IVF Pregnancy Information

1. tezcanli
   
   

   Hi everyone,

   My history is several pg losses (always missed abortions) due to chromosomal abnormalities. I just completed a successful round of IVF at Cornell but could not test the embies (I originally wanted to do PGD) because they were not going to last till day 5. I had ER on 8/15 and ET on 8/18. We put back one 6 cell, 1 8 cell and 2 4 cell. I am now 6w1d.
   Initial beta: 206, then 1000 (on Friday night), but only 2900 (on Tuesday morning), then 3400 (on Thursday morning) and 5400 on (Saturday morning).
   My ob is very concerned about this slow rise (in fact it's taking longer and longer), especially as I have been spotting on and off. An ultrasound on Thursday (the day of the 3400 beta) revealed two sacs of 5.5 mm each with yolks inside in the uterine cavity--relief--but could not establish anything else, since at this point I was only 5w5d. So, things looked as they should, I think. However, all other signs (my symptoms pretty much gone overnight, my bad betas, spotting) and my history probably spell doom. The real concern, I suppose is the beta numbers. I know we can't put too much stock in them but mine are very bad, no?
   The nurses at Cornell say only the u/s next thursday will tell.
   I think there is absolutely no hope of a viable pg. I am right? I am appropriately concerned?
   Thanks for any advice you may have.

3. bakar
   
   

   Your betas are on the low end, especially for twins, but I think it can go either way. U/S is going to be a better tool from now on to access the pregnancy. It seems the worst was between Tuesday and Thurday when it only went up 500. Possible vanishing twin or triplet?
   I doubt with twins that both embryos are bad that they won't continue to develop, but stranger things have happened, so it is hard to say. Hopefully someone with experience can answer your question. My betas slowed down after 5 weeks, but I haven't had an u/s yet - my first one is on Thurday and I'm a day ahead of you (6w2d today).

   Also are you sure all your pregnancy loss are because of chromosomal reasons?

4. lalegul
   
   

   Lauren,
   I am actually having a hard time deciphering your dates and betas. You mention the day of the week, but not the date. I am assuming these betas were not done last week, but the week before? It would be much more helpful to know the actual date and days past transfer that each beta was taken to see how the levels are for the time frame.

   Can you post that?

5. bakar
   
   

   Morrison I think they were done this past week, if Lauren is 6w1d today like she said she is. I'm 6w2d so they look like they were done in week 5-6, because the week before it would mean those numbers are very high.
   Lauren correct me if I'm wrong. I only know this because we are both around the same time.

6. tezcanli
   
   

   Hi Ladies,

   Thanks for responding. I will try to clarify:
   on 8/31 was my first beta of 206 (2 weeks after ET). On 9/4: 1000, on 9/8: 2900, on 9/10: 3400, on 9/12: 5400.
   Thanks again.

7. lalegul
   
   

   OK, So, I think I have this right...I need to see it like this - I am a visual kinda gal...sorry...

   8/31 - 14dp3dt (17 DPO) -206
   9/4 - 18dp3dt (21 DPO) - 1000
   9/8 - 22dp3dt (25 DPO) - 2900
   9/10 - 24dp3dt (27 DPO) - 3400
   9/12 - 26dp3dt (29 DPO) 5400

   I plugged these numbers into the following sites:
   babymed.com
   betabase.info

   All of your numbers look OK if you strictly look at the level ranges for the DPO. The first 3 betas are fine, and rise appropriately. They slow down, which can be worrisome, but the last three numbers are also OK for the time frame and don't seem to be dropping significantly. They may be a bit under the median for that day, but they are staying relatively consistent.

   I know they seem slow...but they aren't terrible. Some people really do have lower betas. And, betas also begin slowing down around the 1200 mark, and again around the 6000 mark, so that may have affecting things as well. Like bakar said, one of those sacs could have stopped growing awhile ago, too.

   I wish I could give you more assurances, because we all know this is a **** shoot and betas often cause more grief than they cure, but I do think there's still a chance things could be OK.

8. tezcanli
   
   

   OK, So, I think I have this right...I need to see it like this - I am a visual kinda gal...sorry...8/31 - 14dp3dt (17 DPO) -206 9/4 - 18dp3dt (21 DPO) - 1000 9/8 - 22dp3dt (25 DPO) - 2900 9/10 - 24dp3dt (27 DPO) - 34009/12 - 26dp3dt (29 DPO) 5400I plugged these numbers into the following sites:http://babymed.com/Tools/pregnancy/hcg/Default.aspxhttp://www.betabase.info/All of your numbers look OK if you strictly look at the level ranges for the DPO. The first 3 betas are fine, and rise appropriately. They slow down, which can be worrisome, but the last three numbers are also OK for the time frame and don't seem to be dropping significantly. They may be a bit under the median for that day, but they are staying relatively consistent. I know they seem slow...but they aren't terrible. Some people really do have lower betas. And, betas also begin slowing down around the 1200 mark, and again around the 6000 mark, so that may have affecting things as well. Like bakar said, one of those sacs could have stopped growing awhile ago, too. I wish I could give you more assurances, because we all know this is a **** shoot and betas often cause more grief than they cure, but I do think there's still a chance things could be OK.

