The letters stand for human Chorionic Gonadotropin. After an egg is fertilized and implants in the uterus, the cells that will eventually form the placenta start making hCG.
HCG is often the first indicator of pregnancy. The hormone can be detected through a blood test about 11 days after conception. However, most women first discover they're pregnant using a store-bought home pregnancy test, which measures hCG levels in the urine.
HCG is detectable in urine at around 12 to 14 days after conception. In early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double about every two to three days. Levels generally peak at around 8 to 14 weeks after conception.
After that they decline somewhat, and usually plateau during the second and third trimester. Your hCG levels at any particular point in time during pregnancy don't mean much. Although there are average ranges of hCG levels for different stages of pregnancy, these can vary dramatically from woman to woman, and from pregnancy to pregnancy.
Even if your hCG levels are outside the "normal" range, you can still have a perfectly healthy pregnancy and baby. That said, it is important that your hCG levels increase during early pregnancy. If your hCG levels don't continue to rise rapidly during the first few weeks or if they start to drop, this can signal a problem such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
Higher-than-typical hCG levels can signal that you're carrying multiples or, in rare cases, have a molar pregnancy. Often, you won't know what your hCG levels are during pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests don't give a specific hCG number. However, you may learn your hCG levels if your provider orders a blood test to confirm your pregnancy or as part of a screening test.
You might try taking a pregnancy test about three to four weeks after the first day of your period, as this is when the levels of hCG in your urine will have increased enough to be detected.
You might like to wait until around the time you miss your first period, which may be when you first start to suspect that you may be pregnant anyway. Taking the test too early may mean you get a false negative — that is, the result may be negative when you are actually pregnant.
This may occur because very early on in your pregnancy, the levels of hCG may be so low that an at-home pregnancy test might not be sensitive enough to pick up on the hormone. A blood test is the most accurate way to detect hCG levels, because more of the pregnancy hormone is present in the blood than in the urine.
If your home pregnancy test is positive, your healthcare provider may offer a blood test to check your hCG levels. The results can help your provider confirm your pregnancy and determine how far along you are. Get ready for your baby's arrival by finding out your estimated due date. After delivery, when a woman holds her newborn, she develops what's called "baby lust," a chemical reaction that happens when a baby's pheromones stimulate the production of additional oxytocin—thus augmenting the mother-baby bond.
This milk-producing hormone has a tranquilizing effect. Prolactin prepares breast tissues for lactation and the release of milk. A Cheat Sheet to Pregnancy Hormones. By Lambeth Hochwald June 11, Save Pin FB More.
While expecting, women have 10 times the normal amount of relaxin in their bodies. Parents Magazine. By Lambeth Hochwald. Be the first to comment! No comments yet. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Add your comment Cancel Submit. Photo: iStockphoto. What is hCG? How is hCG measured? When will my hCG levels be measured? What is considered to be healthy hCG levels? What if my hCG levels are too high?
When will my hCG levels go back to pre-pregnancy levels? Joseph Communications uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes.
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