hcg levels rising after a miscarriage?

[Luna]

I was wondering if anybody had hcg rising after a mc and how long it took before they started to go down again?

I started spotting at 5 weeks, had several hcg tests that showed low and slowly rising hcg. The last one, at almost 7 weeks, showed the hcg at 680. I had an ultrasound at 7 weeks that showed nothing in the uterus and no evidence of ectopic pregnancy. A week later, my hcg is over 2200.

I just want to move on, not much time left for the second baby for me, I am 43. I was worried that it may be a molar pregnancy, but I think my levels would be much higher then, would not they? If anybody experienced something like this and can share, I will really appreciate it. I have another scan tomorrow, but I am worried they will not see anything again.

[Melster]

Hey Luna

Sorry i dont know alot about it levels, i know after my d&C it took about two weeks to go down to o...but i think it depends on the age of the baby and the person.... i just wanted to say i hope ur scan goes ok tom...

[Babyluv]

Hmm sorry Hun I'm not sure either but with both of mine 12 weeks & 8ish weeks my hcg dropped to nothing in 2 weeks.
Hope someone else can offer some help.
Goodluck tomorrow.

[Lily Dust]

Luna, firstly big I am so sorry this is happening to you, it is incredibly confusing as well as frustrating. My story is a little different to yours but I found out I was pregnant with what was called an 'unviable pregnancy' my levels slowly rose and then starting coming ahead in leaps and bounds, I then had to have a D&C as my body was holding onto the baby. I think the 2nd scan is the best option you can try, if nothing can be seen then I believe they would send you in for a d&c to speed things up. Im sorry, this all sounds so clinical, I dont mean it to be but not sure how else to say it. Im not sure about the levels for a molar pregnancy. After the D&C my levels took about a week to be back to 'normal'. I hope this explains something a little. Stay strong hun, sending you so many sticky vibes to get your little miracle soon

[Mildez]

Mine initially fell from 86 after I had some bleeding then 2days later at 5weeks were 61. This made everyone thing I had m/c (except me) and a scan couldn't see anything this early.

Almost 3weeks after this I was convinced I had an ectopic pregnancy as I'd m/c before and found it physically very painful and although I'd had bleeding the pain wasn't bad. I had my HCG tested again then and were almost 7000 (just under 8weeks) They then were sure the pregnancy was ectopic as again nothing was seen in the uterus. It took an hour to find the pregnancy by a very experienced sonographer. They had just decided that they were going to investigate via a laparoscopy as clearly although the pregnancy was not viable it was continuing to some level. They did find it just as they were about to call it a day and send me of to theatre and the pregnancy was ectopic so unfortunately I lost mt tube and in it my pregnancy.

The two main things that can cause slow rising HCG are a blighted ovum and ectopic pregnancy. For it to be rising some pregnancy tissue still remains. Have you had a D&C? I'd doubt very much the pregnancy is molar or partial molar as it almost always causes very high HCG levels for the gestation you are at. Don't rule out ectopic pregnancy as they can be extremely difficult to diagnose and do not follow a set pattern.

I'll add you to my prayers and pray that you get some answers and can move on. Its such a difficult time when your living in limbo land and desperate to move on but can't. Thinking of you

[Luna]

Unfortunatelly, it turned out to be ectopic after all. Good news is that it is still rather small, so they just gave me shot of some medication that is meant to kill it (cancer drug) and I am having it monitored weekly until the hcg levels go back to 0. If the drug does not work, then I will have laparoscopy, but looks like I will get to keep my tube.

[Mildez]

Luna I am so sorry this has happened but pleased you have some answers now. Hope you don't have any nasty side effects from the methotrexate and it does its job and saves your tube. Take care of yourself.

[Melster]

Luna...im sorry about the ectopic..i hope you're handling it ok and feel better soon!!!!!!!!! I will pray you can keep you're tube

[Luna]

Ladies, thank you very much for your kind words and the information.
Mildez - when I was reading your story it sounded so much like what I was going through that I was convinced they will find ectopic pregnancy there going in. And they did.

I am handling it OK for now, but I am not sure about trying again. The risk of tubal pregnancy will be higher for me now, the mc risk is something about 50% after 40, so I am just not sure it makes sense. Plus, I just heard that you have to wait 3-6 months after the methotrexate to TTC, so I think I may just run out of time here.

[Mildez]

Luna it is 3months after methotrexate before you can ttc again depending on how quickly the HCG drops. Methotrexate acts by killing of rapidly dividing cells (such as in cancers and pregnancy) so if you do fall pregnant within that time there is a chance that the methotrexate will harm your next pregnancy if you ttc to quickly after having it. Once the HCG drops to less the 5 I would consider getting a blood test to check your folate levels as Methotrexate works by depleting your folate which in turn can no longer feed rapidly diving cells and they disappear/shrink etc. If your folate is a good level then you should be safe to start ttc again with folate suppliments but if not you might need to take a higher dose of folic acid until they are at a more desireable level (due to the risk of spina bifida, nucal tube defects etc)

I joined a UK ectopic site/forum and many people have fallen pregnant before the 3months and had successful pregnancies and healthy babies so it can happen but its a risk I wouldn't take until the 3months. Only you can decide if you want to ttc again but as a midwife I can assure you many people continue to fall pregnant and have healthy pregnancies well beyond your age. I'' keep everything crossed for you that if you do ttc again next pregnancy brings you the baby you have been longing for.

Don't take folic acid until the HCG has dropped of to a non pregnant state as the folic acid will then stop the methotrexate doing what its suppose to do.