Thursday, September 5, 2013

Bad News

This morning Jenn went in for bloodwork so that they could see what her beta numbers are.
We got the results around 12:30.  They were not good.  9.8.  This means that there's still a small chance the pregnancy could take, but a much bigger chance that this is a "chemical" pregnancy, meaning the embryo attached but dissolved.

So, what are beta numbers?

"Beta" numbers are short for Beta hCG (human chorianic gonadotropin).  HCG is otherwise known as the "pregnancy hormone," and is made by the cells that form the placenta.

I've read that anything above 25 is a positive pregnancy (anything below 5 is a negative pregnancy), and this number (in 85% of pregnancies) should double every 48 to 72 hours until they drop down and level off at 8 to 11 weeks.

A low beta could mean a very early miscarriage (otherwise known as a chemical pregnancy) or a blighted ovum (meaning the embryo has attached itself to the uterine wall, but has not developed).  Even some increase in hCG levels could still point toward a blighted ovum- as the placenta can continue to grow without a baby for a short time.  A blighted ovum is usually caused by abnormal chromosomes.



2 comments:

Krystal said...

Hey, don't get down yet!! There was a lady in one of my support groups that had a 4 for her beta and went on to have a healthy pregnancy! Let's wait until the next one! Keeping my fingers crossed! ((hugs))

Anonymous said...

sending positive baby thoughts your way!