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No, your really can't do anything, BUT at least you can have an idea if its not going good any longer. The reason I asked, is my last miscarriage, the HCG was doubling normally, and the sac was measuring normally... but, at about 8 weeks, the sac was correct but the fetal pole only had a flicker for a heartbeat and my HCG was hardly going up anymore. The highest it got was 9500... The heartbeat stayed a flicker for about 3 weeks (weird, it stayed that long)... but, all of a sudden my last ultrasound before my D&C, the fetal pole was like dissolved (so to say) and NO heartbeat or color flow. It was 2 days before that last one that we still seen the flicker... So, I knew I lost it that night. We knew for weeks that it wasn't going good, but we didn't want to end it with its heart still beating. EVEN though it was slow, it was still there. The sac always measured right, but the fetal pole didn't. And at the last u/s they said it basically disappeared.

Daniella, I know what your saying about knowing it's not going well, but maybe it's just as hard to know as to not know. I'd be inclined to have a D&C right away, so as not to prolong the agony or waste more time. However, I'd probably wind up terminating a viable pregnancy doing that... There's just no winning. My baby measured right for dates at 7 1/2 weeks and the heart beat was strong. I don' t get it - it was like with you, the embryo had begun to disintegrate. I guess there's enough lleft to test because the doctor says he is sending it out to check for chromosomal abnormalities. I've had my share of mc's but this is the first one where I saw an embryo - with a hearbeat as well! Rest were all blighted ova or the bizarre supposed ectopic which may have been an incomplete D&C but no one knows.... Seeing the baby and the heartbeat is the worst, though. The others you can try and convince yourself were never really babies, never got going... But this is too much. I actually started to relax a tiny bit when the embryo was measuring right and had a good heartbeat and I was vomiting constantly. What a joke. If I ever try and get pregnant again I'll be a mess for 16 weeks. No amouns of scan or vomiting will give me a moments peace. I'm not sure that's how human being were mean to live.

Erin-- I know exactly how you feel.... here is the thing that really upset me, but no point in dweling on it now.... The first time I seen my HCG not doubling as good as they should, I asked the dr. to test my progesterone level... I would have never thought to ask, but recently my sister would have indeed lost her son, if not for progesterone supplements. She wasn't producing enough, etc. So... she told me that my preg. was going exactly like her's right when she went on progesterone supplements because her level wouldn't get more than 10. My dr. said, "NO, you don't need to get tested for that"... I was so upset because I knew it saved my sisters son. So, I went to a health facility and asked if I could just get my progesterone tested.. They said no because I need my dr. to do it. I was like, "ARGH" about a week goes by, another set of HCG comes back not doubling, but almost..... I try again to get tested... NOPE! I even went to a fertility clinic and they said that I'm not their patient so no... About another week... Still a heart flicker but HCG not going up as much as before anymore... (getting frustrated now)... I ended up going to Condell Hospital near my parents because I was in town visiting... They tested my progesterone level (convinceing the dr. there wasn't easy)... and finally the results came back.... (the baby heart beat still flickering..) and the level of progesterone was 8.2 and the dr. rushed me to the pharmacy and put me on progesterone. 4 days later is when the heartbeat had stopped. I know in my heart that it really needed the supplements. That it was definitely its lifesupport and it was the dr. that cut it short. After the D&C, the dr. did lots of testing... They came to the conclusion that my body doesn't produce enough progesterone and never has. They were surprised I even got pregnant, I guess I hardly produce enough progesterone to ovulate. I would only ovulate sometimes 2 or 4 times a whole year. So, I am now pregnant again.. (got preg. 5 weeks after my m/c) because they put me on progesterone. And this one is going great so far. But, like you... I will not feel comfortable until I hit good in my second trimester.

I'm sure you will be fine, Daniella, but now I'm just not sure if I have faith in progesterone supplements. There is so much controvery regarding whether they work or not. I've read that some woman can carry with low progesterone, you can have very different levels each month, depending on quality of ovulation, etc.... Even if you had low progesterone last time, your body could be doing a better job on it's own this time. My progesterone went up a bit, and the doctor doesn't think that's what ended this pregnancy (he thinks chromosomal problem, but we'll find out), but still... I'm afraid to try again even with progesterone. I have 3 friends/ relatives who had low progeterone, used supplements and had babies, but that did not happen for me and I don't understand how I can be having such bad luck...