   Thanks a lot.
   Do you think I should try and do another tomorrow, so I am prepared (if there is a big drop in numbers) before my next u/s on thurdsay or should I just wait for u/s? thanks again so much.

9. lalegul
   
   

   Thanks a lot.Do you think I should try and do another tomorrow, so I am prepared (if there is a big drop in numbers) before my next u/s on thurdsay or should I just wait for u/s? thanks again so much.
   You know Lauren, I would hold off. At this point, I don't think anything is going to give you the answers you are hoping for other than another u/s. It's hard...trust me...bakar and I are right there with you...waiting. But, the betas can just make you more crazy than not. If you do another one, and it doesn't rise, you'll be frustrated. If you do another one and it does rise, you'll still have doubts because of all you've experienced in the last 2 weeks. So, my guess is another beta won't really help too much and it may just make it all worse. And honestly, my guess is you are already "prepared" for whatever happens at your u/s.

   My feeling after this cycle is that they shouldn't DO more betas than 2 unless there is a reason. But that's just my opinion.

   Anyway, I wish you luck. Please keep us posted.

10. bolajing
    
    

    lauren i had betas with a 110 and 112 doubling time with a FET and I am almost 17 weeks with a baby girl..

    my betas were:
    14dpo 232
    16dpo 399
    19dpo 1008
    21dpo 1848
    23dpo 2398 see and the next was 112 doubling time plus i had bleeding through this preg. foiund at 14 weeks was due to placata VASA. so bleeding is not a sign of something going wrong..

    i was sure i was gonna have a miscarriage and the u/s showed a healthy little heartbeat at 6 weeks 2 days... baby measured up to 6 days behind in the begining but caught up by 9 weeks and is right on target.

    my dr told me betas never do wht they should and as long as they are rising then you will be ok. i cried and cried but the dr reassured me all was ok and it was. my last preg betas got over 200,000 and this one they never went over 85,000...you are gonna have to wait till u/s to see if the preg is viable. good Luck KUP. they look pretty good to me better than mine!!!

11. tezcanli
    
    

    Thank you so much!! I can't believe how wonderfully nice everyone one is on these boards. It helped so much when I was doing IVF too.
    My dr. called and said I should do beta test this am and they just came back at 9181 (they were 4300 on 9/10, 5498 on 9/12), which is a shock but a positive. Perhaps a twin died and the singleton is now moving forward, the dr. surmised. Now I feel that it is okay to hope a bit. Still spotting. We'll see the u/s.
    What is placenta VASA?
    Thanks again and best to you.

12. danarassas
    
    

    Hi - these are my betas which had me worried sick and my RE was concerned about as well. I now have 1 year old twins from this cycle.

    12dp3dt = 121
    14dp3dt = 221
    16dp3dt = 407
    18dp3dt = 849
    20dp3dt = 1832
    23dp3dt = 3019
    25dp3dt = 4129
    27dp3dt = 6070

13. bolajing
    
    

    lauren congrats on the great beta... oh well i was diagnosed with placenta previa at 14 weeks and was cause of my spotting in first trimester. then they found planceta vasa where a blood vessel comes off the placenta and causes big probs. i will get a c-section no later than 36 weeks. so i can deliver anywhere between 28-36 weeks depending on how bad my bleeding is at that time. it really doesnt cause a risk till 28 weeks. but I am showng bad signs starting at 14 weeks. go figure.

    if u are preg with twins i wouldnt rule out a loss twin as of yet bleeding is very common this early on especially in twin preg you might even have a minor subchrionic bleed which is really nothing to worry about. congrats on the beta again it sounds great!

14. tezcanli
    
    

    lauren congrats on the great beta... oh well i was diagnosed with placenta previa at 14 weeks and was cause of my spotting in first trimester. then they found planceta vasa where a blood vessel comes off the placenta and causes big probs. i will get a c-section no later than 36 weeks. so i can deliver anywhere between 28-36 weeks depending on how bad my bleeding is at that time. it really doesnt cause a risk till 28 weeks. but I am showng bad signs starting at 14 weeks. go figure. if u are preg with twins i wouldnt rule out a loss twin as of yet bleeding is very common this early on especially in twin preg you might even have a minor subchrionic bleed which is really nothing to worry about. congrats on the beta again it sounds great!

    So, are you on bed rest or limited activity? Best of luck. There is so much to worry about every step of the way!

