Higher HCG than normal?

Little+Tiny · March 2016

I just got a call from my doctor saying that my blood results are consistent with a healthy 6 week pregnancy. I'm only 5 weeks, 2 days. However, my father is a twin. Does that mean I could be carrying more than one in there or am I really just farther along than I thought? My last period was February 22 so I thought I would be 5weeks no matter what.

I have been suffering from morning sickness a little more than I should and doctor says I'm dehydrated even though I drink a lot of fluids. I'm very bloated, but I'm pretty sure it's just a bloat. Are there any early signs I could be carrying twins or more?

m6agua · March 2016

HCG numbers can vary widely. Have you had an ultrasound? If so I would go by that date. Also (fraternal) twins are only hereditary from the female side (ovulating more than once). So your dad being a twin has no bearing on you having twins. Everyone has the same chance of having identical twins. Everything you are experiencing is normal, I would think you have a singleton but I don't have ute goggles.

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt · March 2016

The normal range of hCG values is REALLY wide and there's considerable overlap between 5w2d and 6w. A single value of hCG is not considered valid for dating a pregnancy or indicating whether or not it is multiples because the range is so wide.

If your father is a fraternal twin, you may have a slightly higher change than others of having twins yourself since the tendency towards multiple ovulation can be inherited, but not if he is an identical twin.

Little+Tiny · March 2016

Haven't gotten an ultrasound yet. It isn't scheduled until the 12th.

dreamcatch-her · March 2016

If your father is a fraternal twin, you could have inherited the gene from your fathers mother. Either way hcg is only an indicator by doubling times, but even that isn't 100%. I've known people with ridiculously high hcg with only a singleton. Get an ultrasound.

hellopartyof5 · March 2016

Anything is possible! I think the most likely scenario is just that you ovulated early, but good luck at your ultrasound!

comealongponds · March 2016

From americanpregnancy.org HCG levels by week-

5 weeks LMP: 18 – 7,340 mIU/ml
6 weeks LMP: 1,080 – 56,500 mIU/ml

You can see the massive overlap from 5-6w. I'm pregnant with twins and my HCG at 5w5d was 27,334. However, twin pregnancies can have "normal" HCG levels, and singletons can have high levels. I had no idea there was two in there until my ultrasound!

Little+Tiny · March 2016

I just called my doctor back and got the specific number and it's 25,748.

comealongponds · March 2016

Little+Tiny said:

I just called my doctor back and got the specific number and it's 25,748.

So it's a bit high but as has been said, a single number doesn't really tell you much other than you're pregnant. An ultrasound is the only sure fire way to diagnose twins.

Little+Tiny · March 2016

Oh, I know. Just excited about my healthy numbers is all.

thatlauragirl · March 2016

Just wanted to add that your LMP date doesn't give a conclusive answer to when you conceived. You could've O'd early, not sure if you were charting. Congrats on the great numbers!

Little+Tiny · March 2016

Ohh so however weeks pregnant you are is how many weeks since ovulation and not your period? It's a guess as to when you conceived? That makes much more sense. I feel really dumb for not knowing.

rspalding001 · March 2016

@Little+Tiny no... so how ever many weeks pregnant you are is technically assumed to start 2 weeks before you ovulate. Most people do not track ovulation so it is generally assumed you ovulate around CD 14. However many people do not. If you are using your LMP and you have a typical 28 day cycle chances are you ovulate around CD 14 but its not 100%. Many women do not have regular cycles however and if they know their ovulation date will go off that instead. For example I have been know to ovulate on CD14, CD21 and any time in between. There for if I used my LMP but ovulated on CD 21 Id be a whole week behind at my dating ultrasound. Long story short you are considered 2 weeks pregnant already at the time of ovulation.

Little+Tiny · March 2016

Ahh well now I feel even dumber. Thank you for explaining that though. I wanted to ask my doctor about it, but I was a little embarrassed about not knowing.

MrsDramaK · March 2016

Agreed with what @rspalding001 said. If I went off my LMP, I'm 8 weeks + 3 days, since I know I didn't Ovulate until CD 31, I'm more like 6 weeks + 2 days, but if I hadn't known that it would have freaked me out when I got my blood work back last week and I was like 2 weeks behind where you should be in week 7. Since I knew I was more like 5 weeks I was pretty calm about it.

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt · March 2016

Little+Tiny said:

Ahh well now I feel even dumber. Thank you for explaining that though. I wanted to ask my doctor about it, but I was a little embarrassed about not knowing.

Absolutely don't feel embarrassed about asking. I'm a medical student and I can guarantee you even my classmates - future doctors - ask these questions because they've never learned it before. There's nothing wrong with asking and I'm positive your doctor would rather you ask than come away confused.

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