[odmom2b]

I wanted to give you all an update of how things were going so far. Thank you ALL for your prayers and support. I had my Beta on Dec. 20, and it was BFP--156!!! I was told that was "fabulous"! I was supposed to have had another Beta on Dec. 22, but we were out of town and it was delayed until Dec. 23, this morning. The results were, I believe, 274, but my estradiol and prgesterone levels were good. The doctor felt the Beta was not as elevated as he would like for the 4th day out, so we will repeat in on Wed., Dec. 26. Ugh!!!! I was SO excited about the first results, but now I'm really down about this second test. Do you all know anyone whose Beta levels were sluggish, but then pulled out to have a good pregnancy? Please keep my DH and I in your prayers and thoughts. I guess that I shouldn't have gotten so excited right off the bat, but 156 was so good! I'm worried that I did something wrong, ate the wrong thing. It's so easy for me to obsess about this stuff!

On a very happy note, my DH's bone marrow biopsy was good. Yeah! He is to be followed every 3 months w/blood work for the next 2 years, and if his white blood cells stay the same or decreased we're good...if they elevate, he has another bone marrow biopsy. THAT is very good news!

I'll let you all know how the blood test is on Wednesday, if I'm not too bummed out to post. I guess from here on out I live from blood test to blood test!

[Deej]

I do not know a thing about numbers, but I wanted to say congrats and that I hope the numbers get to where they need to be!! That is awesome news about your husband! Happy Holidays, I know it will be hard to relax knowing you have more b/w the day after CHristmas!

[kblythe]

It's too soon to call my story a success, but as you can see from my signature, my numbers did not double every 48 hours for my 2nd beta, and my RE said the same thing. But as you can see, the numbers more than caught up for the 3rd beta. And I've talked to other girls with similar numbers. If you had more than one embie or an iui, you could have a vanishing twin that explained the dip.

Try not to worry too much. It sure didn't help me!

Kathryn.

[jenedens6102]

They like to see at least a 60% increase within 48 hours if not a full double of the beta. But I have seen a few women on this forum that have had sluggish betas that didn't rise "appropriately" but who have gone on to have healthy and normal pregnancies. Let's hope the same is true for you. Keep us posted.

That's great news about DH's biopsy.

[wewishforbaby]

You are in my prayers.

My number was 38 initially and then it went up to 47 and then back down. However, I have seen people with sluggish betas that went on to have health pregnancies.

You will be in my prayers.

Try to rest as much as you can during the holidays. I'm sure you have not done anything wrong. Stay prayerful and positive. Know and accept this baby as yours.

[dherbert]

Good Luck on the next Beta, we will all be for you.

[Kay]

for great results for you!!
Kay

[dream2bmommy]

I'll keep you in my prayers. I hope everything will be just fine with you and your little bean. Me and you have something incoming - poodle love (lol).

[odmom2b]

Thank you all for your kind words. I wanted to catch everyone up on how things had progressed from here. I spotted the evening of the 2nd Beta (Dec. 23), and the doctor advised that I lay low for a couple of days. So, no more spotting after Monday AM. We repeated the Beta today, and it was 556. So, still increasing but not at the preferred rate. They will see me again next week on Jan. 2 for an u/s. Hopefully, the news will be good. I was told by the DE coordinator that this does happen on occasion, and that they do see good outcomes at times. She also said that if the absolute worse happens and this is not a viable pregnancy, the mere fact that I got pregnant in the first place is a huge step and that it tells them a lot about my uterus and my body's ability to respond to the hormones. So, we'll see. Of course, this is a real let-down from where I was on the 20th (my first Beta), but we're still pregnant for now and that is all that matters. Thank you so much for sharing your story Tracy. That really means a lot to me, and that gives me a lot of hope! Fortunately, no spotting in the last 48 hours, so that's also a big relief for me.

Lu, do you have a standard, toy, or mini poodle? They are great! I absolutely love my poodle babies so much! They certainly have helped my DH and I during this past year.

Thanks again for everyone's support. I hope to have awsome news sometime next week!

[bd711]

There definitely are lots of examples of sluggish-rising betas on this forum that are now well along in pregnancy. I also want to relay that a woman in my support group in the spring who was pregnant with donated eggs had a really strange beta increasing pattern, but by the time she had her u/s, all was completely normal. So hopefully January 2nd will bring you that peace.

I'm so sorry that these concerns have to interrupt your celebration of your pregnancy. But hopefully soon you'll be breathing that big sigh of relief.

Thinking of you. -B

[odmom2b]

B--thank you SO much! You and Kathryn have been so awsome in sharing your stories. And Tracy, I am SO sorry for your hearbreak and loss. I truly appreciate your telling me that you had also heard of successful pregnancies after sluggish Betas, especially after your experience. I do feel much better now, and I will just keep on plugging along. I will let you all know how things go.

Thanks so much to all of you! I have no idea how I would have managed this without you all!

[kitty]

I am kinda in the same boat....
1st Beta

[kitty]

I am kinda in the same boat with you.....

12/15 1st Beta 106
12/18 2nd Beta 213
12/20 3rd Beta 374
12/27 4th Beta 1374

RE is concerned a bit because level is rising slowly, but it IS rising!!!! He moved my ultrasound up from 1/9 to 1/3. I am trying not to be worried, yet find it almost impossible.
Keep me posted & I will do the same and will pray a LOT for BOTH of us!

[dream2bmommy]

Odmom2b and Kitty I'm for you to receive a good news here soon. Lets hope you and your babies are just fine. I've been bleeding since 5 days after official BFP, and I'm still very pregnant, so i know miracles do happen. Odmom2b, i have a toy poodle. My DH bought her for me right around the time i got my BFP. She is adorable. My little baby girl. I use to have two standard poodles (girls) long time ago. Since then poodles are my favourite dogs. She now has a brother 7years old min pin, they turning our house up side down, just like kids. Watching them and taking care of them relaxes me a lot. True joy of my life.

[odmom2b]

Cathi--thank you SO much for sharing your story! I am hoping that we will be the two people who tell everyone else in the future who worry about lagging hcg levels that they don't need to get too caught up in all of that. I read an article from 2005 on WebMD by a fertility specialist that said if the hcg levels are rising but not doubling, but you are not bleeding and not having pain, then no news is good news. He stated that so many women needlessly worry and obsess over the hcg levels, when their pregnancies are in fact viable. He also said that if the u/s looks good, that is the best indicator and to not even worry about hcg levels anymore after having a good u/s. So, I am turning this over to God to take care of for me. I know that this is out of my control and that I have done nothing to cause the lag. Obviously, I am seriously that the u/s loooks good. I have had no more spotting since Monday AM, so I take that as a good sign. My boobs are still very sore and I am beginning to have some nausea here and there, so at least I can enjoy a few symptoms of pregnancy while I'm at it! You have no idea how much it means to me to have someone else on an hcg vigil like me. I will that your u/s and mine both are A-OK! Let's both try to relax and just enjoy our pregnancies and what a huge achievement this has been for us!

Lu--what color is your little poodle baby? I had a red toy poodle that lived to be 15--she passed away in 2000--so, I have done just the opposite of you! I went to the larger poodles while you went smaller! I am disappointed because I have not been able to walk them since we did the ET. I guess that I could walk them, but they pull on the leash and sometimes walking them is a contact sport! Enjoy your little girl--they sure do burrow right into your heart, don't they! Also, MAJOR congratulations on your pregnancy!!!!! Awesome!

Everyone has been so wonderful. I really hope that I have a great update next week (and you too, Cathi!).