15. myarilan
    
    

    Hi Ladies,

    I\'d like to join in with my slow growing beta's since I was lurking for a few days to try and gain perspective. I'm 42 with high FSH and had 6 nice looking embryo's transferred on 8/26. Against great odds (according to RE's anyway) I got a BFP on an HPT at 14DPO. Here are my betas:

    16dpo 315
    18dpo 563
    23dpo 1517

    Going for another beta on thursday, at 5w4d and first ultrasound and hoping to see something reassuring since the anxiety just about killed me today. Shedding a few tears helps.

    GL to everyone.

16. tezcanli
    
    

    Hi Ladies,I\'d like to join in with my slow growing beta's since I was lurking for a few days to try and gain perspective. I'm 42 with high FSH and had 6 nice looking embryo's transferred on 8/26. Against great odds (according to RE's anyway) I got a BFP on an HPT at 14DPO. Here are my betas:16dpo 31518dpo 56323dpo 1517Going for another beta on thursday, at 5w4d and first ultrasound and hoping to see something reassuring since the anxiety just about killed me today. Shedding a few tears helps. GL to everyone.

    I read a lot about vanishing twins and my ob even suggested it as a possibility for me. Perhaps for you too? Best of luck while you wait. It is torture. You have a beta on Thursday and I have and u/s. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

17. Giannopoulou
    
    

    I had my u/s moved up from 7 to 6 weeks because my beta was rising slower than the doctor wanted. The u/s was yesterday and everything was fine. My dr. said when you start off with a strong beta, but the numbers are slow rising...that often more than one tried to implant initially. I stressed and googled like crazy for a week until I had the ultrasound, though.

18. myarilan
    
    

    tezcanli - hope your ultrasound looks good on thursday. I'm also having one that day and hope the theory of a vanishing twin explains my betas.

    Giannopoulou - congrats on your ultrasound. You must feel very relieved.

    I feel better after reading about others succesful pregnancies with slower rising betas.

    Nothing to do but wait another 2 days

19. tezcanli
    
    

    tezcanli - hope your ultrasound looks good on thursday. I'm also having one that day and hope the theory of a vanishing twin explains my betas.Giannopoulou - congrats on your ultrasound. You must feel very relieved.I feel better after reading about others succesful pregnancies with slower rising betas.Nothing to do but wait another 2 days

    Bookgnyc--congratulations! I think you were part of series 82 at Cornell, as was I !

    I wrote two days ago to update my betas which, after being low and slow to rise suddenly had jumped to 9000. I was happy. So, today, the dr. was expecting 16,000 but we only got 13,000. The vanishing twin still seems like a possibility but the second twin might also be failing now, according to my ob. How to fill the hours between now and tomorrow's u/s? If the h/b is below 115 at 6w5, it's probably bad news, right?

20. bolajing
    
    

    lauren good luck!!!!!!! your numbers still sound great! 13,000 i bet you'll see a strong heartbeat. oh and mine at 6 weeks was only 111bmp and all is fine now i fluctuate between 140- 153bpm.

21. myarilan
    
    

    Lauren - how did your ultrasound go?

    I was also a part of series 82 at Cornell. My beta rose to 2591 yesterday and there was a fetal sac with a yoke so now I just need to wait til next thursday to hopefully see a heartbeat.

    16dpo 315
    18dpo 563
    23dpo 1517
    25dpo 2591

    Enjoy your w'end.

22. Giannopoulou
    
    

    Lauren- Yes. I was part of series 82. How was your ultrasound? I've been routing for you.

    myarilan- fingers crossed for you next week. I hope you see a healthy hb.

23. myarilan
    
    

    Thanks Giannopoulou. I'm anxious but trying not to stress since it won't help anyway.

    Lauren - any news?

24. fati
    
    

    lauren- re the h/b, one of my twins was only 114 at about 7 weeks pg. It's never been a problem even though I stressed about it in the beginning. Both my RE at Cornell and my perinatologist at Cornell say over 100 is fine.

25. myarilan
    
    

    Hi everyone.

    Well, I'm out. My slow beta's lead to no heartbeat developing. Will talk to my RE tomorrow to decide on what to do next. Will probably do a D&C, hopefully monday.

    Hope others with slow betas have better end results.

26. tezcanli
    
    

    Hi everyone,

    myarilan--I have been there many times. It's so tough. I am really sorry.

    I have had several u/s since my last post. The latest is that I lost one twin but have one baby growing well. I have my first obgyn visit on Monday, and hopefully another u/s in a week. I have had many m/c, so I hope to do CVS in about 2-3 weeks. I think my beta hell was due to one twin failing. Once its heart stopped, the other twin caught up in growth. It had measured about a week behind but made it up in 3 days.

    GL to all!

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.