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No baby in Ultra Sound, Blood Levels Down then Back up again
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SeabeeDale posted:
My husband and I went for our first ultrasound at 7W5D. That's when the doctor told us our sack only measured 6.5 weeks and that they couldn't see anything in there. They did a blood test and the numbers went down from the test I'd taken two weeks earlier. I went back in today for a follow-up ultra sound. The sack looks like it got smaller but they took another blood test anyway. My blood levels went back up from last week. Is this normal? Now they want me to come in for ANOTHER ultrasound next week even though all I've been told is I am miscarrying. I'm so sad and frustrated and feel so confused.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:No baby in Ultra Sound, Blood Levels Down then Back up againMy husband and I went for our first ultrasound at 7W5D. That's when the doctor told us our sack only measured 6.5 weeks and that they couldn't see anything in there. They did a blood test and the numbers went down from the test I'd taken two weeks earlier. I went back in today for a follow-up ultra sound. The sack looks like it got smaller but they took another blood test anyway. My blood levels went back up from last week. Is this normal? Now they want me to come in for ANOTHER ultrasound next week even though all I've been told is I am miscarrying. I'm so sad and frustrated and feel so confused.
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Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear SeabeeDale: We are grieved to hear about the loss of your pregnancy. It must be doubly hard to have to go through all these ultrasounds and blood HCG levels.

You are correct, dropping HCG levels and an empty gestational sac is diagnostic for very early pregnancy loss. If your HCG level had continued to drop, miscarriage would have been confirmed. That the HCG went up, without an apparent gestation, means that follow up on the rising HCG is needed.

SeabeeDale, the apparent rise in HCG level MIGHT have been either a lab error, or a result of the variations within the lab test itself. What your GYN MIGHT want to rule out would be the very distant possibility of a molar pregnancy. This type of pregnancy is not associated with an embryo, and HCG levels rise more than expected. Also a remote possibility would be two conceptions--the empty sac in the uterus and an ectopic pregnancy in the Fallopian tube.

Bottom line, your OB/GYN is being thorough to be sure that no pregnancy tissue is present which could be a hazard to your future health. I am sorry that you are having to go through all of this. Please ask your OB/GYN for their exact reasons for the extended follow up so you get a more exact diagnosis. You are asking all the right questions.

In Sympathy,
Jane
Report This| Share this:No baby in Ultra Sound, Blood Levels Down then Back up againDear SeabeeDale: We are grieved to hear about the loss of your pregnancy. It must be doubly hard to have to go through all these ultrasounds and blood HCG levels.<br /><br />You are correct, dropping HCG levels and an empty gestational sac is diagnostic for very early pregnancy loss. If your HCG level had continued to drop, miscarriage would have been confirmed. That the HCG went up, without an apparent gestation, means that follow up on the rising HCG is needed.<br /><br />SeabeeDale, the apparent rise in HCG level MIGHT have been either a lab error, or a result of the variations within the lab test itself. What your GYN MIGHT want to rule out would be the very distant possibility of a molar pregnancy. This type of pregnancy is not associated with an embryo, and HCG levels rise more than expected. Also a remote possibility would be two conceptions--the empty sac in the uterus and an ectopic pregnancy in the Fallopian tube. <br /><br />Bottom line, your OB/GYN is being thorough to be sure that no pregnancy tissue is present which could be a hazard to your future health. I am sorry that you are having to go through all of this. Please ask your OB/GYN for their exact reasons for the extended follow up so you get a more exact diagnosis. You are asking all the right questions.<br /><br />In Sympathy,<br />Jane
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