The wait continues..... & a guide on HCG

*hopin' & waitin' & wishin'*

Waiting after transfer is probably one of the most difficult things... 

You can't tell the difference between potential pregnancy symptoms and side effects from all the medications you are on...

Today is 6 days post 5 day transfer &

So far I have had:

A killer headache

Mild nausea that comes & goes throughout the day

Tender breasts/sensitive nipples

Mild abdominal cramping

Little bit of diarrhea (promised I would be honest, ha!)

Mild Heartburn

& I've lost 4 pounds! Woot! 

I didn't have too many side effects from the medications prior to transfer other than a little weight gain & some major bloating.. So crossing fingers this is all related to an HCG (pregnancy hormone) surge!  

Keeping my hopes high, my mind positive & continuing to take all the medications...

Beta is on Thursday & we will find out the numbers 

The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin(better known as hCG) is produced during pregnancy. It is made by cells formed in the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it has been fertilized and becomes attached to the uterine wall.

Levels can first be detected by a blood test about 11 days after conception and about 12 – 14 days after conception by a urine test. Typically, the hCG levels will double every 72 hours. The level will reach its peak in the first 8 – 11 weeks of pregnancy and then will decline and level off for the remainder of the pregnancy.

HCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :

• 3 weeks LMP: 5 – 50 mIU/ml
• 4 weeks LMP: 5 – 426 mIU/ml
• 5 weeks LMP: 18 – 7,340 mIU/ml
• 6 weeks LMP: 1,080 – 56,500 mIU/ml
• 7 – 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 – 229,000 mIU/ml
• 9 – 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 – 288,000 mIU/ml
• 13 – 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 – 254,000 mIU/ml
• 17 – 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 – 165,400 mIU/ml
• 25 – 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 – 117,000 mIU/ml
• Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml
• Postmenopausal females: <9.5 mIU/ml

* These numbers are just a GUIDELINE— every woman’s level of hCG can rise differently. It is not necessarily the level that matters, but rather the  change in the level.