Dr. Boyd, OB/GYN answers a question many women have when getting pregnant. “What is HCG?”
HCG stands for Human Chronic Gonadotropin.
Why is HCG relevant to a pregnant lady?
First, HCG indicates whether you are pregnant or not.
Fertilization: The sperm fertilizes the egg, and they join together to create your baby.
After fertilization, your newly formed baby travels down the fallopian tube and burrows into the uterus. This takes approximately 7 days. At that point a hormone is released from your uterine lining in the form of a blood hormone called HCG (Human Chronic Gonadotropin).
HCG is the hormone that is released into your blood stream, then into your urine, and causes your pregnancy test to show ‘positive’ when you pee on the stick. You are pregnant!
However, the earliest you can identify HCG in your urine is around day 35 of your cycle. That is assuming that you become pregnant on day 14 of your cycle, and you counted forward another two weeks. At this point, you would have had your period, but you missed it.
Typically around the time that you miss your period, you are unable to identify a positive urine pregnancy test using an HCG urine pregnancy test. So, you may need to wait another week to test for a positive pregnancy.
You can get a serum blood test (blood draw from your arm) to identify a pregnancy as early as 7 days after conception. Talk to your healthcare provider if you don’t want to wait for a urine pregnancy test.
Second, HCG is a good marker to monitor the progress of a healthy pregnancy.
HCG is used to monitor a healthy intrauterine pregnancy. HCG levels should rise in a healthy pregnancy. If HCG levels do not rise appropriately, then your doctor will talk to you about miscarriage and your options.
I mentioned earlier that HCG is typically released from your uterus. There is a small amount that can be released from your fallopian tube if the egg implanted in your fallopian tube (this is called an ectopic pregnancy).
When this happens, the HCG level does not rise like it should.
► Check out my post/video on ectopic pregnancy and your options. Click Here ► ► ► https://pearently.com/what-is-ectopic-pregnancy/
What is a Normal HCG Elevation?
After the baby begins to grow in the uterus, the HCG levels double approximately every 48-hours.
You go to see your healthcare provider 3 – 4 weeks after conception, and he/she will measure your HCG levels with a blood draw. Occasionally your healthcare provider will have you come back within 48-hours to confirm that your levels are doubling. Example: if HCG is 1000 when it was drawn at the first visit, then the level should increase to 2000 48-hours later. This is a good indicator that you have a healthy, intrauterine pregnancy.
Rising HCG levels are thought to be the cause of ‘morning sickness’, and there is no absolute cure. Keep a thought in perspective when you get overwhelmed with nausea and vomiting: think about what your body is accomplishing, and know that this season of sickness will pass.
HCG levels will rise until the 16th week of gestation, and then it typically levels off and remains throughout your pregnancy.
HCG is a two-sided coin. It is exciting for some women because it can indicate a healthy pregnancy, and then it can be sour for the women that do not have a healthy pregnancy or have severe nausea/vomiting.
Pearently is here to encourage you wherever you are at in this journey.
Do you want some help making a plan for birth? Download the FREE Natural Birth Workbook. This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Download below…
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