Most important rule of thumb: Worry when your doctor tells you to.

Hi all. So I had a previous loss at 14 weeks 💔 and we’ve been trying to get pregnant again for almost 2 years and finally got pregnant. My doctor wanted me to get my Hcg levels tested every three days and then schedule an ultrasound when I reached 3,000. The numbers went from 78 to 515 and then to 3417. I just had my first ultrasound at 5weeks 6 days and the tech seemed happy with what she saw except the heart beat was 97. She wasn’t overly concerned and said it’s probably because it’s so early but my doctor just called and said it increases the risk of miscarriage to 15-20% and he wants me to start on progesterone for the next month and go back next week for another ultrasound. I’m absolutely devastated but trying to be optimistic. I am praying this pregnant won’t end like my last did. Did anyone else experience something similar?

After 8 months of stark white negatives, I finally got pregnant. This was on my second IUI. It was 12 DPO.

I kept testing every day and enjoyed seeing the line get darker. I had betas drawn as is protocol for IUI treatment, but it took awhile to get the results back, so I kept testing. Part of why I kept testing was because I was chronically on Reddit about TTC, I saw stories of chemical pregnancies. I never would have known about them or thought to keep testing otherwise.

My betas from 15 and 17 DPO came back with perfectly doubled numbers. But on 18 DPO, before I had the labs back, I noticed a lighter line on my test. I am careful about holds and not drinking too much water, but I tested later that day and the next day and noticed the same thing. I scoured for stories of this happening and things turning out ok, and while I found plenty of people saying “stop testing! You’re pregnant!”, I couldn’t actually find any stories where people saw lighter lines and ended up with a successful pregnancy. By this time my results came back and I saw the nice numbers, but I asked my clinic to test me again and sure enough my HCG had gone from 215 to 61 in three days.

Since I was taking progesterone, I wouldn’t have bled for awhile (still haven’t). Had I not kept testing, I may not have known about the loss for awhile, which would have been even more devastating. After all, the betas said things were progressing nicely!

So, how else are people supposed to know about loss if not for continuing to test?? Why do they say that it doesn’t mean anything?? Is it because the average person doesn’t know how to balance their hydration or understand when to start looking for the hook effect?

Hello, I am 5w2d according to my LMP and I had my HCG drawn today and it’s 3446. I will get it redone in 2 days. I’ve struggled with miscarriages in my past however this is my first time testing HCG levels. I googled and it seems to be within what they say is “normal” however it still seems low compared to other people’s healthy pregnancies that I see. Does anyone have their results around the same time to compare it to? I’m trying not to worry.

Hi friends. Looking for reassurance I’m not crazy, I guess? I had a chemical pregnancy last month and tested positive again on July 8th. The line was super faint, but I was monitoring progression and it seemed to be getting darker appropriately. On Friday, July 17, I noticed the test seemed lighter on multiple brands (Pregmate and first response). Since I had a chemical before, I asked my doctor if I could get hcg levels tested. Well, at 5 weeks 2 days, my first beta came back at 109. I already knew this was super low, so I thought okay, we’ll see if it’s going down further and I’m going to miscarry or if it might go up a bit and flag for an ectopic.

On Monday, July 20, my level was 473. My obgyn messaged me and said my levels went up appropriately. I responded and said they seemed very low for 5 weeks 5 days and that I was concerned about viability/possible ectopic, and he just said I could test again today if I like. Today, July 22, my level is 827 at 6 weeks.

I’ve scoured the internet and everything is saying this is below normal. I messaged my doctor again and said I was still concerned and asked if this warrants continued monitoring and if I could ask for an early ultrasound to rule out an ectopic.

Does this sound reasonable? I haven’t had any bleeding or spotting at all. I’m waiting for doctor’s response but I just feel like something is wrong and don’t want to waste any time if this isn’t viable.

I’m already pregnant with multiple positive hCG blood tests and an intrauterine gestational sac seen on an abdominal ultrasound. I’m looking for thoughts on pregnancy dating.

Based on LH strips and my symptoms, I believe I ovulated on June 26 or June 27. I have PCOS and typically do not ovulate around cycle day 14, it’s usually about a week or so later. Why were my hCG results 10500 on Monday if I was only 5 weeks? The chart that came with the results says 5 weeks should be between 217 - 7138.

