Low Level Results with Blood Pregnancy Test

Updated on December 08, 2010
A.F. asks from Allentown, PA
11 answers

Last Wednesday I took a home pregnancy test. It was positive so I called the doctor to make an appointment. They gave me a blood test on Friday. In the meantime, I took another test on Saturday which was also positive. I called today for my results and they said it is positive, but my levels are low so I need to come back for another blood test this Friday. After some quick internet research, low levels could mean early miscarriage or etopic pregnancy? Sometimes having so much information at our fingertips isn't always a good thing! Anyhow...I am just nervous. I have felt pregnant for the past 2 weeks. I have calculated that I should be about 4 weeks. The first day of my last period was October 30th and my cycle usually lasts between 31 and 33 days. This is my 2nd pregnancy. My first pregnancy was very healthy and normal. I've never had any issues. Has anyone else had this experience and things worked out okay?
Thanks Mamas.

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much Moms for all of your reassuring comments. So far so good. I get my next blood test on Friday so I will let you know. Still feeling pregnant and no signs of bleeding...all good things:-)

Martha...I am sorry for the loss you had. But please don't throw the towel in on me yet! I have not lost a baby. I am going into this one as positive as I can. The rest is in the Lord's hands:-)

Featured Answers

M.S.

answers from Pittsburgh on

When my period was 3wks late with my son, and HPT's were negative, they did a blood test, which was positive and the low numbers just meant that I'd ovulated/got pregnant much later than I thought. What's important is that the numbers grow, which show the baby is growing. In addition, lower numbers have nothing to do with singleton/multiples (facts show that higher numbers, as well as faster doubling rates, have been linked to singletons more often than multiples). This can be a fun site to track: http://betabase.info/index.php. Good luck and grow baby grow!

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Low levels can indicate that you caught your preganancy really early on. As long as the next results go up; don't worry.

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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

It is not necessarilly low levels that indicate a miscarriage, but a decline in levels or a failure ot increase. Three times I have been pregnant - once was an early miscatrriage and the other two were healthy full term babies.

But for all three, I took an early preganancy test (right when my period was due) and it was positive. But each time the blood levels were low and they retested to make sure they were rising. For my miscarriage, they fell on the second blood test (and I was bleeding). For my healthier pregnancies they went up upon retest.

Try not to worry, especially if you feel pregnant and aren't bleeding or otherwise. Just get retested. They want to verify the levels increase over time.

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B.W.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It sounded like you had your blood test really early on. I know my doctor won't see me til i am 5-7 weeks along. So it's probably just low because you were in there so soon. and since they rapidly increase, it would probably have been a normal level if you had gone in a little later.

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

the level of beta hcg itself is not a good indication of anything but whether or not you are pregnant or not. the change(or lack thereof) is what is important. typically, physicians will test your beta hcg in 48 hour increments, they like to see it double in that time, but view it as a viable pregnancy typically with a 60% or more increase. it's quite possible that you have caught it very early on. good luck!

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G.V.

answers from Philadelphia on

I can tell you that when I got preganant (we did IUI) my levels were very low -20 when it should have been 100. They gave me progesterone suppositories to use for a while. Each week it doubled and each week they told me I was going to miscarry because they weren't high enough. Lots of prayer took place and at the 8 week mark, the numbers jumped to where they were supposed to be. The doctor said that this baby was a miracle and my precious baby just turned 13 today! Never give up hope or faith! Good luck.
G.

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C.K.

answers from Birmingham on

I stayed as far away from google as I could after finding out some scary "it could be this?", info I was looking for when I was pregnant with my son. I would not worry. Blood tests are not always a great indicator of a healthy or not healthy pregnancy. It could be that you may not even be as far along in your pregnancy as you think. (I was off by a few weeks with my son!) But an ultrasound should clear all of that up... so if possible... (I know it's difficult) take a deep breath and sit back, relax, and enjoy your pregnancy before morning sickness sets in:-) God Bless
~C.~

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

They really won't be able to tell anything until the second time they draw your blood. The rule of thumb is that the beginning number should double or triple. Good luck:)

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D.D.

answers from York on

You can actually ovulate later on in your cycle so your levels can be lower. As long as they go up and double it should be ok. My best friends levels were normal and she found out at her 19 week sonogram she was having twins. SO she asked the doctor why they didnt see it when they did the bloodwork and the doctor said she was right on with having a single baby that her levels were not high as in some twin pregnancies.

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K.B.

answers from Harrisburg on

You are very early on so levels will be low. They want you back to pin point where you should be at since it's so early. Every pregnancy is different.

K. B
mom to 5 inlcuding triplets

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat
events and chat within 2 hour radius

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M.A.

answers from Philadelphia on

I wish I had great news, but I've also had low levels with a pregnancy and it turned out to be a strange etopic pregnancy that, thankfully, wasn't in my tube but attached near my ovary. My body took care of itself and I didn't need additional help. I was visiting a fertility doctor at the time, so I was in good hands. The happy news about all of this is that I learned I was pregnant two months later and have recently had a very healthy, happy baby boy! My best to you. I know this is hard... losing a baby of any kind is hard! My prayers are with you.

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