(no subject)

[ste_noni]

I just got a call from my closest friend here in PR. I walk with her twice a week and her daughter is about Ellie's age and they get along really well. Anyway, she took a home pregnancy test about two weeks ago and it was positive. But...today she went to the doctor and didn't see anything. Given that she hasn't had her period, the embryo is either ectopic or growing slowly (either one not good) or she ovulated later than normal in her cycle (possible but she knows when she took the test and it has been about two weeks since then, so either way, she's close to 6 weeks).

She called me in tears just now frustrated about not knowing and scared and feeling stupid for assuming she's pregnant. I told her everything I know about pregnancy tests, early miscarriage, blood tests, HCG levels, and so on. I really hope the pregnancy turns out to be viable. I'm glad she called me but it was sort of a weird feeling to realize that *I'm* the person my friends call when they are concerned about a viable pregnancy.

I guess if there is a silver lining to miscarriage, that is it. I think the thing I hate the most about miscarriage is it robs you of that "Yay, I'm pregnant!" feeling for the rest of your life. I mean, you might be pregnant, but you know pregnancy !=baby every time.

Comments

[vwbug.livejournal.com]

Oh, yuck. I'm so sorry, honey.

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[cashmerepett.livejournal.com]

My twin sister is sort of in this position. She's been trying, but hasn't had a period--so she assumed she wasn't ovulating.

She was visiting this weekend and mentioned how much her breasts ached. So I took her to buy a test and it came up positive. So she was sort of freaked (but glad). Of course, she's doubting the tests because the line was so faint.

So she called her doctor today and went in for a blood test. The HCG levels were 5.4. Anything over a 5 is considered a positive but now she's even MORE worried. They're going to test her levels in two days--to see if they've doubled. If they have, then she's just very early.

I'm really, really hoping that this turns out to be a viable pregnancy because she wants a baby but is worried about her age and her career--she's a lawyer, too.

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

I hope she gets good news. 5 seems very low to me, but you never know...

[sail-aweigh.livejournal.com]

Even blood tests can be wrong. With my first pregnancy, it was before the time of home pregnancy kits, I had to go on base and do a urine test at the dispensary. I did bunches, nada. They took blood. Nada. I'm telling the doctors I'm three months pregnant and their saying, no you're not. Second blood test (after a pelvic where the OB says, sure looks like you're pregnant), finally, finally tested positive. So, low numbers really don't mean diddly-squat. Nothing is fool-proof.

[cashmerepett.livejournal.com]

You were right. It was too low. Lori called me last night--she started cramping and bleeding. She's disappointed but she's going to keep trying. Her doctor told her it was probably just very early. But at least she knows she is ovulating and CAN get pregnant. That's something she was worried about.

I hope your friend's pregnancy turns out well.

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for Lori but glad she seems to be handling it okay.

THanks for the well wishes for C.

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

I think the thing I hate the most about miscarriage is it robs you of that "Yay, I'm pregnant!" feeling for the rest of your life. I mean, you might be pregnant, but you know pregnancy !=baby every time.

I think you are right about that. It's the gift of dread that keeps on giving.

I hope your friend's pregnancy is a viable one. Also Cashmere's sister's.

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

It's the gift of dread that keeps on giving.

Exactly.

[septembergrrl.livejournal.com]

They didn't see *anything,* or just no heartbeat? We didn't get a heartbeat at our first ultrasound with Ivy, and it turned out to just be too early. (Six weeks, instead of the eight we assumed.) Best wishes to your friend, either way.

[ste-noni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they didn't see anything. Kind of weird - I mean, she tested postive over two weeks ago. For her sake, I'm just hoping the ultrasound machine was old or something and it's not ectopic.

[septembergrrl.livejournal.com]

That's sad. I hope for the best.