The tech who did the ultrasound (private location) told me the sac is in the right place but it’s empty bc it’s too early. Helpppp. Im not scheduled for a transvaginal ultrasound with my doctor until mid august.

We were ttc and I was on letrozole bc of ovulation problems my period started on June 17 and I tested positive for pregnancy on July 17 with a clear blue digital tests all other tests have been faint line since! My hcg tested on 17th July came back to be only 14 but doc said its fine could be early pregnancy or later implantation but it should double I then tested again on 20th july and it was only 21 then I started having brown spotting very less and today it was a whole splotch of black blood on my liner and I saw more than few brown blood drops dropping in the toilet and I saw a weird clot type brown tissue in the toilet too have had cramps since a week it was mostly on one side before and I was so scared it could be ectopic but then the cramping became more period like in the middle I’m so so worried now I really want this baby any advice

I'm 4w1d and I just got my results from my second beta and I'm devastated.

13 dpo - 104.5

15 dpo - 153.69

That's a 47.1% rise, and 53% is the minimum for a viable pregnancy. Blood draws were exactly 48 hours apart, so it's not that.

Am I fucked? This will be my third loss and no living children. I can't believe it.

Have been having a hell of a time keeping food down this week. Diclegis is doing very little other than making me super sleepy after my morning dose. Being released from my RE on friday (hopefully), he offered zofran but warned there is a risk of defects taking it in the first trimester. I am having a hard time being okay with the risk, any words of wisdom or personal anecdotes ?

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So I was concerned about the cooking wine in my previous posts. I'm going to sound like an idiot with this one....but basically I didnt know there was alcohol let alone 35% alcohol in vanilla extract. I used it to make vanilla sweet cream cold foam in a couple of my coffees throughout pregnancy. Not daily or anything but I never measured it, just eyeballed it until it sweetened the heavy cream to put in my coffee. One time i used almond extract which didnt have much of a flavor so I added until I could taste it and when it tasted too strong I drank a bit of the coffee, didnt like it and didn't finish it. That being said, with this and the cooking wine used in meals, I feel nervous about how the alcohol could have effected my baby. Not a drug user or drinker, just stupid apparently when it comes to cooking ingredients 🫤. I have developed perinatal OCD which is causing me to worry alot about not only babys health but if these instances with alcohol in cooking ingredients could show in babys meconium and umbillical chord and then I'll have my baby taken away from me and arrested or something. Worst case scenarios going through my head. I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant, just having a hard time with my brain lately...

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an update since some more things have happened since my original post 11 days ago (old post title was “So confused, and so tired”). I want you all to know I’m not hopeful for this being viable, I’ve just never seen levels like this on other posts and wanted to share.

In the 11 days since my original post, I’ve had 2 ultrasounds and more blood draws.

My HCG levels have been the following:
7/9 - 2,480
7/13 - 2,368
7/15 - 2,407
7/22 - 2,373

Ultrasounds have shown the following:
7/15 - measured 5wks, 6d. showed normal gestational sac, a yolk sac, and an embryo. Heart rate of 94bpm.

7/22- measured 6wks, 5d. Showed normal gestational sac, yolk sac, and embryo. Heart rate of 101bpm.

No ectopic at all, checked 3x total to be safe.

Like I said, not expecting a viable pregnancy. Just wanted to share again since my last post since all of this has been very strange. Still just happy I can get pregnant in the first place!

What I’m wondering is- Has anyone else seen a stagnant HCG level while the embryo still grows? If so, what happened/when did the body start to miscarry? Never heard of HCG not moving for 2 weeks without a miscarriage happening within that time.

hey ladies! i have just gotten a preventive cervical cerclage on the 14th july at (13+4) and i'm writing this on the 22nd july (14+5), stayed in the hospital (compulsory) of 3 days & discharged with medication & a bedrest of 2 weeks, i have an appointment up coming on the 31st july.

backstory, this is my third pregnancy.

the first pregnancy was in 2023, where i spontaneously gave birth to my baby girl at 22 weeks which did not hit viability hence we had to let her go ..

