Slower rising HCG levels? Advice?

manders85-2 · November 2017

Hi All,

im in a bit of a nail biter situation. I just got my first EVER positive pregnancy test on 11/1. I was a few days late but not sure when i ovulated. It was my first month of acupuncture and Chinese herbs and bam- positive test which is exciting by itself since we've been TTC for 2 years and had three failed iuis.
Anyway, even though we conceived naturally, we are still being monitored by my RE for early pregnancy with beta quant hcg tests.

1st beta ~ 14 dpo = 32
2nd beta ~ 16 dpo= 58
3rd beta ~ 18 dpo = 83

So we're still in a weird zone. We're not fully hitting the 66-100% increase every 48 hours but we are improving. Does anyone have any similar stories or is this likely to end in miscarriage or ectopic? My acupuncturist said over 35% rise is still normal in 15% of pregnancies. Any insights?

Jyoung327 · November 2017

Ill give a disclaimer first that some pregnancies, even with low numbers or slow to rise numbers, can be fine, and you are different than me- BUT, Ill share my experience. several TWs ahead

My 2nd pregnancy ended in ectopic rupture and I lost a tube. I was having my HCG tested because my 1st pregnancy ended in a MMC. The numbers were something like 50, 150, 250, then 150 again, then 600. I had a transvaginal ultrasound with nothing found in my uterus so the dr decided to give me Methotrexate injections to dissolve the pregnancy. That didnt work, but thats unrelated to your question.

With my recent 4th pregnancy I had many quants done, and initially the numbers were in the range of 60% or more increase, and even surpassed them after a while, but from the beginning I had a bad feeling since they weren't "normal" and just slower to rise. That pregnancy ended in a miscarriage around 5-6 weeks, so it seemed all along it was not developing normally.

I hope for you that this isnt the case, but with both of my experiences with abnormally rising numbers, it didnt end well. I have read many stories online looking for comfort where people did say their pregnancies continued positively though. Fingers crossed for you.

manders85-2 · November 2017

Thank you for your response and your experience. I know this isn't looking good and it's helpful to hear about what happened for you. I'm sorrry about your MCs and especially for the ectopic rupture! How awful!

kiki75 · November 2017

I'm really sorry that you're in this place. Especially after IF. I hope that you become one of the good stories. For now, all you can do is to keep yourself occupied and to be kind to yourself while you wait for more definitive answers. I'll be thinking about you.

manders85-2 · November 2017

Update -- got my fourth beta back and it doesn't look good. It only went up to 91 from 83. Awful. We're not even over 100 yet. Guess this is going to end in a MC, hopefully not ectopic!

kbernal2021 · November 2017

Since I had a MC my last pregnancy Dr wanted to monitor my levels early on. First hcg was 102, 2 days later 232, a week later 1660, and the following week 9072. My levels started off doubling, and then slowed down to doubling every 2.5 days. Dr was concerned that my levels were low given how far along I was. My progesterone was also low so they started supplementing me. I've made it to 8 weeks and will have my first sono next Wednesday. Are you supplementing with progesterone or did your Dr mention if they took your levels?
Levels are so scary when you focus on the number. No yours are not rising according to schedule but my Dr stressed the importance of not getting hung up on the number and remembering rising can still be a positive sign. Are they planning to do an ultrasound? Praying for you through this and remember there are many success stories with slow rising hcg.

manders85-2 · November 2017

Hi there, thanks for the response, @kbernal2021and congrats on reaching the 8 week mark and your pregnancy!

I just had an ultrasound today since I should be at 5 weeks and 6 days and nothing was seen on the ultrasound. No sac in the uterus and nothing near the ovaries or tubes either. My doc doesn't think it's an ectopic so that was a relief but is still going to monitor me with serial hcgs.

We'll what happens as my progesterone is still high (after I stopped taking the suppositories 5 days ago) and my lining was really really thick in the ultrasound. No bleeding yet even though I stopped the prometrium.

kbernal2021 · November 2017

Will definitely be praying for you. What a relief that your Dr doesn't think it's an ectopic, and your progesterone looks great. Please update as your Dr monitors your hcg levels, I'm really praying rising levels for you

manders85-2 · November 2017

Thank you @kbernal2021
Unfortunately my levels rose a little bit on friday, only to 147. They now suspect an ectopic again, im going in for a MVA tomorrow unless by some miracle they see something on the ultrasound

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