Drop in Hcg Levels

I'm sorry, but it sounds like a miscarriage to me. Levels are supposed to double, not drop.

I had a similar situation happen to me. After several years of fertility treatments, my first positive pregnancy test came back with very low hcg levels. It took 3 or 4 blood tests and 2 ultrasounds over a two and a half week period to confirm I was pregnant. The second ultrasound detected a faint heartbeat and the pregnancy was confirmed. The waiting was unbearable, but they just couldn't confirm the pregnancy until there was enough development to hear the heartbeat. I had a healthy pregnancy and delivered a full term baby who is now 3 years old and the love of my life!

Yes, That happened to me when I was having an ectopic pregnancy. The HCG level went up VERY slowly and then stopped going up. That's when they discovered it was an ectopic. VERY PAINFUL. She has to keep trying I'm afraid.

Hi M.
i dont know the answer but I would forward her to www.ivfconnections.com which was helpful to me when I was going through IVF. There are people on there that will give you a very quick response.

This has happened to me and it just depends on how far along she is. I was 4 months along and I lost the baby. Most times if you are before 21 weeks they will not do anything to stop it and the will let things happen natuarally. Either way it sucks, because it is hard to loss a baby. But tell your friend to keep her head up, I was told I would never have kids and now I have 2 boys.

HI, I had to do this for all 3 of my children. My first child I had 5 miscarriages and it took me 3 years. Unfortunately if you start with a low number, it is not a good sign. ( There are exceptions).
You have to tell your friend, to keep her head up. It is a trial and error and that it will happen. My second time, I was pregnant with triplets the first try. I unfortunately lost one baby very early in the pregnancy. If you don't mind me asking where is your friend located. I live in Rhode Island and had the most incredible doctor. I have referred atleast 10 people to her, and all of them have become pregnant. Also how many trys have they been thru??
Have they diagnosed her? I had poly cystic ovary, and needed to take progestrone shots throughout my pregnancies.

Kim

This happend to a good friend of mine.She ended up miscarrying. She was totally devested. All I can tell you is just be there for your friend. She'll need you.

My first pregnancy I got confirmed by a regular pregnancy test. A few days later I started spotting. So, I went to the ER where they ran some tests. My hormone levels were so low. They were in the 100's and for as far along as I was they should've been in the 1000's. They drew my blood every other day to make sure they were dropping properly. I did end up miscarrying. My husband and I tried for about a year and got pregnant again. A urine and blood test it took to confirm it. When they got the blood results back they told me that my hormone level was so low that either 1)I had just gotten pregnant or 2) there was something wrong. So, again I went in everyother day so they could draw blood to check my levels. They started doubling like they were supposed to, and I ended up delivering a healthy baby boy. Good Luck!

Hi,

Although difficult to hear - this did happen to me in my first pregnancy and it was an "early" miscarraige. I did have bleeding though so if she does not - it may be fine. They will continue to have her in to make sure the numbers are still dropping - kind of depressing. The good news - I was pregnant 3 months later and had a beautiful boy.

Hi M.
I just joined Mamasource today and came across your question - I'm sure you probably had many responses already. I had this happen to me 4 times...4 miscarriages in 2 years. I went to a specialist after the third time. After 6 months of appointments with her, it was discovered that my progesterone levels were dropping around the 6-7 week point. I ended up doing progesterone shots everyday for 12 weeks. If your friend miscarries, tell her not to give up. I didn't, and now I have two very healthy little girls ages 5 and 4. Best of luck to her.

M.,
I've never been artificially inseminated, however, the drop in the HCG level had indicated that I had had a miscarriage. Thankfully for me, it was within the first month of pregnancy. It would have been a great deal more difficult for me to cope with than if I had been much further along (e.g. 3/4th month).

M. T,

Your post touched me and I had to respond. I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I have personally gone through the same thing. Prior to beginning fertility treatments, I miscarried twice very early. Our first IVF cycle resulted in a similar situation with a "very low positive". When I was retested, the levels had dropped. We were told that the pregnancy would not be viable and we had to stop taking the meds and the pregnancy was lost. It was explained to us that with falling levels, the supplemental hormones may sustain the pregnancy temporarily but once it was time to stop, the pregnancy would ultimately be lost. I couldn't bear to loose the baby any further along, so the meds were stopped and I miscarried again. I have to say, that was the worst of the 3, not pain wise, but emotionally. Loosing a pregnancy is absolutely aweful, but to go through so much to get pregnant - the blood draws, the testing, the shots, makes it so much worse. All you can do is be as supportive as you can. It won't help her now, but it is all worth it. After our last loss, we took a 2 month break and began the cycle again. This time it worked and I am the extremely happy mother to a 5 month old little girl named Hannah. She was born 2/9/07. Fertility treatment is grueling both physically and emotionally, but it is absolutely worth it and I would do it again. If you friend needs to talk to someone who has gone through this, please let her know that I would be willing to chat. Best of Luck.

S.

Hi M.,

I too miscarried. 5 times, actually over a course of 6 years. (none from artificial insemination. all naturally conceived.)

HCG is the hormone that your body excretes that pinpoints and shows normal pregnancy hormonal changes. Yes, they should increase. Fact is, it is due to this hormone that causes one to feel naseous and or have morning sickness. I always knew in the pregnancies that I did not carry that my HCG was low because those were the pregnancies that I did not have any morning sickness. (So those that complain about morning sickness need to take that as a positive good sign.)

My guess is that anything could happen. Her hormone levels could turn around and peak up and the pregnancy maintained. Or, the opposite. Given that you stated she was just inseminated last month, I would say this is a positive for her in that things certainly can turn around and peak up for her. (HCG levels) Have her try to remain calm (easier said then done) so that she is not excreting too much stress hormones that could interfere with the production of HcG. Right now she is pregnant, tell her to plan on that bundle of joy coming. It's never too late and always miracles happen and her body could boost up those hormones very fast. A sign for her that it is boosting up is ....morning sickness. Let's hope she is throwing up right now :)

Please keep us posted with updates. Take care and my prayers to her and her husband.