second pregnancy, we did seek opinions (14 weeks) on if we needed a preventive cerclage or just something to prevent from premature birth, however the birth of my first pregnancy didn't support the idea for the doctors enough for me needing a cerclage as they did not take it as cervical incompetency hence they were afraid by putting on might cause unnecessary complications. i started funnelling at week 19 of the pregnancy, ended up going for an emergency cerclage, woke up the next day and had a pprom (rapture of the waterbag), ended up staying in the hospital for 12 days, thank god there were no infections so was eventually sent home still with the cerclage on, had spontaneous labour at 24+2 weeks, gave birth via a classical csec on the 20th june 2025, baby was in the nicu for 163 days, she's well and healthy now, she came home with nothing & was fully bottle fed (breastfed too)

third pregnancy was a surprise, found out on the 18th may 2026, was scheduled to do a preventative cervical cerclage this time round (did it on the 14th july). the goal is to keep it till i'm about 36-37 weeks (nothing further as i had a classical csec not long ago, i couldn't have a spontaneous labour or any contraction at all as it would harm me) i'm currently 14+5 today 🙏🏻🙏🏻

now my question is, do you ladies experience itchiness at the vulva area? more like the flaps/outer layer of the vagina, nothing inside (ofc i can feel the stitch) i've started getting these itching yesterday 21st july, i've wore pads since the cerclage and only stopped wearing them when i had the itch. i've experienced itching & some whiteish cream like discharge however there's no smell

i'm super paranoid ... super anxious, little things scares me, like for example if i do feel dull like cramps, i would immediately think that something is wrong ... but i choose to trust the stitch, hoping or a successful full term pregnancy

if you've gone through a similar experience, do let me know i would love to walk through your experience.

Hi!!

I had a bbt rise on July 4, and it has stayed high since. Thinking I ovulated July 2-3.

I tested positive with a vvvvvvvfl the night of July 15. I had a darker line the morning of July 17. My betas on July 18 was 47. My betas about 46 hours later was 104.

I just got another beta today (48 hours later) and waiting for results. My doctor didn’t seem too concerned because it is doubling but she was concerned how low it was. I’m crashing out. Any advice?

Hi - my HCG test had a slow rise (no doubling, last test was low 100s) and my pregnancy tests have stalled for \~4-5 days now. While no one can predict the future, I know what this all likely means. My doctor’s appointment isn’t until late August. Im now 4w3d and each day, I’m hoping for a lighter test but keep being disappointed.

Should I expect this to go on for weeks, just waiting for bleeding? Should I call my doctor to see if they can get me in earlier? Does testing give me any more insight at this point? I work in an office so I was hoping if I saw a drop, I’d ask to Work from home for a few days but could it start at any point?

My cramping isn’t extremely painful or even as bad as period cramps but I can’t help worrying! And it seems to start whenever I get overly anxious or stressed. Any similar experiences?

Hey all, I had a chemical pregnancy last cycle that ended at 17 DPO. I m now pregnant again-made it to 20 DPO so far or (4weeks+5).
I have been using my Oura ring to track my BBT every morning and have noticed my temperature start to drop a bit. Not below base line but still.
This is making me nervous. Should I be?

Sunday: 97.72
Monday: 97.65
Tuesday: 97.59
Wednesday: 97.36

I wonder if anyone else shares this view! 12 weeks into my first pregnancy, after IVF.

First it was infertility, then waiting for egg retrieval, then fertilisation, then blasts, then euploids. At that stage it felt like an elusive positive test was the goal!

But then the at home tests had faint lines that didn’t show confident progression.

Then the hCG was positive, but on the lower side.

Then the gestational sac was small.

Then morning (aka all day) sickness took over.

Then bleeding started due to SCH.

And each time the prior issue seemed to settle when the new issue arose !

And while things are this point are okay (fingers crossed!) I can’t help but think about how it’s like the “monster of the week” episodes of the X-Files where Scully and Mulder have to defeat that week’s random monster and then next week so it all over again with an different monster 😂

Like omg can this melodrama calm down please.

