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1st Trimester
Faint Lines and Low Levels
I took a ton of tests. And all keep giving me a faint second line. I know I am pregnant because a line is a line (and I'm super regular & no AF or AF symptoms). But I've read several posts about women whose levels of Hcg & others are not increasing, and u/s shows earlier dev't than suppose to be.
Im scared. I know your Hcg levels increase (i.e. darker lines) as you progress in pregnancy. Am I just too early? or is it the ICs?
Similar experiences?
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Re: Faint Lines and Low Levels
You cannot get worked up about the darkness of a line. Your urine concentration, time of day, batch of HPTs, etc. all determine the color of a line. You will drive yourself insane... and for nothing!
The only definitive way to know if your HCG is doubling properly is to have a beta panel run (several blood tests at 48 hour intervals). Most doctors won't do this routinely.
Put the pee sticks away. They seriously will not do you any good because they can't give you any information one way or another.
IMO, you could be too early. This is my first, so I could be way off though.
When I tested too early first there was barely a line.
I tested again, maybe 1-2 days later, and got a line- this time a little darker, but still pretty damn faint. Enough for me to think...yup...I think I am, though.
I then waited another day (at this point it was probably 16-18 dpo, b/c i am typically irregular) and took a digital and it said pregnant. Wait another few days maybe.
I agree with PP - STOP TESTING!!
Relax. Enjoy being pregnant until you have a real reason to be worried.
Yes, theoretically lines will get darker the more hCG you have in your system BUT it's not fool proof - the amount of dye can vary, your urine might be more diluted sometimes, etc.
That said, at just barly 4 weeks, your hCG is of course going to be lower - you're just starting out! And it takes 2 - 3 days to double. So lets say you start at 10 and get a super light line. You'll be at 20 potentially 3 days later which might be a little darker but not all that dark. That's 2 - 3 days of light lines.
Stop POAS!!
Andalsotoo - ICs suck.
I have to agree... Don't get too worried. This just happened to me too, I tested first at 12 DPO and stared at that stick like a crazy woman bc I was certain there was a faint line. (DH thought I was hallucinating
) I tested again at 13 and 14 DPO and it was a little darker everyday.
This morning I tested, and that little line is just as dark as his friend to the right! (16 DPO)
Just keep checking, but I would advise that if tomorrow is the same level of 'faintness', consider waiting until maybe Monday morning if you really want to see a difference.
Congrats
I say get a digital and make your ob apt.
a line is a line. so just relax
Mine isnt getting darker. It did get darker initially but its been a week, I think it is as dark as it will get. It def shows up instantly though.
I'm also testing daily because I had a second miscarriage in Sept, and my line started getting lighter. And I miscarried by the end of the week. So I'm a nervous wreck.
Good luck!
This was similar to my miscarriage experience in September. I had a few different kinds of tests and I tested daily for like a week straight. The lines got darker at first and then started appearing faint again. I thought it had something to do with taking all sorts of different tests so it wasn't an accurate comparison, being different times in the day, etc. However, spotting began, I had betas done and my levels decreased. I began to miscarry. I don't mean this to scare you, but to be honest.
The only way to know that your pregnancy is progressing at this point is through blood work to ensure your levels are increasing properly. In the mean time, STOP peeing on things. It will only cause you unnecessary stress and really isn't an accurate way to diagnose a problem. Good luck!