Low HCG?

[hope2004]

Hello ladies, let me just say congratulations!

I finally got lucky enough to hear those magic words, but my HCG level 14 days past transfer is only 47. Anyone else start with low numbers or hear of someone who did? Sorry I'm really stressing!!
Thanks!!

[jaye]

Hi Hope, I had this problem too on my first IVF in April so I know exactly how it is. HPT on the test day was -ve, but the nurse said to come in for the test anyway - after sobbing all day over the -ve, she rang with the results which was a very low level - around 14 (16 days post-transfer), so far lower than yours. But the most important thing with betas is not the level they start at, but the rate they grow at - they need to go up by at least 66% every two days. So I had to keep testing every 2-4 days, like you. Over the next week or so they did keep going up, to about 440 finally, but then they dropped to 100 or so. After that, my Dr. stopped the pessaries and AF came. I know exactly what you're going through - for me it dragged on and on, and it felt like I was never going to get any closure - every time I would think, well, at least I'll know next time, and then I never did - it was just, well, keep testing every 2 days. It was really hard. I think the thing I appreciated most was that when the nurse first told me, she said, look, you've got something happening, but the levels are really low and so we often find these pregnancies don't continue - they don't even count less than 50 as pg. I was glad for that, because I got to 'feel' pregnant (for the first time ever), but never got my hopes up too high (not that I wasn't devastated when it finally ended, but I did feel I'd been prepared). Apparently low levels can also be a sign of ectopic pg. Basically, so long as those numbers are going up, things are OK. When they stop, it's not a good sign. Now I can look on it as a positive thing - while obviously it didn't last, I did get to 'feel' pg - cramping, sore boobs, etc., and know that I could get at least that far - I'd never been so much as a day late in more than 2 years, so it was further than I'd ever got before on my own. So, I figure, next time, my body will know what to do! You have to be philosophical, don't you. Good luck - I really hope it works out for you.
Jaye.

[hope2004]

Jaye,
Thank you so much for telling me your story. I really appreciate it. My HCG went to 73 today so I'm not out of the running yet but I'm certainly not out of the woods.
It's so tough going for blood tests every few days, taking the progesterone, and holding my breath everytime the phone rings. I just have to wait..and wait... and wait...some more. Oh well us IF ladies are used to that

[beck]

good luck hunnie im thinking of you.

xx