Is there still hope?

[peonies10]

I am 5 weeks 1 day pregnant after an IVF cycle. Two days ago I started bleeding for a few hours and it stopped. I went in for a beta and my level was 1,368 (yesterday). They had me come in today for an ultrasound. They were only able to see a possible 3mm gestational sac. When I met with the nurse after she told me it should be larger at this point, but it is too soon to say. Of course I was pulling at straws asking if it's possible the embryo implanted late and if there is still hope. She didn't sound very promising. I go back in Monday for another ultrasound (at which point I will be 5 weeks 5 days). Is there still hope that this could be a viable pregnancy?

[riogirl71]

I think there is. You are early and people have told me you can't know for sure the implantation date. I went in for my US today at 5w4d and was crying because I didn't see a yolk sac or anything but a gestational sac. But then I read that it might be too early to see those anyway. I can't tell you not to worry because I am worried to no end until my next US and it is not realistic to not worry. It is too early to tell anything definite and yes, I think there is still hope that your bean will be fine.

[babydreamz]

I agree with Rio, dont be disheartening, there def. is hope. As you know implantation cannot be predicted.
Relax, be happy you have excellent Beta # and sac, rest will follow. I know Monday may seem eons away...but all will be well.
Sticky vibes to you!!!

[peonies10]

Thanks for your replies ladies! I'm wishing you the best luck as well Rio!

[riogirl71]

Make sure to update us on your US! Best of luck and super healthy baby prayers!

[patatina]

You ladies hang in there. No one can know which way your pregnancies are going, but I firmly believe you won't hurt yourself more by keeping your hopes up, no matter what the outcome. So please allow me to give you some hope.

In July on my first IVF, I had low betas that did not double every 48 hours (86 @ 10dp5dt and I can't remember the others). The clinic was already a little gloomy about the betas, and they insisted we have our ultrasound at 6w2d even though we wanted to wait. Well, it showed an empty sac, measuring large. The RE told us it was "very likely a blighted ovum, keep up the shots and the dots but don't raise your hopes, get ready to bleed, and see you next week to make absolutely sure before we do anything." Well, at 7w2d the same ultrasound tech saw everything, measuring 3 days behind but with a yolk sac and speedy little heartbeat. "Oh, we have a late implanter," says the RE--no embarrassment about having devastated us, and we got stuck with the bill for the extra ultrasound since they make you have two "good ones" before they release you. Our OB hinted that fertility clinics like to do useless early ultrasounds, because they get to charge a lot and usually charge for them individually. In any future IVF pregnancy I think I'm going to get my betas elsewhere and wait for an 8-week ultrasound like everybody else.

My husband and I are now 22 weeks into a flawless pregnancy. She's a perfectly-formed little girl measuring just 2 days behind her dates and kicking my innards 100 times a day. Nothing wrong with her at all. I no longer feel worried in the slightest, and I mean that. Keep your hopes up, ladies.

[riogirl71]

Wow patatina - thank you for sharing your story, what an amazing story of a turn around for the very best! I am so happy for you and DH that you have a perfect little girl! Congratulations and thank you for making me feel much better!

[karenvancouverisland]

yes and i bled from week 9-13 when pregnant with my son... it was so stressful.. but he was born safe and sound, and , if i daresay, is cute as a button now

[peonies10]

Patina and karenvancouverisland thank you so much for your positive stories. They really do make me feel better. Part of me does not know what to feel anymore. It's been up and down and after so much of that I guess I just kind of feel numb. There is also a part of me that for some reason just feels when I go back Monday things are going to look much better. I have had a previous ectopic so they are concerned with ruling that out first. I will keep you updated. You do the same rio!
Thanks!

[patatina]

A previous ectopic makes your early ultrasounds clinically necessary, then. But I'm sorry you have to go through this agonizing wait. You really have every reason to be optimistic! Your betas are far better than mine, you've only had a little normal bleeding, and for us it was 7w2d before we saw anything at all in the sac. I hope you don't have to wait that long, but if you do and the sac keeps growing in the meantime, try to stay positive and enjoy feeling pregnant (I know how hard that is, though). I indulged my dread too much during that horrible wait, but this pregnancy turned me and my husband into optimists. Why not be optimistic, as long as you stay grounded in reality? Optimism is good for you and good for your fertility!

Best of luck to you.

[riogirl71]

You girls are fabulous support! I too had an ectopic so I should look in the bright side that it is in my uterus where it is supposed to be! Patatina you are an inspiation and so glad everything turned out great for you and DH!

[angelaezra]

Peonies – There is always room for hope! I will be induced in less than two weeks with my miracle daughter and as you can read by my signature, I have lost so many babies prior to her. But, with this current pregnancy, my betas didn’t even come close to doubling in neither 48 hours nor 72 and I was told that they were concerned by my RE’s nurse that I could miscarry. Now I am a nurse too so I did appreciate the candor but of course I was in tears! Well, I had all but convinced myself that I was going to lose yet another pregnancy after trying for 10 years to have just one child. But, it all worked out for the better. I repeated my betas every 48 hours for two weeks and my beta numbers finally started doubling as time went on. Later my RE said he thought that I had a good pregnancy because my progesterone levels were through the roof and that is usually a good sign but all I heard was “we are little concerned” and immediately thought the worse! So the point to my story is to remain positive … I know that it is hard but I am praying for you!

Rio – I am sorry to hear that you were concerned after your u/s. I want you to remain positive too because I am sure everything will be fine.

Angela

[riogirl71]

Angela thank you for another miracle story and for always being here to offer support! You are awesome! I can't wait for you to meet your little girl, I want pictures!

[peonies10]

Angela, thank you so much for your story. It really helps us out there know that we can still hope when things aren't as they technically should be. I wish you an easy delivery and am excited that you will finally have your baby girl.

I just got back from my ultrasound. We now have a larger sac and yolk sac (5w5d today). The ultrasound tech said I'm measuring 5w1d. Nurse was happy to say we can now rule out ectopic, which is great. But she wouldn't commit to positive news as far as a pregnancy. She said I will need to come back next week when I'll be 6w5d and she will need to see everything (sac, yolk sac, and heartbeat). In my opinion I'm taking growth as a good sign. I'm glad I have a busy week ahead to keep me distracted until next week.

[babydreamz]

Thats wonderful news Peonies!
I am glad you have a busy week, it will just fly by. An next week you will see sac, yolk sac and a precious little heartbeat!!
All the best and sticky dust!