HCG Levels Haven't Doubled
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I am very concerned that my hormone levels only rose slightly when I took a second test. I am concerned that if we are able to see a heartbeat with the next ultrasound that it is possible that something may be wrong with the baby.
Is it safe to say that if there is a strong heartbeat then the hormone levels could be misleading in determining the health of the baby or is it possible that the levels are correct and the heartbeat is there that there is a chance that the baby will have problems later on in the pregnancy and possible life problems?
ANSWER
I certainly understand your concern. The fact that the levels rose at all is of course preferable to the alternative.
My own experience is that although the books say a healthy fetus should double the hcg every 48 hours in early pregnancy, that is not what I often see happening. And as long as the levels don't fall, the babies seem to be fine.
I hate to say that time will tell, but it's the truth. And this sort of thing has nothing to do with how the baby will do later, either in the pregnancy or later in life. Either the baby will prove to be viable or it won't. Good luck, and I hope all goes well.
-- 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.
