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Is There a Way to Explain Hormone Levels?

QUESTION

Dear Ms Ultrasound,
My last menstrual period was on June 23, 2004. I went off of the pill in April 2004 and had one 34 day cycle and one 31 day cycle. On August 1st, I took 2 positive home pregnancy tests. On August 23rd, I had my first appointment with my OB/GYN. He did an US but could not see an embryo (only the pregnancy and yolk sacs). He told us that since I should be 8 and a half weeks pregnant, he should be able to see something, and that he did not expect the pregnancy to be viable.

He tested my blood and said that the blood levels matched where I should be for 8 and a half weeks. We went back on August 30th -- the OBGYN still could not see an embryo on his US, but sent us to the hospital for a second opinion on a nicer machine. This US was a vaginal one (my utereus is tilted, so it is apparently hard to see with the normal US). This time, we did see a heartbeat and an embryo. The doctor there said that the pregnancy sac and the embryo measured 5 and a half weeks. He seemed to think that we had a shot.

We went back to my regular OB/GYN and he advised us not to get too excited. It is his opinion that the baby probably stopped growing and that I will likely miscarry. Is there any way to explain my hormone levels and positive pregnancy tests if I am only 5 and a half weeks and everything is ok?

Thanks for your help,
Jennifer

ANSWER

Hi Jennifer,
Most importantly -- YES! I have seen this exact scenario have a wonderful, happy ending. The hormone levels are a guide line for the doctor to go by. There is quite a broad range, so I would disregard the hormone issue, and go with the early heartbeat and the 5 week plus dating.

I think your last period is what threw you off and that you probably got pregnant in late July. I share with many women that I believe, many very early ultrasounds, such as the one your doctor did in his office, cause way more anxiety then they are worth. They always lead to future ultrasounds, with a week or so of waiting and worrying (usually for no reason).

My advice is to assume this is a healthy viable pregnancy. Switch your thoughts appropriately, so you may feel the joy you are supposed to feel when you have created a new life and not the anxiety, stress and worry. Try this until your next ultrasound. I think it helps the early development of the fetus. A happy Mommy is a good thing.

-- Jane, RDMS

Jane Foley

Jane Foley has worked as a Sonographer (Ultrasound Technologist) since 1979. Jane has lived and worked in many parts of the world including Saudi Arabia. She is a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or RDMS. She pulls a wealth of information from her experience in the field of Radiology and her interactions with such a broad cross-section of cultures she has visited. She now makes her home on the island of Maui with her English husband, Michael.