Insight on my low HCG level and brown spotting

pookiesbabygirl · December 2011

So on Thanksgiving, the 24th, we confirmed my pregnancy with a quantitative HCG level of 77 then my fertility doctor had me recheck 48 hours later because they like to see that level double by then. When I had it rechecked on Saturday the 26th it was 155 so it was great and had doubled. This Thursday the 1st I started noticing light brown mucus which I know can be normal but then by the late afternoon it turned into a brownish red color. To be on the safe side my doctor's office had me recheck my HCG level again to make sure it was still rising but it had only gone up to 259.1 and they were expecting it to be around 800 by then. I was told that I was more than likely going to have a miscarriage and to expect a full flow of bleeding within 2 days.

Since Thursday I've had a routine of light brown mucus in the morning, rust colored by the afternoon and then a dark brown by nighttime. This morning though I woke up and it was dark brown still from last night and it's no longer a mucus it's more like spotting. I know I should only be concerned if it's bright red so I'm trying to take it easy and not get worked up about it. I'm continuing to take my bio-identical progesterone vaginal suppositories that are intended to help prevent miscarriage since I've had a previous one.

Does anyone have any insight on my HCG level not rising the way it should? I know that usually means that the embryo is not developing the way it should but I wasn't sure if something else to consider would be the fact that I had 3 follicles that could have possibly all been implanted at first and if one or two of them aren't surviving then is it possible that could be the reason my HCG still elevated but not at the rate they anticipated? And why I'm only having the dark brown blood and not red? I remember how it felt when I had my miscarriage before and I haven't had that intense cramping that preceeded the full flow so I'm confident that I'll not miscarry. Anyone carry full term with low HCG levels? Thanks!

GypsyEsq · December 2011

I'm surprised your doc didn't tell you to stop the progesterone if he thought you were miscarrying. Are you set up for addiitonal blood work? Unfortunately I can't tell you what's going on. With your numbers not increasing it could be an early loss, or a vanishing twin. There are certainly success stories out there and I hope you are one. I'd call the doc.

MAtoNC · December 2011

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I don't have a success story to share since I am in limbo, right now, myself. I have an ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow afternoon to see what, if anything, is in my uterus.

I just wanted to come on your thread and offer support. I will be thinking of you and your LO.

You may want to consider XPing this question on Success After Infertility--since most of the women who have successfully carried to term on that board will have been monitored for Hcg early in pregnancy.

pookiesbabygirl · December 2011

I left Thursday, the 26th, in the evening for a scheduled vacation to out of state until late this coming Monday night. My doctor's office just said to continue taking the progesterone, call if anything changes, go to an ER if I start having severe cramping on one side (ectopic) and when I'm back on Tuesday have my HCG level checked again. I'm hoping it's a vanishing twin and not a full miscarriage. My husband said he found some stories of people who had full term babies with chronically low HCG levels but all I could find were forums where people were sharing their same story and no feedback.

malderman1 · December 2011

We are in the same boat

my levels were doubling but this last beta only went from 1100 to 1800 so they aren't very optimistic. I went in for an ultrasound but of course since I'm so early they can't really see anything ... They started me on progesterone suppositories too ... I was wondering the same thing if the numbers are increasing just not doubling what does that mean? I'm a sobbing mess worrying about miscarriage, I don't have any spotting but it's so scary! Good luck to you

ChevTrucksr4Grls · December 2011

I would definitely follow your Re; however, my numbers did this with an ectopic that I had during IVF - but my numbers never actually made it over 200 - at all. I'm not trying to scare you anymore than you already are - and I do hope for you that that is not the case. *Stay strong*

mommy2be1991 · December 2011

When I found out I was pregnant, I had pretty bad cramping, low HCG levels and spotting. My numbers weren't doubling and I was told the same thing. Nothing happened. I was sent for an early u/s. Nothing in the sac, my numbers were still slowly rising, but not as fast as they should have been. Went for another u/s later, and there was a sac but no heartbeat yet, so I had to go back, and finally there was a hb. It was a horrible 3 months full of cramping, spotting and low HCG level, but it's all good now because I have a baby boy on the way

My doctor told me the pregnancy is most likely not viable, but there are exceptions, I guess my body didn't respond like it should. I have no idea, but things are fine now... and that's all that counts.

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