Help! Worried. Doubling time from Beta1 to Beta2 is 55.7 hours!

[MPTTC3]

Transferred three 8-cell grade 1 embryos on 7/26/09.
1st beta on 8/7/09 (12dp3dt) = 238 (progesterone 28.5)
2nd beta today on 8/10/09 (15dp3dt) = 583 (progesterone 51)

I'm concerend that my doubling time is only 55.7 hours. That's the SLOWEST it's ever been for me when I look back at my previous pregnancies; so, I'm concerned. I'm taking a ton of progesterone supplements (PIO and suppositories), and I think that's why my progesterone is looking good. I have a 3rd beta scheduled in 2 days (8/12/09).

Any feedback would be appreciated on my numbers so far? Can you ladies who have had slow doubling times please share your stories (good or bad). Thank you!

[AthenaD]

Levels should double every 48-72 hours. 55 hours is right within the normal range. Every pregnancy is different. My two pregnancies, though close together, couldn't have been more different!

Let us know how your 3rd beta went.

Best of luck and congratulations!

[MPTTC3]

Hi Athena! Actually, I've been crying and sad since I got the call this afternoon. My third beta was 985, and my progesterone was 57. My beta went up, but it's rising sooooooooooooo slow. The doubling time increased from 55.7 hours to 64 hours now. They're brining me in for an early ultrasound on Friday to see if they see a sac. I heard that a scary statistic today that for those women who's betas don't double at first and even they do make it to see the sac, fetal pole, heart rate, etc. there's only a 5% chance that they won't miscarry. I'm so scared and sad. My betas have always doubled fast.

[czarinahil]

Neither with the last pregnancy or with this one did I have a 48 hr doubling time. What Athena said is right 48-72 is the norm.

Sounds like you are doing ok to me!

[Jenn, R.N.]

Mt betas went up very slowly with this pg as well. I have always had good, fast doubling times in previous pg, except when I have m/c.

I have seen the hb twice since then and all is going well.

I am curious, where did you hear that only 5% have normal pg after slow rising betas? That worries me.

[MPTTC3]

Thanks for your responses.

My Betas/Progesterone
12dp3dt = 238 / 28.5
15dp3dt = 583 / 51 (56 hr doubling time)
17dp3dt = 985 / 57 (64 hr doubling time)

Czar & Jenn, could you please share your betas? I've been on the internet for the past 4 hours researching slow rising betas, and the majoirty of sites/posts attribute slow rising HCGs to blighted ovums, ectopics, or abnormal intrauterine pregnancies that will eventually m/c. Just wanted some reassurance. My doubling times have never been this slow (55 hours, then 64 hours). Unfortunately I've been mostly coming across articles about unsuccessful pregnancy outcomes with early slow rising betas than successful pregnancy outcomes.

Jenn, like I said, I've been on the internet for the past 4 hours, and I should have bookmarked that site that quoted the 5% statistic (regarding women that have slow rising hcgs in early pregnancy only have a 5% chance of not miscarrying). I don't mean to scare you. I'm sure you're just fine at 8 weeks and normal fetal growth. I read that statistic on a forum on IVFConnections.com and from another website.

However, here's a study that I did bookmark, because I was going to fax it to my RE and get her thoughts:

Slow rising serial chorionic gonadotropins predict poor pregnancy outcome despite sonographic viability.

Check JH, Liss JR, Katz Y, Shucoski K.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA.

PURPOSE: To determine the prognosis of women with slow rising beta-hCG levels when viability is detected by ultrasound. METHODS: Serum beta-hCG levels were obtained every two to three days in the early first trimester. Doubling-time (DT) of beta-hCG levels was defined as DT exceeding 3.2 days. Sonography was performed at eight weeks and then after 12 weeks. RESULTS: There were 158 consecutive pregnancies evaluated and 111 (70%) had normal rising beta-hCG levels, viable ultrasound at eight weeks, and viable pregnancies after 12 weeks. There were 22 pregnancies with slow rising beta-hCG levels (13.9%) with 16 (72.7%) showing viability at eight weeks but not after the first trimester. A sac-crown rump length discrepancy with a sac smaller than normal was found in 11 of these 16 (68.7%) women. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with slow rising beta-hCG levels should not be given an optimistic prognosis even if viability is demonstrated at eight weeks.

[Jenn, R.N.]

wow, I hope I can beat the odds. That article is terrible. I was happy to be doing well at 8w3d (last ultrasound) when we were able to see the hb again. My re even released me to my ob, even though the baby is measuring a bit behind. The nurse said it was probably a later implant.

First beta was 88 (14dpo or 9dp5dt).
second beta was 217 (17dpo)- Have to double check the number, going from memory here.
third beta was around 460 (21 dpo)
fourth was around 1700 (25 dpo).

Doc said two good scans with good, strong hb was enough to release me.

I averaged out my doubling times and even though they got a little slower in the middle from the first to the last my doubling time was 61 hours or so. In the middle I had one where the doubling time was in the 80's somewhere, which would put me well above the 3.2 days they quoted in the study..

[czarinahil]

With this current pregnancy my first beta was 107 at 11dp3dt. Second beta was 196 at 13dp3dt. That's just under a 55 hr doubling time. My dr was happy with that. Third beta was 494 so the doubling time increased to 36 hrs.

I need to try an dig up the beta numbers from my last pregnancy. My first beta was only 36 and I remember the initial doubling time to be somewhere around 69 hrs. It also got much better by the third beta.

Nothing good comes from scouring the internet!!! Try and stay positive and keep off the computer!

[JenX]

I think you have a couple things going for you....

First-you only need to double by 72 hours...truly that is the rule...

Second-your initial betas are high....sometimes with multiples the doubling can get kind of screwy especially if maybe one didn't continue on or is weaker...they should be able to see something soon....best of luck!

[AthenaD]

The article says: "Doubling-time (DT) of beta-hCG levels was defined as DT exceeding 3.2 days." That's over 72 hours. You are still within the norm.

My RE only took betas once a week. Of course it caused a lot of stress waiting for that week, but he said that waiting a week to do them avoided worrying about a few hours. I really, really think that you are totally fine.

I've also seen on this board SO MANY TIMES that betas can be a little slow (which yours aren't) and then they totally take off!

HILARY - Do you remember telling me not to stress over beta numbers when I was pg with Lexi? You told me to take the advice that I had given you with Jared! I didn't know that you were expecting. Your c/s date is 5 days after Lexi's birthday! Congrats, hon!

Hugs to you all. Please update when you can!