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May 2017 Moms
kat81
member
preliminary update, good news: I'm probably NOT out
kat81
member
I'm not sure I need a trigger warning because I'm discussing loss symptoms, except that I don't appear to have a loss myself.
tldr: I just had an ultrasound and there was a baby with a heartbeat. Hallelujah! But I don't feel "in the clear" so to speak for a few reasons. Feel free to read the whole story.
I posted on Sunday or Monday about being convinced I was having a miscarriage. I had substantial (but not "soaking through") bleeding and very suspicious abdominal cramps / feelings. My symptoms also felt like they disappeared from Sunday until today. I have been pregnant twice before and for the last few days it has definitely felt "off" and different from my other pregnancies. I got my blood drawn Monday at the place I chose to care for me if I were to have a healthy pregnancy, but that hadn't yet seen or met me.
I got the blood test result yesterday while I was at work, and they said the HCG level was 15,000, which was in range for my LMP-based EDD (I was 6weeks, 4 days at the time.) I actually didn't find the result particularly comforting (and neither did they), because the acceptable ranges are so large and I had JUST started the miscarriage symptoms. The HCG could have started dropping Sunday. But they said I could bypass doing another blood draw and just go straight to an ultrasound, which should show some information (e.g. heartbeat) at this stage of the pregnancy and given those HCG levels. Given that I hadn't bled since Sunday night I did feel urgency to "know" the answer because I was starting to have more hope for the pregnancy, in spite of the lack of symptoms and other weird feelings in my abdomen. So I went the ultrasound route.
The tech doing my ultrasound had the worst bedside manner! I told her that this was a possible miscarriage so she knew what to expect. But she kept looking and clicking and whatnot and didn't say anything about what she was seeing (or not) until she finally matter-of-factly said that I was 5-6 weeks along and moved the screen to show me the embryo. I was like, "so, I miscarried, because I'm supposed to be closer to 7 weeks?" And she was like, "no, there's a heartbeat," (also matter-of-factly.) wth? Why didn't you lead with the heartbeat information?! But yeah, she did estimate the progress at less than what was expected by my LMP. I think that's ok, though, because I wasn't tracking ovulation this time so I definitely could have ovulated late. I didn't test early, not until 1 day after my period was expected, so that easily could have been, like, 10 DPO without me realizing; it was pretty faint. Also, the heartbeat is on the slow side: 113, when the range is supposed to be 90-170. But she said they're usually a bit slow early on, and I figure if it's in range it's ok.
There's still no explanation for the bleeding and strange abdominal feelings and symptoms disappearing temporarily (I did feel a bit of nausea today, though). But I'm shocked and happy to report I AM still pregnant! I still can't believe it. I also feel like a wuss and a drama queen when there are women who are experiencing actual loss. I have a newfound appreciation for what women go through during a miscarriage and my heart reaches out to all of you who have ever had that experience.
Also I wanted to be sure to add -- you ladies are the bomb. It was a huge help getting so much support and even information on my previous post. Happy to be doing this thing with you and I hope there are no more losses!
tldr: I just had an ultrasound and there was a baby with a heartbeat. Hallelujah! But I don't feel "in the clear" so to speak for a few reasons. Feel free to read the whole story.
I posted on Sunday or Monday about being convinced I was having a miscarriage. I had substantial (but not "soaking through") bleeding and very suspicious abdominal cramps / feelings. My symptoms also felt like they disappeared from Sunday until today. I have been pregnant twice before and for the last few days it has definitely felt "off" and different from my other pregnancies. I got my blood drawn Monday at the place I chose to care for me if I were to have a healthy pregnancy, but that hadn't yet seen or met me.
I got the blood test result yesterday while I was at work, and they said the HCG level was 15,000, which was in range for my LMP-based EDD (I was 6weeks, 4 days at the time.) I actually didn't find the result particularly comforting (and neither did they), because the acceptable ranges are so large and I had JUST started the miscarriage symptoms. The HCG could have started dropping Sunday. But they said I could bypass doing another blood draw and just go straight to an ultrasound, which should show some information (e.g. heartbeat) at this stage of the pregnancy and given those HCG levels. Given that I hadn't bled since Sunday night I did feel urgency to "know" the answer because I was starting to have more hope for the pregnancy, in spite of the lack of symptoms and other weird feelings in my abdomen. So I went the ultrasound route.
The tech doing my ultrasound had the worst bedside manner! I told her that this was a possible miscarriage so she knew what to expect. But she kept looking and clicking and whatnot and didn't say anything about what she was seeing (or not) until she finally matter-of-factly said that I was 5-6 weeks along and moved the screen to show me the embryo. I was like, "so, I miscarried, because I'm supposed to be closer to 7 weeks?" And she was like, "no, there's a heartbeat," (also matter-of-factly.) wth? Why didn't you lead with the heartbeat information?! But yeah, she did estimate the progress at less than what was expected by my LMP. I think that's ok, though, because I wasn't tracking ovulation this time so I definitely could have ovulated late. I didn't test early, not until 1 day after my period was expected, so that easily could have been, like, 10 DPO without me realizing; it was pretty faint. Also, the heartbeat is on the slow side: 113, when the range is supposed to be 90-170. But she said they're usually a bit slow early on, and I figure if it's in range it's ok.
There's still no explanation for the bleeding and strange abdominal feelings and symptoms disappearing temporarily (I did feel a bit of nausea today, though). But I'm shocked and happy to report I AM still pregnant! I still can't believe it. I also feel like a wuss and a drama queen when there are women who are experiencing actual loss. I have a newfound appreciation for what women go through during a miscarriage and my heart reaches out to all of you who have ever had that experience.
Also I wanted to be sure to add -- you ladies are the bomb. It was a huge help getting so much support and even information on my previous post. Happy to be doing this thing with you and I hope there are no more losses!
Re: preliminary update, good news: I'm probably NOT out
I am so happy to read your positive update!
DS born 8.11.14
BFP #2: 9.14.16, EDD: 5.24.17
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
@vrj0522 I'll get a call from the midwife tonight and see if they want me to do another blood draw or whatever else.
DS2 5/17
#3 Due 9/20
Me: 36 DH:35
Married: 7/10/2016
TTC#1 - May 2016
BFP 9/6/2016 - Missed MC 10/20/2016
BFP 5/5/2017 - CP
IVF #1 - June 2017 - Transferred 1 fresh 4 AA embryo. 7/9 Beta #1 - 161
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DD: 6
DS: 2