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for 8 months. We got pregnant in May but it ended up being at chemical, same thing happened in June. I’m so scared to try again and get our hearts broken again :( can you please share some successful stories where you had multiple chemicals and went on to have a LC? Next cycle i’m trying progesterone, currently taking this month as a break, my body has been through a lot also we don’t want to try again until we get the progesterone even though we are aware that it could not save us from having another chemical but we just want to cover our bases. Did any of you try progesterone after multiple chemicals? Did it help? They are also testing for a clotting problem so we’ll see!

My OB routinely gives steroid injections around 28 weeks to all her patients, not because I’m in preterm labor or because of my cervical length. She explained the benefits, but I’m still not comfortable with the idea.

I’m curious if this is common practice where you live.

Were you offered steroid injections routinely at 28 weeks, or were they only recommended because you were at high risk of delivering early?

If you were offered them routinely, did you take them or decline them? I’d love to hear your experience and what your doctor told you.

Just looking for other parents’ experiences, not medical advice.

I’m currently 8w3d and my anxiety is through the roof (after 2 years of infertility and a MC).

I’ve had a couple of reassuring ultrasounds with a strong heartbeat, but the last 2-3 days my pregnancy symptoms have almost completely disappeared.

Today I’ve had:
- No nausea at all (usually I’ve had at least some on and off)
- Only very mild breast tenderness
- Slightly enlarged areolas
- A fair amount of light yellow discharge this afternoon

The discharge is light yellow, a bit mucus-like, has a slightly sour smell, but no itching, burning, or irritation, and there’s no pink, brown, or red blood.

I know symptoms can fluctuate, but I can’t stop worrying about a missed miscarriage. Has anyone around 9 weeks experienced their symptoms fading for a day or two, along with yellow discharge, and everything turned out okay?

I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences because I’m finding it difficult not to assume the worst.
Thank you ❤️

Hi! I tested positive 7dpo and today (10dpo) got my BFP! I’ve had 2 early losses (1 chemical and 1 miscarriage at 7w1d) this year. My period would be coming this Friday and I never experience an early period or spotting before. Because of my 2 losses my doctor had me get HCG tested and my results from yesterday came back at 47!!

You can imagine my concern and surprise when I saw a bit of blood when I wiped just now. It was dark brown / pink / a little dark red mixed with maybe mucus? I’m paranoid now, has anyone experienced this? I’m feeling no cramping at all, which in my 2 losses were the first things I noticed!

I’m just super anxious because of my first 2 losses!!
Pls help calm my nerves!

Has anyone ever had their HCG test state “ran on dilution?” My most recent HCG blood test states this, with the value being 1802. Would this mean it could possibly be higher?

Weirdly, with my first pregnancy with my son I was already at 6k and there was no entry of dilution (Same lab, same testing method) Unsure why it would “max” out at a lower # this time.

It won’t let me add an image here, but this is the only HCG draw i’ve had that states this.

My prev. values would make this recent draw a 78-82 hour doubling time- which from what I read is in range as HCG slows to 72-96 hours once it hits 1200?

I found out I am pregnant on the 10th but I haven't had a period since I went off birth control, so my Dr. had me go in for blood work and scheduled an ultrasound to try to figure out how far along I am.

7/14 - HCG 3309, progesterone 5.92

7/17 - HCG 4958

7/20 - HCG 7076

After my last blood draw the on call Dr. left me a less than pleasant voicemail saying they were highly suspicious based on my numbers not doubling every 48 hours that I was either having a miscarriage or have an ectopic pregnancy.

They got me in for an ultrasound yesterday and amazingly enough, there was a heartbeat, and the baby is in my uterus. However the gestational sac was only measuring 6w6d and the baby is measuring 7w5d.

My doctor sat me and husband down and basically nicely told us to be prepared for the worst. She said my numbers are way too low and not going up like they should be. She said it looked like my uterine lining was thinning in spots and she could see blood pooling. She said it seemed like my body knows something I don't and that I might end up having a miscarriage.

Has anyone had anything like this happen and went on to have a normal healthy pregnancy? I have had one missed miscarriage before back in 2012 and two healthy pregnancies since. I am trying to be optimistic but in light of all the red flags she brought up it's very scary. All we can do now is wait. I go back for another ultrasound in two weeks.