Erin, do you have any kids? and was this your first lost? Also, I have luteal phase defect, therefore if I didn't take progesterone supplements I will always lose my pregnancies. I just will never make enough of my own. But, not every female is like that. Sometimes it is just the one pregnancy that your levels just weren't good. And nothing you can do... but, those same woman can have better levels next time. Where, I would never. If your pregnancy ended due to a chromosome problem, the good news is, it hardly ever happens again. Unfortunately just one of those things. Have you and your hubby been tested to make sure that your chromosomes work together, so to say?? We had everything checked after my 3 loses and no live births and the ONLY think they found on me is that my ovaries do no produce the progesterone needed... A good way they know this also is because I never had regular periods. Sometimes every 3 months, etc. Anyhow, if you have regular periods and don't have a progesterone problem, then you truly don't need to go on the supplements for your next preg. Erin- I'm sure it will all work out. I had 3 m/c's in a period of 4 years..... Each time, was just as hard and I was so depressed and thought I just can't do this again. It is so hard, but the time will come and the lord will bless!! Good luck!!

Daniella - I am lucky that I do have a little girl, now eight years old. I conceived her 2 weeks after a D&C for a blighted ovum!!! So much for waiting for the next period. I had so much fertile mucus after that D&C I KNEW it had to be a healthy ovulation... That was with my first husband (who left me when my daughter was still an infant). I remarried a few years ago to a great guy. He has 2 children from a previous marriage, so I know he is fertile. However, you are right. We need to be tested to see if we are "mismatched." I have had three mc, all seemingly different "types" (uterine abnormality - a polyp, since removed, and ectopic, now this....). All since Feb. It's really hard. I am 37 now and don't have the luxury of time. Life just worked out differently than I plannen. I am really terrified to keep trying. The chromosomal a___lysis will be able to tell us something. But I will probably still be tested for other causes. Before my first blighted ovum nine years ago, I was spotting before my period and thought I might have low progesterone. I got pregnant so quickly after the d&c though, so never tested. No more spotting after the pregnancy. Periods like clockwork every 30 days, ovulation kit says ovulate b/w 14 - 16 days, and I get pregnant at the drop of a hat. A blessing and a curse lately.

Daniella - Also, I have three friends with luteal phase defect, all who have had babies after mc using progesterone supplements, so for some people like you I know they do work. I had borderline (11.9 at 5 wks) progesterone with this preg., but I don't know why progesterone supplements didn't help. Unless genetic factor.... We'll see.

Erin- unfotunately a bad pregnancy can cause the a lack of progesterone also. Just like your HCG wouldn't double normally... So, maybe you don't have this problem, although it doesn't hurt to take the supplements which are totally safe. It can only help, if needed. Here's the funny thing also, that goes along with yours..... It has been almost 3 years since my ectopic pregnancy that resulted in the removal of the right fallopian tube. So, I thought, I must not be ovulating. Or if I am, not much, because I'm not getting pregnant. Well, we finally got pregnant in April this year. YEA!! and I was about 12-14 weeks when we lost it. It was so sad, because how long it took. Well, just like you, I got pregnant that first time I ovulated after my D&C... My HCG was down to 5 at about 4 weeks after my D&C and 5 weeks after my D&C I conceived. It was crazy how fast it happened. Now, I am on the supplements that I needed for the last one, and everything is looking good so far. So, you are right... you are way more fertile right after a loss or a birth. I never even had a period after my D&C. lol... I also have a gut feeling this one is going to be a girl... I know its too soon, but I just have that feeling. My HCG is more than doubling (and its not twins).... and they say with girls your HCG goes up faster. I dunno, if thats the truth or not, but I still just have a feeling. Anyhow, I am sure that you will get some answers and finally have a healthy pregnancy and birth!!! Best of luck !!!

