pregnancy tests - hormone levels

[windmill]

I have already posted part of this message on the miscarriage board but thought it might be posting it again as I feel I am pregnant again.

I got pregnant when my son was 6 / 7 months old. However, I had done two pregnancy tests that were negative before the chemist did a positive one so I bought another and it was positive but very feint, whereas the one I'd done at an earlier date with my first pregnancy was really dark. I later miscarried at 7 weeks.

In December I found out I was pregnant again. I did another test when I was a week late. I thought it was negative, then a few hours later I got it out the bin and it was a very faint positive. It was a Predictor test; you can keep the result, it doesn't change. I then did another test of a different kind a few days later was also a very feint positive. I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks.

My son was conceived with a different partner. The two miscarriages have been with my present husband. I know that sometimes both a man and a couple can each produce babies that are carried to term but not by each other, although this is very rare. I am worried that this might be the case, in which case I don't know how my partner will feel.

On the other hand, I am wondering if the cause was lack of pregnancy hormone which is common, especially as the dots or lines on the tests are always darker as pregnancy progresses because the hormone levels are higher later on. But if I have hormonal problems wouldn't they have caused a miscarriage with my first child? With my first pregnancy I took a Predictor test when I was 5 days later and it was a very dark dot, as if the hormones were much higher in that pregnancy.

Are there any midwives out there who have any idea whether a feint positive means I am more likely to miscarry? I don't want to another test in case the result is very feint again and I will then panic convinced my hormone levels are not high enough to maintain this pregnancy.

[leese]

Would not associate faint pregnancy test with liklihood of miscarriage windmill - often when taken early they only show a faint line, but wait a couple of weeks, do another, and the line should be darker as your pregnancy hormones increase.

[Katherine]

Windmill it all depends on when you concieved. I became pg with DD when still BF DS so wasn't totally sure of dates etc although I had 3 regulr periods. I felt pg but had negative test 3 times, including one at the doctors. By this time I was well over a week late but test no.4 gave positive result and the outcome is now wriggling into her Pjs. Therefore a faint line may simply be because you concieved a couple of days later than you thought. Actually thinking about it had the same thing with DS, as was so convinced I was pg I couldn't wait and tested in day 10 of my cycle. Gave me a very faint line which was much stronger 5 days later. However if the line stayed faint then I suppose it "might" suggest something but pg is a funny thing. I know once you've had 2 losses you are convinced there is something wrong, and yes there is a chance that there might be, but sadly mc is so common that there is every possibility that you were just very very unlucky. After my 2 losses I was convinced I would have to go through a third loss just to make them test me but in the end it all turned out fine. Also my closest friend had a mc when I had my first, went on to have a healthy pg but then had 2 more mcs after that before having her second daughter. There are no rules of thumb I'm afraid. So hang on in there and I really hope it works out for you.

[mears]

Agree with Leese.

[mears]

Agree with Leese.

[leese]

If you agree twice mears, that must mean you really, really do!

[mears]

Have had terrible problems the last few days - keep doind multiple postings. How are you leese?

[leese]

I'm well, well, well mears (posted a few times 'specially for you!) - thanks for asking. Our paths don't seem to have crossed in awhile do they?

[windmill]

Hello I just thought I would revive this thread as I took a test about four days after posting my original question and it was positive. Again I thought it was negative at first and then took another look holding it up to the light and realised it was positive. I'm getting worried because I've just started getting some cramping and I've taken your advice leese of doing another test and it is still very light. I am now 8 weeks

[windmill]

The cramping has stopped and I've had no bleeding but I am panicking like mad. Because I've miscarried twice before after having feint results and the second result was just as feint as the last I'm convinced i am miscarrying again

[Oakmaiden]

Fingers crossed for you, Windmill. Hope all is well...

[windmill]

Thanks oakmaiden, it probably is ok and I expect I'm worrying over nothing but I've never been very optimistic about anything and often pleasantly surprised

[windmill]

I think everything's okay now oakmaiden, no more cramping

[Ghosty]

Hi windmill ... just found this thread and thought I would see how you are doing? I am in a similar boat to you (in terms of the faint lines) ... see thread 'Early signs of pregnancy' and am not sure if I am pg or not due to the result of the test ... I also wondered about the faintness of the line meaning that it could mean an m/c further down the line if I am pg BUT then I remembered that my last pregnancy (which I lost at 12 weeks) had a really strong line on the day my period was due ... so it can't mean that much???
Hope you are feeling ok .... how many weeks are you?

[windmill]

Hi Ghosty, thanks for your posting. I am 8 weeks now. Just read that other thread, congratulations on your pregnancy. I am still worried that I will micarry again as the other times the result has been faint I have, also because I have no nausea, tiredness etc. However I know lots of people who have said they had a feint result and went full term so hopefully we'll both be okay