Would you do betas?

curlylocks3 · May 2012

If your doctor gave you the choice, would you do betas when you get your BFP?

I ran into my OB today and we were talking about my C/P last month and she mentioned this as an option for next time. She said its completely up to me and that it wouldn't really change the medical plan for me but that if I thought it would give me some peace of mind she was fine doing it. She did remind me that some people have great numbers and still go on to have a miscarriage and that others have numbers that don't look great but end up having a healthy pregnancy.

I'm kind of up in the air but wondered what other people would do and why.

Shayliz · May 2012

I don't have the option anymore, but when I did - I had them done. I wanted to know what the levels were, plus they tested progesterone.

curlylocks3 · May 2012

Did you have symptoms of low progesterone that they tested it or did they only do this after you started treatments? My OB also said she'd check my level next time. She did say it could be low because of an actual issue or that it could be low because it wasn't a viable pregnancy to start with. I forgot to ask, but would there be outward signs of low progesterone? I have a 14 day LP and don't have midcycle spotting, maybe just a day or so before my period starts.

holly321 · May 2012

I am not. I would have to leave work to get the blood drawn, at least twice. They would be instantly suspicious. And it doesn't change things, no need to give myself more stress. I do have to have an early u/s though.

kellyrn9956 · May 2012

Betas are the only thing that allowed me to prepare for my miscarriage. My first and second betas were great, but my third was borderline. My doctor let me know that everything could be fine, but it might not. I got a heartbeat at my first ultrasound, but we were still cautious, and RE told us to continue to possibly expect the worst. Lo and behold, no heartbeat at my next 7 week ultrasound.

Low-rising betas are also the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy, and if caught early enough, it can be treated with methotrexate rather than surgery.

In my experience, to see a heartbeat and then unexpectantly to lose it would have been much more devastating than being able to prepare based on my betas. By the time we lost the heartbeat, I had already had it in my mind that I was losing the baby, and was almost relieved to have the whole hellish situation over with.

To me, finding out with bloodwork results that something might be wrong was much less devastating than finding out while sitting in an ultrasound room. I will do betas again in a heartbeat.

daynakako · May 2012

I agree with Kelly. I would want to do betas to help prepare myself if something were going to go wrong. I will get betas with my next BFP because of my 2 chemical pregnancies.

Juicy71 · May 2012

I will definitely get betas so that no douchecanoe doctor can ever tell me I wasn't pregnant! The other reasons are good too :-)

monimu13 · May 2012

They arent giving me a choice with my next BFP because of a previous ectopic. I'm definitely glad that I did them back then, I think it saved me from having surgery, just got the methotrexate shot.

holly321 · May 2012

I should add, I didn't have betas, but my progesterone was checked and normal. so betas wouldnt have told me anything.

BankerBSN · May 2012

jessuhmarie:
Nope. I am a beta-hater :P I just don't need something else to obsess and worry over. I don't really see any benefit unless you have a history of ectopic pregnancies or need to check your progesterone.

I am with you Jess.

Shayliz · May 2012

curlylocks3:
Did you have symptoms of low progesterone that they tested it or did they only do this after you started treatments? My OB also said she'd check my level next time. She did say it could be low because of an actual issue or that it could be low because it wasn't a viable pregnancy to start with. I forgot to ask, but would there be outward signs of low progesterone? I have a 14 day LP and don't have midcycle spotting, maybe just a day or so before my period starts.

I did have symptoms of low p4 and my May pregnancy was before treatments. I mentioned them together because my RE always runs them together (at least for me - I went in for what I thought was just a beta but got beta and progesterone levels back). If you and your OB are curious, she could always do a 7dpo draw to check your levels.

I don't have the option now after my ectopic, betas every 48 hours until they hit a certain point and then early ultrasound(s) to confirm everything is in the right spot.

curlylocks3 · May 2012

I really appreciate everyone's feedback. Its all stuff for me to think about it and consider.

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