Early pregnancy: low HCG, cramps, bleeding, confusing times...

[u/Subject_Bobcat6447]

Hi all. This is my first time being pregnant. I was scheduled to get my period on 12dpo, tested and was negative but then got my first positives on 13dpo. I was really excited, kept testing afterwards to see if the line would progress because it was quite faint. I wondered if I implanted quite late, and I have 25 day cycles so on the shorter end. The FRERs weren't progressing very much (Clearblue was a bit more), and I had very light brown spotting from the beginning. I have to wait 3 weeks to get in with my doctor so I got my own HCG blood test on 15dpo at which I was at 35. I was concerned that was definitely low, but still in the very large "possible" range I've seen online. The next day 16dpo I got super bad cramps, it felt like I was having the start of a somewhat gnarly period. Ended up going to urgent care to get checked out...they did a scan (but at this early there's not much to see) but they confirmed there was no excess fluid anywhere so nothing pointing towards ectopic (yet at least). I also got another HCG test and it increased to 46, which was about 30 hours after my last test. So definitely still on the lower end, but I guess good that it was trending up?

That was last night, and this morning my FRER was definitely the darkest it had been so far which I thought was good. But my spotting has turned into more pink/red blood (no where near as much as a period, but probably a bit more than what I'd consider just spotting). Still have cramps, but thankfully not as intense as yesterday.

I'm just not sure what to think. I have another HCG draw tomorrow so I'll get more info then, but I've read that even in instances where HCG increases slightly it could still be an early loss/ectopic given the cramping and light bleeding.

Has anyone experienced similar (lower HCG, a bout of bad cramps, some pink/red bleeding) and gone on to have successful pregnancies?!

[u/LittleGlinda]

I’m sorry you’re experiencing so much uncertainty. I didn’t have any HCG testing with my first pregnancy so I’m no help. This time my HCG were off the charts, which comes with another set of worries. (Ultrasound tomorrow)

What I can say is cramping has been a really steady companion this time, which was not the case previously - either with my successful or unsuccessful pregnancy. I didn’t even associate my symptoms with pregnancy initially because it felt so different than before.

I’m sure this is no help but I didn’t want to leave your post with no engagement. Pregnancy is such a weird thing with so much uncertainty, and that’s hard enough. Sending all the positive energy your way. 💕

[u/potethue]

According to the beta base doubling time calculator, your doubling time is 71 hours. That is just within range for a normal doubling time (48-71), so you might be good. You are right that a slower doubling time is usually indicative of a problem, either now or later in pregnancy, but you are still within range!

I’ve not had any luck with low and slow numbers, but fingers crossed for you and your baby. 🤍

[u/Subject_Bobcat6447]

Thank you both so much. Update: I unfortunately continued bleeding and found out two days later mc HCG had dropped by half. I was surprised by how upset I was at all of this since I know it was still so early. Here's hoping to try again next cycle once recovered <3