Should I be worried about my high beta number?

[Anonymous]

Today, I went in for my initial beta at SGF and was ecstatic to find out I'm pregnant...but shocked by the high beta number of 1228! I am 13dp6dt (I'm such a newbie with these terms but I did a Frozen Transfer on 12/23). Just for background, I'm 39 and we transferred a single 6 day blastocyst embryo that according to the doctor was "perfect" as far as quality. The nurse said it was a very strong beta and I should be very happy but I'm a little worried. I keep hearing that it's highly unlikely that I'd be carrying twins given that it was a single embryo and twins don't run on either sides of our family. Could it be something else?

Also, I was pregnant in September after my first IVF with a single blastocyst (another 6 day) and I miscarried at 7 weeks. My initial beta was 188. So I'm not sure what to make of a beta that's 10 times higher! Any advice would be appreciated! And good luck for anyone going through IVF right now...it's such a roller coaster, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Six-hundred something is the average for 19dpo according to beta-base, so I think you're OK.

[Anonymous]

Try not to worry, OP. I recently got my first BFP and my beta was over 5600! I'm now 16 weeks pregant and all is well.

Don't worry until there is something to worry about!

[Anonymous]

Agreed! That's my new attitude-no worries until there's reason to worry. I'm actually doing much better after a friend pointed out that I'm really 19dpo because I had a 6 day emby. So my beta is actually in the range it should be. My next beta is Monday so that will be telling...

[Anonymous]

I had a similar beta to you at 13dpt. I was also a little concerned about the high number and wondered if a) it could have split and it is twins; and b) the higher number increased the chances of a downs syndrome baby. After researching the heck out of it, I learned that betas vary greatly. I also transferred one embryo. I'm currently 9 weeks with one healthy, strong little baby.

[Anonymous]

Measuring betas to determine if you have twins isn't the way to go - it's how the beta multiples and at what rate that's the determining factor. But every woman is different. My beta at 13dp5dt fresh was 800. 3 days later it was 3000 and 2 days after that 7000. Pregnant with 1.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for your insight! I was relieved to hear you both had high betas and single babies...just not ready for twins. I'm anxiously awaiting to do my next beta on Monday and then Wednesday. It's just so hard to believe this pregnancy might be 'the one' after my miscarriage in the fall.

[Anonymous]

After a miscarriage, I had a FET which resulted in a very high beta-- in the 1300s. Can't remember which day pt it was, but the number was high for even twins, and I was convinced that both had implanted (2 transferred). Ultrasound revealed just one little sac and one little embryo inside I am short and small, and our singleton came out wailing and healthy at 39 weeks, not quite 5.5 lbs. Still amazed that such a small, perfectly normal male baby started out as an insanely high beta.

Congrats! But be forewarned.. my morning sickness was awful!

[Anonymous]

Op again. Thanks PP! I'm so relieved to hear stories of singletons with strong initial betas! You mentioned morning sickness-did it start right away? Unbelieveably, at 5 weeks, I have very few symptoms other than a dull pain/ache every now and then on my lower right (assuming ovary). And I'm also more tired than usual but that's it!

[Anonymous]

IVFer on the other side here.... I NEVER had a symptoms other than increased hunger. I spent the time until my 20 week ultra (which was preceeded by 5 other ultrasounds, etc) in disbelief. My non-symptom IVF baby is now the most laid back 3 monther I've ever met.

[Anonymous]

That is an excellent beta, but not it's off the charts like you should be freaking out. My 18 dpo beta was just under 1500 - healthy singleton (already delivered & baby is perfect, in my unbiased opinion! )

Congrats, OP.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to add fuel to your freak out fire...

Mine was about that high...1500ish. My embie had split and I was carrying identical twins. I lost the second twin by 9 weeks or so though and ultimately had a health singleton.

[Anonymous]

My beta was 2300 at 19dpo and I am 31 weeks with a singleton.

[Anonymous]

Mine was around 1700 by 19dpo and I had a singleton (girl).

[Anonymous]

Op again. Thanks everyone! I got my second beta results: 4761 (at 23dpo) so I'm relieved my numbers are moving in the right direction! I go in for my first sono is on Wednesday so I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll hear we're having a singleton!