Daniella - how early did you start with the progesterone with this healthy pregnancy? I started at 5 1/2 wks. Maybe that's too late, although my Dr. thinks that progesterone had gone up and that was not the reason for the fetal demise. My HCG was going up first six weeks, after that they stopped doing blood work after they saw the baby with the heartbeat. To everyone else: One frequently asked question here is: "Will taking progesterone delay an inevitable mc?" I will find out if my baby died because of a genetic abnormality in about a month, tests takes awhile. It appears to have died at least a week, up to two weeks, before the ultrasound revealed it had died. A normal miscarriage can take this long before expelling, or could be a normal missed mc. The placenta and gestational sac continued to grow after baby had died, though, which suggests progesterone (from the supplements) was chugging along, doing it's job, and baby died for other reason. Anyway, point is, if you are on progesterone and your baby is destined not to make it for some other reason, make sure your doctor scans you at least once every two weeks. That way you will know fairly quickly, and will not have to hold on to the pregnancy for a month or so longer than necessary. You won't have to do that blood guesswork. Looks positive, looks doubtful but fingers crossed, etc.... You will KNOW and can have D&C immediately and move on towards trying again.

Erin- correct!! and also, progesterone can prolong the inevitable... Because, like you said, its keeping the levels high enough to sustain the pregnancy, whereas if you didn't take it and you were going to m/c the levels would drop as they should and you would m/c normally earlier... YET... its just basically your gut feeling that tells you what happened. Like, I think your probably right, and it wasn't the progesterone problem for you, yet something else... As for me, the only answer they could come up with is the progesterone and since it way my 3rd loss, it wasn't chromosome. Plus, we got the chromosome test done and it came back normal... My last pregnancy I took the progesterone supplements TOO late. Like 8 weeks.. This one I took 11 days after I conceived. So, very early. The day I found out I was pregnant. AND its looking great now. So, if this one goes to term, I truly believe that the progesterone supplements is the only life support for a good pregnancy with my body... I'll keep ya posted!

I have read all the threads, and, Erin, I am so sorry. I am 38 years old, and suffered a blighted ovum 10 months ago. I just found out that I'm 4 weeks pregnant. My doctor had me come in right away for blood work and an exam. Before I received the blood work results, I had some red spotting. I immediately began to cry, fearing the worst, but my dr. put me on progesterone suppository. I understand how you feel that you cannot endure trying to conceive again. I am terrified that this might be my last chance. I wish you the very best of luck in the future.

Thanks everyone, for the support. I think I did get the progesterone supplements in time - at 5 weeks, but I am expecting the kereotyping results to say chromosomal problem of some kind. I'll be surprised if it doesn't. My doctor when looking at the ultrasound said the sac and placenta were right for dates, so he doesn't anticipate it being the progesterone that far along (fetal demise about 8 weeks - usually it is chromosomal at this time). However, my progesterone was on the low side in the beginning (11.9) and I did have some spotting, so if I do get pregnant again, I am going to take the supplements from day one. I think I need them as well. 11.9 is in the normal range, but very borderline.... and the spotting seems to suggest a little too low.

well, i was trying the progesterone also, but i feel like i got started too late at 6 weeks...went for an unscheduled u/s due to some bleeding and the doctor told me there was no heartbeat, fetus had past away...she felt it was b/c my progesterone levels were soo low...only 2...this was my first pregnancy, first miscarriage...but i'm not going to give up hope...my doctor was very sensitive and rea__sured me many women suffer miscarriages... she did tell me that as soon as i think i'm pregant and get a positive hpt result to come to the office right away to check my hormone levels and possibly start progesterone sooner...all i can do now is think to the future and be more aware of my body...

Yvette - You sound like a very good candidate for progesterone supplements starting the day after ovulation. That's the time that has the highest success rate. There's NO way someone with a progesterone level of 2 could carry a pregnancy. You need to take progesterone supplements no later than day 18 of your cycle. If you use an ovulation predictor test (they are cheap online) you will know when you have ovulated and can start using them sooner maybe. I bet this method will give you the levels that you need.

But one more thing, Yvette - sometimes you can see a heartbeat at six weeks, but in some cases it's not till seven weeks. Are you still pregnant?

Erin-thanks for the advice...that is something that i will definitely take into consideration...and i am definitely not pregnant..saw the heartbeat at 6 weeks, it was just a slow flicker and based on the ultrasound, its very near my cervix...i am coming to terms with it...my boyfriend however, is not..i know it hasn't even been 2 days and i am already thinking about when i want to try again..but he is saying he may not want to try again..he does not want to take the chance this would happen a 2nd time and have to deal with the heartache again..i'll just give him time...thanks again