ghost - honestly, what are my chances?

[leorira11]

I had severe bleeding/cramping yesterday for a few hours, but it stopped. I had bleeding really similar with my second twin pregnancy at 6 weeks and everything was fine. (I had only light spotting with my missed miscarriage.)

I went for an u/s this morning (5w3d) and there was NOTHING. The tech said it was a good thing that she didn't see signs of a miscarriage (collapsed gestational sac, thin lining, open cervix, blood in uterus, etc) but not a good thing that she didn't see any signs of pregnancy (no gestational sac). My lining is still thick (10mm) and my cervix is closed. No clue where the blood was coming from.

I did a repeat beta as well -- beta came back at 1187. Considering that my last beta 5 days ago was 690 - this isn't a good thing. I calculated doubling time as about 150 hours, which sucks. We have no idea if it's still going up, or already declining.

The nurse said that there is still hope - that maybe the baby is a few days behind.

I'm waiting for the doctor to review my file, but I'm sure they'll ask me to come back to do both an u/s and bloodwork again. They'll probably want me to wait a week, but I'll beg to come on Thursday so I get an answer (or more pieces to the puzzle) before the weekend.

I'm in shock and numb. I can't believe this is happening.

The IVF nurses seem to think there is still hope. According to the "google"ing I've been doing since I got to work - I think chances are really slim (like less than 1%) of this being a viable pregnancy.

Any advice?

thanks

[Ghost]

The IVF nurses seem to think there is still hope. According to the "google"ing I've been doing since I got to work - I think chances are really slim (like less than 1%) of this being a viable pregnancy.

Well, you asked for the honest version. Failing to find a sac at 5w3d would not mean all that much, that happens sometimes. But combined with the weak rise in your hCG, it suggests this one is unlikely to be viable.

Keep taking your meds and follow all your clinic's instructions. It just might be the exception.

[leorira11]

Ghost - thanks.

I'm hoping that Wednesday gives some clear answers -- either nothing on the u/s and a dropping beta, or a gestational sac and high betas.

I'm concerned about ectopic. What are the chances of that? My beta was doubling every 28 hours until this most recent one - does that mean ectopic is less likely?

If this is a miscarriage, why did the bleeding stop? Wouldn't the bleeding continue until the whole uterine lining was shed? Is it because of the progesterone I'm taking (400mg twice a day, vaginal suppositories)?

If this is a miscarriage (and not ectopic) - how soon can we try again? I'm assuming that if there is definite bad news on Wednesday, they'll tell me to stop the meds and I'll bleed. Can I start taking a package of BCP right away and start a fresh cycle after that? I know some clinics have arbitrary "wait 3 cycles" type things, but I've always heard there was no problem getting pregnant right after a miscarriage.

If this is ectopic, what can I expect in terms of starting again?

"starting again" means fresh IVF. We don't have any more frozen embryos.

[Ghost]

I'm concerned about ectopic. What are the chances of that? My beta was doubling every 28 hours until this most recent one - does that mean ectopic is less likely?

Ectopic is possible. A rapid rise early on tends to exclude an ectopic, but given today's observations, an ectopic is back on the table.

If this is a miscarriage, why did the bleeding stop? Wouldn't the bleeding continue until the whole uterine lining was shed? Is it because of the progesterone I'm taking (400mg twice a day, vaginal suppositories)?

I'm not sure the bleeding was related to it. But no, the uterine lining would not be shed, and that is because you are taking progesterone. In a natural pregnancy, hCG from the implanted embryo reaches the follicle and causes the follicle to release progesterone. That progesterone prevents menses and sustains the pregnancy. In IVF, most patients receive progesterone supplements to do the same thing.

If this is a miscarriage (and not ectopic) - how soon can we try again? I'm assuming that if there is definite bad news on Wednesday, they'll tell me to stop the meds and I'll bleed. Can I start taking a package of BCP right away and start a fresh cycle after that? I know some clinics have arbitrary "wait 3 cycles" type things, but I've always heard there was no problem getting pregnant right after a miscarriage.

If this is ectopic, what can I expect in terms of starting again?

Your clinic will need to answer these when more information is available.

[brit1612]

Just wanted to say I am sorry to hear what you are going through. We suffered through 3 miscarriages before going on to have our little miracle. I hope your story is the exception to the rule, good luck on Wednesday.