Hcg Levels Too Low?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
Hello, on the 15th of December I found out I am pregnant, even though I had not missed a period and was spotting. On the 16th my hcg level was 58, on the 19th it was 78, then on the 23rd it was 58 again.
My doctor told me I was miscarrying based on the bleeding and the drop in already low levels of hcg.
I asked him if it was possible for the levels to come back up because on the 24th all bleeding stopped, he said not really but before we go forward we will test again. So on the 31st I was tested again and the levels had in fact came up to 144.
So I am now wondering how low is to low?
I have an ultrasound scheduled. I have read some of the other q&a on the hcg levels so I am not panicked though I do wonder.
Also I am poor at keeping track of my period start and end dates, best I can recall November 5th was the last period and it was a normal period though looking at my due date I would have been pregnant at that time. This is my first and the sex was protected because well I didn't have plans for children. I am really feeling clueless.
ANSWER
Sorry, I am feeling somewhat clueless myself! I have never heard of hcg's going up and down, though that may represent a lab error. I'd agee that waiting for the ultrasound is an excellent idea; hopefully, it will clear everything up. Good luck!
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
