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Last Updated:
Sep 21st, 2007 - 22:39:40
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Question
I am 71/2 weeks pregnant according to my dates. I did a pregnancy test at 4 weeks 1 day and it was positive. I had the flu at about the time of implantation and had bad pain in my lower abdomen on my left side and bad low backache. At 6 weeks 2 days I went for an ultrasound (external) and they saw a sac and put me at 5w4d according to size of sac. The day after I started having a brown discharge. I had another ultrasound a week later(transvaginal) and they put me at 5w5d according to a 2mm head to rump measurement and it had a slow heartrate of 86bpm.(If I am 5w5d then my pregnancy test would have shown positive when I was 21/2 weeks pregnant). The pain has eased up but the spotting hasn't. I haven't had morning sickness as with my previous pregnancies (boy and girl) and I have felt ever since the beginning that things weren't just right. My hcg levels aren't going up properly. At 6w3d(according to my dates) hcg 1400, 3 days later 2000, 3 days later 2600. The doctor
says its fine since it's going up and has changed to 5 day blood tests and another ultrasound in 2.5 weeks.
Is my doctor not telling me everything? I am so stressed I don't think I can wait another 2 weeks for an ultrasound. Is there anything else I should do? Should I get a 2nd opinion. What are my chances of a full term pregnancy? (No complications with previous 2 pregnancies.)
Rosalea
Answer
Dear Rosalea,
The HCG level in a normal pregnancy should double every three to four days. I share your concern about the health of your pregnancy. If a sac was seen in the uterus, it is unlikely you have a tubal pregnancy, but there is a possibility this pregnancy could miscarry. Although you are upset, it is better to do more testing and wait the two weeks for an ultrasound to be absolutely certain about whether this is a healthy pregnancy or miscarriage. Occasionally the laboratory tests can be misleading. I am guessing your doctor just wants to be absolutely sure about the health of your pregnancy one way or the other before taking any further steps.
Best wishes,
Mary L. Davenport, M.D.
Dr. Mary Davenport is an obstetrician-gynecologist in private practice in El Sobrante, California.
She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Davenport is also a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
She has an NFP-only medical practice and is a Medical Consultant in Natural Family Planning.
She is a board member for CANFP and the American Association of Pro-Life OBGyn's.
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