How long before your test lines got darker

drlnpaul · June 2012

I am officially a crazy person.

I tested three times in the last 24 hours and the lines are all light which is making me a little panicky. I need some reassurance that just because the lines in the first day are light does not mean they wont darken and this pregnancy wont stick. If I were being a logical person I would say I got my bfp on day 27 of my cycle and the hormones haven't had time to double in the last 24 hours.

But after our loss last month all logic has gone out the window and I can't talk myself into believing everything is ok. So if anyone has time to humor the crazy person I would appreciate it.

ajatmont13 · June 2012

I agree. Just give it some time. My lines started out light and got progressively darker using FMU over the next week. I took a test a few days ago (at 6w 5days) just to see what would happen and the test line was much darker than the control line.

jgadell · June 2012

I did the same thing. I got a positive test in the AM and ran out and bought more tests and took them right away and they said I was negative. Then I waited and took another one the following day in the AM and it was positive again. I think it all depends on when you take the test, this may be gross but your urine has to have time to sit and develop the pregnancy hormone to really show a true test with a darker line. Don't freak out. Just take it in the AM next time.

amandagen · June 2012

I took my first test at 12 dpo and the line was barely there. By 16 dpo (probably 2 days after my missed period) the line was noticeably darker. I took one just for fun on 20 dpo and the test line was darker than the control line.

I understand what you're going through, I had a chemical pg before this one too. I tried to remember that every day that went by that I was still getting a positive test meant that it was a really good chance this one was sticking. Give it a couple of days and I'll bet those lines will start getting darker!

LadyMadrid08 · June 2012

You POASed for the first time yesterday and have had 3 light lines?

I think you're good. My lines didn't really get much darker until about 3 days after I first POASed. GL!

Even now on the internet cheapies they are clearly visible, but no where near as dark as the control line. HTH

drlnpaul · June 2012

Thanks so much everyone. I am going to try and take deep breath and calm the heck down.

kelly321 · June 2012

I peed on a Wondfo every day for 13 days after my BFP. Here's the rundown:

9dpo: super-faint squinter line on Wondfo

10dpo: faint squinter line on Wondfo

11dpo: faint line on Wondfo, faint line on FRER, beta was 48

12dpo: faint line on Wondfo

13dpo: light line on Wondfo, beta was 150

14dpo: light line on Wondfo

15dpo: medium-light line on Wondfo

16dpo: medium line on Wondfo

17dpo: line on Wondfo getting close to darkness of control line (conservatively guesstimated hcg levels of 600)

18dpo: line on Wondfo as dark as control line (guesstimated hcg 900)

I'm crazy, I know, but after my loss in April I was also really paranoid about a chemical pregnancy (still am). I hope that at least my craziness can reassure you that it's fine if it takes a while for the line to get darker.

IncogNeato · June 2012

I got a faint BFP a few days before my period, tested again maybe three days later and it was a bit darker, then a full week after the first test it was dark. I highly doubt it would get noticeably darker over 24 hours especially because FMU is most concentrated. All of my tests were FMU. And yes, I'm crazy for taking 3, too, but I had no symptoms at all and figured I might as well use up the tests I have.

Strawberry9 · June 2012

I'm glad you posted this! I got my first faint positive at 11dpo and today at 12 dpo it didn't seem any darker. Im still afraid to use the digital! Maybe I will tomorrow.

buckeyebaby814 · June 2012

Mine are getting darker every couple of days. I have tested every day for a week now Embarrassed

mostly because I'm terrified of another loss. If you caught your pregnancy right away, it's going to take some time to get darker. HTH Smile

Fairy kisses · June 2012

I wouldnt think the line would get much darker during the day. You should keep testing in the mornings or wait a few days to test again to get the darker line.

I took a first responsive test 2 days before my period and got a noticeably faint line. The next 2 days I took cheapie dollar store tests and the line got a little darker. Then the day after my period was suppose to start I took another first response test and the positive line showed up before the result line and was a lot darker. I also took 2 digi tests during that time frame as well, heck I had the tests why not use them. I did stop testing after I got the darker line, that dark line settled my worries.

