am still very much pregnant.

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