I hope you don’t mind me asking but I would really like to put my mind at ease, and searching for my answer on the internet, is not making me feel any better. I am just over 11 weeks pregnant, and I am wondering about my HCG level. I had my HCG beta quantitive test done three times, every couple days. The first result came out at 175,000, the second one came out at 162,000, and the last one was 129,000. I had these tests done between my 9th and 10th week, and have been told that the levels can start to plateau and that it’s nothing to be concerned about. It just seemed like quite a drastic drop within the 5 days that I had the tests done. I also should let you know that on the day I had my last blood test, I also had an ultrasound, which there was nothing wrong with, I got to see the heart beat which was a big relief! Some of the websites I’ve been looking at though, say your HCG levels don’t start to decline until the 20th week, which has me worried, as I am only 1/2 way there, and already dropping. Your insight would be wonderful, so if you wouldn’t mind giving me your expertise, it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks Kristin and Amanda for all of the kind words!
I have to admit that my work is just about killing me. The added stress of my work environment and trying to fit in all of the appointments is really hard. I come home at night exhausted, especially at the end of the week. Sometimes I just fall right into bed after a small dinner.
It has gotten slightly better, though, now that my thyroid level is a bit higher. Also, I was REALLY sick and tired during weeks 6 through 12. I missed several days of work, but my HR department was pretty accommodating (They let me take extra sick days instead of using short term disability or FMLA). Once the sickness lifted, though, things did get easier. I remember the lows becoming less severe after the first trimester, too. I still get a lot of them, but they come on less suddenly, which makes it easier to treat them, catch them, and recover from them.
I am not an OB, but I can tell you from what I learned while pregnant, that once you hear the heartbeat, the changes of miscarriage become very low. I know this is easier said that done, but if your doctors aren’t worried, try not to be either. If it were a problem, they would be concerned. I am all for being empowered about one’s own health care, but what you find online may or may not be accurate. Doctors are specialists trained to know how to interpret test results, in a way that we lay people aren’t.
I have a good friend who is an OB, and when I was pregnant she told me to just keep my blood sugar in check, not drink or do drugs (which was not an issue!) and try to enjoy it! She also told me that a very high percentages of miscarriages are directly related to severe genetic abnormalities, and that women are too often made to believe that we have control over things in pregnancies that we don’t actually have control over. I thought it was good advice, and help me through two challenging pregnancies.
I saw you asked someone else earlier about c-sections, I did end up with one the first time (and automatically the second time), but it had nothing to do with my diabetes. I was induced at 36 weeks (early, but routine in my docs practice for Type 1), which took awhile, but did work. I progressed fine and pushed for three hours, but my daughter was stuck. She had huge head, and still does. Again not related to DM, but genetic…her dad and his entire family have large heads. My next baby was smaller headed, but my doctor doesn’t do VBAC, so I had a scheduled c-section. Really, I would have preferred vaginal birth, and it bothered me at first, but whatever, i got over it.
I am surprised that they continued to check and report on your HCG levels beyond the first month or so, Amanda. I had mine checked for the final time in week 5 or 6, I think, just to confirm the pregnancy, but then again, I was getting a little extra ‘help’ at the beginning. A lot of what I’ve read says that we put far too much stock into what those levels are “supposed” to be. If you’re really worried about those results, call your OB maybe? Ask for a better understanding?
As far as c-sections go, I’m sure not every T1D has to have one, but I will and I’m perfectly fine with that. I have been under the most scrutinized, careful medical attention throughout this pregnancy and they never have anything troublesome to report. I have had 12 sonograms (am out of space on the fridge for photos at this point) - 10 of them on DVD - at weeks 6, 9, 13, 18, 22, 26, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37…and I’m planning to welcome this (large-headed) child into the world on day 1 of week 38. Despite the most careful attention from fussy physicians and beautiful blood sugar management, this is certainly what’s best for both me and the little munchkin, who was estimated at 7 pounds already by week 35. If I go all the way to week 40, my belly is going to pop.
Hi Amanda,
I’m not exactly sure why your doc is continuing to check HCG levels. They are very useful to predict the health of a pregnancy BEFORE we can see a baby with a heartbeat, doubling roughly every 48 hours when things are normal. However, once I see a living baby, the most useful predictor of a healthy pregnancy is that beautiful heartbeat! Don’t worry at all! The risk of miscarriage with a normal heartbeat after 8 weeks is only about 2%!!!
Incidentally, HCG is also one of the serum markers used in the QUAD screen test to help predict certain birth defects like Down’s syndrome and spina bifida. Blood levels are measured at 12 and 16 weeks along with an ultrasound measurement of the back of the baby’s neck at 12 weeks. All the values are placed into a formula and then a risk ratio like 1/2300 or 1/8 or 1/10000 is reported. This is an optional test your doc will offer. Feel free to ask me ANYTHING! I’ve been doing OB for 17 years and love what I do