Shaungela · June 2012

If they arent getting darker as the day goes on, wait a day or two and test again.

JenScott-4-09 · June 2012

Just to humor myself, I took an HPT at 16 dpo when I knew that my beta was 686 and it was only a tiny bit darker than at 12dpo when my beta was 102. I was very surprised that it wasn't so dark! I think sometimes it is just the test itself that some of them just don't get very dark lines. A line is a line! Hope that makes you feel better!

jodyrm · June 2012

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but here is a picture of all the tests I've been taking. If you look at 9dpo vs 13dpo there is an obvious change, but from day to day the change is hardly noticeable.

drlnpaul · June 2012

Thanks so much for making me feel better and taking the time to give your experiences. It means a lot to me. Congratulations to all of you!!!!!

tiffanyp · June 2012

Try to test only with FMU. You really can't compare an early afternoon test with a morning test because your urine will be diluted.

eatdrinkstretch · June 2012

Agree with PP that you should only use FMU for comparison.

I was in the exact same position as you, and am now 7w1d, so just take a deep breath and test again tomorrow. )

10 DPO - super light Wondfo, barely there FRER (beta = 7)

11-13 DPO - slowly darkening Wondfos (each day was darker than the last)

14 DPO - *finally* got a + on a digi. FRER was obviously positive.

16 DPO - FRER test line was just as dark as the control (beta = 367)

20 DPO - FRER test line was obviously darker than the control

GOOD LUCK!!!

gsalyer06 · June 2012

My lines never did get dark. I started getting squinter lines on a Thursday, and by Sunday, they were still barely visible. Granted, I had to switch from Wondfo to Dollar Store tests, but still...

Andplusalso, my beta that Monday was 124. I'm still mad that my line the day before was so faint. Thank goodness I used a digital, too, or I would have thought I wasn't pregnant.

I'm tempted to buy another Dollar Store test this weekend to see if the line is dark. Stick out tongue

JaiteJanerico · June 2012

I took my first FRER six days before my missed period. A faint second line showed up, which I had never gotten on any previous test. So naturally I took to the internet and pretty much everyone said a line is a line regardless of it's intensity. My next text was two days later and still had faint. The next day (two days before my period was due) it took my third FRER and got a darker line almost immediately. The last test I took was on the day my period was due and I got another dark line. My DH has banned me from taking anymore...he said if I got "double lines on four tests and missed my period then he's pretty sure I am pregnant". Give it a few days then retest first thing in the morning. Positive thoughts are coming your way.

Strawberry9 · June 2012

ByeByeBooze:
Strawberry9:
I'm glad you posted this! I got my first faint positive at 11dpo and today at 12 dpo it didn't seem any darker. Im still afraid to use the digital! Maybe I will tomorrow.
I'd wait on the digital for a few days. They aren't as sensitive and you don't want to freak yourself out for no reason. It should show up positive around your missed period.

Thanks for the advice, I'll hold off so I don't get upset!

rxredhead · June 2012

I have no idea how many DPO I am, but my test line still isn't darker than the control (FRER) and its been a week and a half since my BFP. It's still almost as dark as the control and shows up before the control line easily, so I try not to worry, but I can't help feeling a bit panicky. Especially since I told my mom and now I'm terrified I'll have to give her bad news

roundtheworldgirl · June 2012

I have eight positive peesticks to show for this pregnancy (the first three were BFNs). The eight peesticks were peed on over a period of five days. The first seven are all very light. The eighth, which was peed on two days after the seventh, is considerably darker. So it can take awhile for them to darken. Also, there is the camp that says it doesn't matter how dark it is because pee sticks contain varying amounts of dye. I think that is probably true, though my lines have always gotten darker as time has gone on (though not necessarily in 24 hours). Hang in there!

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