Pregnant Immediately after a Miscarriage?

[Anonymous]

In mid-February (about seven weeks ago), I had a miscarriage. I was at around 6.5 weeks. I did not have a D&C. I have not yet had a period and last week, on a whim, I took a pregnancy test. To my surprise, it came up positive. I don't think that there would still be enough HCG in my urine 6 weeks after a early miscarriage to give a positive result, would there? I have taken additional tests this week and they are still coming up positive. If I am indeed pregnant, I think that I am around 5 weeks along.

I called my OB/GYN's office and have an appointment 2 weeks from today. I am a bit worried. Has anyone else been in this situation? Any reassuring stories? Two weeks is an awfully long time to be wondering!

[Anonymous]

Sorry about your loss. It took me about 5-6 weeks for my HCG levels to go back to "negative" after my miscarriage last fall (no D&C).
My doctor had me come every ten days or so for blood work to monitor the HCG levels, just to be sure the miscarriage was "complete". Have you had any blood work done?

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant with my now 3yo about 6 weeks after my miscarriage. I think I may have had a period in between, though.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I forgot to add that I did have blood work done one week after the miscarriage and wasn't called back for additional testing, so I am assuming that the HCG levels had been dropping.

Also, I had taken 2 pregnancy tests a week prior (5 weeks post mis-carriage) that came up resoundingly negative, but were taken with afternoon urine. For comparison, I took an additional test with afternoon urine this past week and it came up positive.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would be cautiously optimistic that you are pregnant -- especially given your negative tests previously. Can you beg your OB to fit you in sooner? I'd say the emotional up and down of thinking you might be pregnant but not wanting to get your hopes up would be difficult and would create a reason to fit you in. If OB can't do it, how about your family doctor? I would think a blood test to determine the exact levels would do it. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would be cautiously optimistic that you are pregnant -- especially given your negative tests previously. Can you beg your OB to fit you in sooner? I'd say the emotional up and down of thinking you might be pregnant but not wanting to get your hopes up would be difficult and would create a reason to fit you in. If OB can't do it, how about your family doctor? I would think a blood test to determine the exact levels would do it. Good luck!

Same here, but I wouldn't think you'd be 5 weeks pregnant. More like 2. I think it would take time for the HCG to leave enough to let you ovulate, and then it takes a week or so to implant and start that HCG again. I miscarried on 2/24 several years ago and did get pregnant just around this time that year. But it was a chemical pregnancy unfortunately. Went on to conceive again in very early June that year.

In any event, best wishes to you. I know the emotional roller coaster ride sucks, but I'm sending you good vibes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[b]

Same here, but I wouldn't think you'd be 5 weeks pregnant. More like 2.

For a pregnancy test to pick it up, you would have to be about 2 weeks from ovulation, which is really about 4 weeks pregnant (at least).

[Anonymous]

Same here, but I wouldn't think you'd be 5 weeks pregnant. More like 2. I think it would take time for the HCG to leave enough to let you ovulate, and then it takes a week or so to implant and start that HCG again.

OP, again. I am using the weeks from LMP convention, even though I don't technically have a LMP date to use. I think that I may have conceived as a result of relations on March 14. So if I ovulated within a few days of that, I would be right at 5 weeks.

I am somewhat hopeful, but still nervous about being pregnant so soon after a loss. Conventional wisdom is to wait for one full cycle, but I haven't been able to find any studies that truly indicate the reason for this. I am hoping things turn out well this time.

[Anonymous]

I found out I was pregnant almost 2.5 weeks ago. Although I was barely 4 weeks pregnant I pushed the Dr. to see me. Normally they make you wait until you are 6 weeks along for a confirmation. I 'reminded' them that I had a previous loss at 5 weeks and that I wanted my progesterone levels checked. They agreed to have me in the next day. Now, in a matter of 2 weeks I've been prescribed progesterone, had 3 blood tests and my first ultrasound was yesterday.
You need to be proactive when it comes to this. If they say they won't do it, tell them you want your progesterone levels checked, they can't say no to that as that is a common reason for miscarriages in the first place.
I go to Physicians for Women, if that helps.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP: DH and I had a 12 week miscarriage -- followed by a D&C -- at the beginning of January. We were given the standard advice of waiting for a full cycle before trying again, but we didn't follow doctor's orders. I am fairly sure that I ovulated just shy of 5 weeks after the D&C, and we turned up pregnant two weeks later. I also get the awkward question about my last menstrual period every time I talk with someone at my OB, and have to give them the same sheepish response --"Well, I didn't really have one, since we miscarried January 1." My doctor had me in immediately after I told them I had two positive HPTs, and they checked my betas to make sure they rose accordingly. I'll be 11 weeks tomorrow, and am crossing my fingers that all will go well this time around.

I'd second the opinions of others who say to push for being seen. If you explain the specific circumstances--that you think you are pregnant from your miscarriage cycle and want confirmation--they should make time to get you in.

[Anonymous]

After my miscarriage last year, my doctor told me to wait for one cycle before trying again. He explained there was not really a medical reason for this but a practical one, to "date" the pregnancy more accurately. Once your pregnancy is confirmed (keeping my fingers crossed) your doctor will probably send you for an early ultrasound to get the dates straight.
Tons of luck!

[Anonymous]

I weighed in before (said I'd be cautiously optimistic for you). I was so worried about miscarrying that I read all about it during my first trimester. I did not end up miscarrying (and knock wood that the rest of the pregnancy goes well, I'm 25 weeks now) but I could not find one thing that explained exactly why a woman is told to wait a cycle (some doctors say three) before trying again. The closest thing to a reasonable reason I read was, as PP has noted, to date the pregnancy. To me that doesn't seem like a great reason to tell a woman who has been trying to conceive to hold off a month, especially when most people can pretty much figure out when they conceived based on (as you put it so succintly) when they had "relations." Good luck to you! I hope you really are pregnant. Will you post back and let us know?

[Anonymous]

I found out I was pregnant about 5 weeks after I had a miscarriage. I was very surprised, but it's definitely possible. Take care of yourself, and good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here. I wanted to put in an update. I decided to just wait it out for the initial appointment. I estimate that I am around 7 weeks now. My Dr. wasn't concerned about the previous miscarriage. I have an ultrasound scheduled for the week after next to date the pregnancy, but other than that, this is being treated like an ordinary pregnancy. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

Yay! I have my fingers crossed for you also. The trouble with this board being anonymous is that we can't check in with each other to see how things are progressing. Will you keep posting back? I like a good happy ending and am pulling for you!