Second Beta
Beta#1: 4/14/2009, 11am = 1049
Beta#2: 4/16/2009, 9am = 1811
I spent the last two days thinking, if it could just be at least 2000, then I can relax, then I can know it’s okay. My hands were shaking all day today, waiting for the phone call. Despite the fact that I was feeling a little nauseated and feeling some definite pregnancy cramps/ligament stretching, I still was nervous. What if it’s bad news? I could almost hear the nurse’s voice in my head, saying she was sorry. I was mostly fine until about 1pm, and when there was still no call my mind went into overdrive. Not pretty.
So for all of you waiting anxiously, sorry, but I didn’t get my voicemail until 3pm when I went on my break. And then I didn’t really have time to do much besides update twitter.
The nurse opened the voicemail with, “I just wanted to say, congratulations! I am just so happy for you.” So I figured it wasn’t bad news. She continued to say that my blood level was 1811. I was disappointed. Not upset, but just… disappointed. It’s not GREAT, you know? I want GREAT, like Devin’s numbers all were. I want something really really reassuring. I didn’t quite get it.
BUT. The nurse continued to say that they look for doubling times between 2 and 3 days, and I’m right on track for 3, so they are perfectly happy with it and she would see us at the ultrasound next Wednesday.
And then I thought, well duh. Did I really expect it to suddenly take off? I knew from the first beta that this pregnancy has a slower doubling time. Still within the normal range, but the lower end. So this number falls right in line with the HPTs – see, they weren’t wrong… this one definitely was rising much, much slower than my first pregnancy. This is a slow starter, apparently.
Tonight I calculated my doubling time online: 58.39 hours (according to betabase). It’s not too far off the average on the singleton betabase chart. But then look at the breakdown of the doubling time at these levels. Notice where 58 hours falls? Right smack in the median group. Wow, that makes me feel good. Normal is good. Median is good.
Even the spotting is becoming a little bit more normal in my mind. I’ve heard so many stories about people who spotted through their pregnancy, sometimes even heavier than what I’m dealing with. I expect it now. I figure if my beta is still going up, and I’ve been spotting for a week, as long as it doesn’t get worse then it’s probably just one of those things… the things that only exist to drive me insane.
So now I’m just holding my breath until the ultrasound. I just want to know that something is alive in there.
I came back to your page to see if there was an update before I went to bed. Yay! There is more good news. So happy for you.
Normal is good! W00T!
YAY!
All good news. Can’t wait to see a grainy ultrasound pic of your little bean – your beautiful second child.
This is great news Natalie.
Grinning from ear to ear.
Sooooooooooooo happy for you.
Yayyyy NAT!!! :) i did a calculation too and ur HcG rise is 73% in 2 days…and is smack on good :) yay
Great news, I’m so happy to hear that.
And oh, if only you could take a look inside, wouldn’t that be lovely :)
It’s good to hear everything is going well. I will continue praying for all good things for you *HUGS*
*dances*
When I saw the twitter update, I did the same calculation Rosie did. It’s rising appropriately, which is a good thing.
Fingers crossed for a good ultrasound on Wednesday…
xxxx
Really good news! Congrats Natalie!
Wooooo hoooo!!! Fabulous news Nat!!!
THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY
Super attitude and too bad there isn’t a way to go to sleep and wake up on the ultrasound table, huh?
This is GOOD news! How I wish it was possible for good news to just be good news, and not fraught with all these anxieties. Still: normal = wonderful.
I had spotting with both of my pregnancies up to 12 weeks (bright red blood). My friend had a lot of spotting for weeks with both her pregnancies. I think it’s very normal for many women.
THANKS for the update. I don’t blame you a bit for wanting to be bowled over with not-just-good-but-FABULOUS news, because the anxiety is huge and needs huge things to combat it. Now we just have to get through the next 5 days to Wednesday.
I know that things will be okay, Nat. I know because your spotting sounds so much like mine was. And now the little guy that caused me so much trouble in the womb is causing trouble in the kitchen right now! So just be warned…that’s probably one ornery little bean in there! : )
I had spotting too. All the way through my first and most of my second trimester. It is SO scary, but it can be okay. Those are nice betas too. Praying for things to continue to go well for both of you.
Yay for normal! I know you will still be nervous until the u/s and then you will be nervous for the entire first tri… and then it just continues. But this is good news and I am so happy for you!!
I have barely been able to breath reading your whole story. I am at work… and tears have been streaming down my face. Now getting this part, they are tears of happiness that you are pregnant again… and I send you good thoughts and vibes that this pregnancy WILL go well for you. I will follow your story. Thank you for writing this.