Community post
Chemical pregnancy, early miscarriage, or something else?
Hello! I am ttc for my first. I always read these but never post. I've been debating about whether to post on here for a while, but since my doctor doesn't even want me to come in and just keeps ordering blood tests, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try and get some answers to my questions on here. So....here is my story: (Sorry it's so long!)
- On December 6th, 2014 I got what I thought was a normal period. It lasted the usual 5-6 days and seemed like the usual flow and progression. After my period I had some brown spotting for a week or so. I didn't think much of it because it happens to me sometimes. I figured it was just my hormones out of whack or something.
- On Christmas day (CD 20) I started to bleed (this was about two weeks before I expected my next period. I had been pretty regular for the past few months.) At first it was light but enough flow that I needed a tampon. I had some very light cramping and was bloated. It was what I usually get with my normal period. The cramping was light and didn't last long.
- The day after Christmas it had turned into what I thought was a period. I was really frustrated but just assumed that for some reason my body was doing something weird and my period had come really early. I was reading some forums and for some reason I decided to take a pregnancy test that evening. I had a cheap test from Wal-mart, so I didn't mind wasting it if it came out negative as I assumed it would. Well to my surprise, it was positive and not a faint line either. So I took an FRER because I just couldn't believe it. Again it was a definite positive.
- I immediately went to urgent care because my doctor was closed already and wouldn't be open again until Monday. I was bleeding and had a positive pregnancy test. I didn't know what to think and I just wanted to talk to a doctor. They did a urine test and again it came up positive. The doctor said, "I would love to be able to say congratulations, but I don't think this pregnancy will be viable. You are most likely having a miscarriage, but go to your OB and get checked out." He also said it was really early and I was probably only 3 weeks pregnant (from date of last mp)
- First thing on Monday morning (12/29) I called my OB to see if I needed to come in or what they wanted me to do. They said that I needed to go for blood work first thing Tuesday morning.
- I got blood work done on 12/30 and my hcg level came back as 228. By then I was already done bleeding. I only bled for 4 or 5 days. It never was too heavy, but was enough that I needed a pad. (I stopped wearing tampons when the doctor told me I was having a miscarriage). After the bleeding stopped I had some intermittent light cramping and pulling.
- They sent me back to get blood work on Friday, 1/2/15 and the level came back at 179.
- Between 1/2 and 1/5 I had a lot of ewcm.
- They wanted me to wait a week from my last blood draw and go again. So I went back Friday 1/9. I assume I will find out the results of that test on Monday or Tuesday.
- I took another hpt 1/10 and it is still positive. I know it could take 4-6 weeks for all of the hcg to be out of my system, but everything I've read about a cp people usually go on to have a normal cycle right afterwards because their level never got that high to begin with. It's odd because through this entire ordeal I never had any pregnancy symptoms really. I had a crazy appetite, but I have that normally anyway. My breasts were never sore and I only had a couple of waves of mild nausea, which I also sometimes have normally.
So, here are my questions:
- Does it sound like a chemical pregnancy?
- Could I have been further along than I thought and ended up having an early miscarriage rather than a cp?
- I have had light intermittent cramping on my right side (more in the week after the bleeding stopped and only a few times since then). Should I consider ectopic as a possibility and insist that they see me in the office?
- Lastly, I know this is a long shot, and I certainly am not getting my hopes up, but has anyone ever had a similar situation and still had a healthy pregnancy? Could it be a vanishing twin? Again, I know this is highly unlikely, but I figured I would put it out there.
Thank you so much in advance for any help you can give me! Either way I think I'm going to insist that I at least get to speak with a doctor over the phone, even if they don't think I need to come in.
Good luck everyone! :)
2 Replies • 9 years ago
Pregnancy test calculator
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Replies
Hello @Eholl7613!
Your situation sounds fairly similar to a chemical pregnancy I had around the same time, but sounds more like an early miscarriage. You are right in thinking your numbers would not have been so high if it was just a chemical. Also, with cp's, you would typically have had a normal period around the normal time and then been done with it. Some ladies don't even realize they were pregnant when this happens.
Because you had intermittent bleeding and your numbers were so high, it definitely sounds like an early miscarriage instead. When I had my chemical, the highest my numbers ever got was 75 before they started dropping again. With that one, my period came on time and I wouldn't even have known I was pregnant if I hadn't taken an early HPT. Sounds like the irregular bleeding is probably your body passing the baby and everything else with it - this will take some time if you were a couple weeks along.
Unless you're still bleeding, and bleeding EXTREMELY heavily (soaking through more than 1 pad per hour), I don't think you need to worry about an ectopic pregnancy. Also, even though it's less comfortable, doctors usually recommend using pads instead of tampons to avoid infection. Plus it helps to see exactly what's being passed in case you want to ask your doctor about anything.
Since your numbers seem to be going down normally, unfortunately I don't think this is a case of a "vanishing twin." Just keep an eye on any super heavy bleeding or extreme pain - if that happens I'd call the doc right away and demand to see someone. Do whatever feels right for you - it's your health and your body, and if you're worried, just remember you're the one paying them so they need to listen to you!
I wish you the best of luck, and please let us know how everything turns out . Tons of and being sent your way! GL!
9 years ago
I am sooooooo sorry! I just realized the date you first posted this and how incredibly late in the timeline I'm commenting on it!!
I hope you are doing well and you were able to get things figured out. Very sorry for your loss if that's how things happened - I know how you feel, it's not easy.
Best of luck in your future TTC journey.
9 years ago
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