HCG doubling issues?

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03/21/2016 13:20

Subject: HCG doubling issues?

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Anonymous

I also posted this in the Expectant Moms forum, but I thought folks here might have more experience with betas. (I conceived naturally this time, but my first child took 2 years and was the result of IUI+injectables.)

Because of pre-e related issues at the end of my last pregnancy, I was told to go get basic blood labs run (for a baseline) as soon as I got pregnant again. I couldn't get in to see my (new) OB until 8 weeks, so I went to my GP for the labs at 5 weeks (by my best guess based on ovulation; could theoretically be from 4w6d to 5w3d) and the GP also included an HCG level in those to confirm pregnancy. Later that day, I started light pink spotting. Immediately made an appointment to see GP again (for 4 days later, the earliest I could get in). By the time the appointment rolled around, I was a bit less freaked because spotting had stopped ~12 hours from when it began. GP said she wasn't worried, probably late implantation bleeding. Said the previous labs showed HCG at 3380 (totally normal) and drew another lab. A few days later, that second draw came in at 7752, which makes for a doubling time of approx. 80 hours or 3.3 days. GP said that was very bad news. Sent me for an ultrasound to rule out ectopic and told me to go to an ER if one-sided pain in the interim. A very nervous 24 hours later, an ultrasound showed a 6w1d baby (right on based on my best guess, at most 3 days behind) with a HB of 105.

Based on my GP's reaction, I assumed the doubling time of 80 hours was REALLY abnormal. But, there's a lot of stuff on the internet saying doubling times of 72-96 hours are normal at HCG levels from 1,200-6,000; however, no one (on the internet or that I've spoken to in real life) ever seems to have been told that by their Dr. Lots of sources also say that HCG doubling times slow around 6-7 weeks, which is more consistent with what people seem to have been told, but that's a week out from where I was. Unfortunately (or fortunately), because I wasn't working with an RE and didn't have issues earlier, I have no idea what my doubling times were like sub-1,200, although they must have been normal-ish at least at some point based on the 3380 figure at 5 weeks.

I've seen some positive stories with numbers close to mine, but also quite a few negative ones (even after seeing HBs early). Also, I have found one study that suggests roughly 50% viability in cases with "slow rising HCG" (defined as doubling above 3.2, which mine was just over) "early in the first trimester" (but I can't find anything indicating how early this is -- i.e., only pre-1,200 or including post-then) if an accurately measuring baby w/ a HB is seen at 8w (the other 50% in that position had no HB at 12w). (Obviously the scan went as well as it could have, but that study has been insanely worried that my chances are still 50/50... and that's only if the u/s is fine in 2 more weeks.)

Basically, I'm wondering if anyone has been in this position and/or if your Drs. seemed very worried if you were.