I will be 22 next month with two healthy children, both born via c-section. After having my copper IUD in place for 8.5 months, I received a positive on an HPT on April 24. My LMP was March 19. I immediately called an ObGyn and they had me in for blood work. My HCG sat at 106. They had me in for an ultrasound despite the number being so low. Neither the abdominal or the transvaginal ultrasound was able to find a gestational site or fetal pole, but did locate the IUD very firmly where it was supposed to be. The strings were still in reach and my Ob removed it the same day. I then had two more blood tests. My Hcg was at 220 for the second test and dropped to 141 for the third test. I was told to expect miscarriage symptoms and bleeding at any time. I have had no bleeding or pain since my last period and am currently still experiencing nothing but the pregnancy symptoms I've had for just over a week now and some minor nausea (which is new just today) I am scheduled for more blood work tomorrow so they may continue tracking my numbers. My questions are these: (1) When, if at all, can I expect misscarriage symptoms and bleeding? (2) Does this sound more like an ectopic pregnancy? (3) At this point, what are the chances that I can still come out of this with a healthy baby?

I don't think anyone but a Physician who has examined you and seen all the lab and blood work can answer your questions. We can, of course, guess, but that's all it would be - guessing. Obviously the Doctors are concerned about something.

Your Physician has told you to be prepared for a miscarriage. I would believe him/her. The time frame is anyone's guess. If it is ectopic there is a possibility surgery will be necessary because it is a dangerous situation. And if the pregnancy is ectopic the chances of having this child are very, very slim, or not almost non-existent.