My friend, who just found out a few weeks ago that she was preggo, went for her first dr appt today.  They couldn't find anything, so had some bloodwork done and she found out it was a chemical pregnancy.  She is devastated.  I feel soooo sad for her and her DH.  I know that they will get pregnant, but I can't imagine the feelings she is going through.

Oh no!  It's so hard because every new mother imagines her "new" life with the baby... I'm so sorry, Cari!  

Im so sorry to hear that. That would be so devastating.

Oh I am so sorry to hear that :( 

can you help me understand this? all I know about a chemical preganncy is that your body makes the hormones but no baby is growing.  I'll be honest, until I hear a heart beat I'm deathly afraid of this.  And I won't get to hear the heartbeat until 12 weeks (5 more to go).  I had bloodwork done and it was positive so does that mean I'm in the clear?

If you guys are like me, I keep waiting for something horrible to happen and having knowledge might make the fear a little less. 

caribear-I'm sorry for your friends loss.  And it is just that, a loss.  regardless of whether an embryo was there or not, in her mind it was  and it must be devasting to hear that news.

Oh no, how sad Caribear.  

Blue Bride. . . after reading this thread and the other one I did some research on chemical pregnancies - it was interesting.

Most of the time the woman doesn't even know - she'll have a heavier AF and never even know that she was pregnant.  Sometimes she will know because she will have tested positive.  

What happens is you have a pregnancy - might test positive at home with the increased HGC levels, and then miscarry or reabsorb the baby without knowing because it's SO early in the pregnancy.  There may actually have been a developing fetus. . .or not at all.  The next pregnancy test will come out negative, or would have if she had tested again previous to the appointment.  

That said - I also read that morning sickness is a good sign - because it indicated a growing fetus and changes in your hormones.  It doesn't mean that you won't miscarry, but it's definitely a good sign.  A lack of morning sickness also does not indicate a lack of healthy pregnancy either.  

Chemical pregnancies are SURPRISINGLY common, and happen because of the 'survival of the fittest'.  There may have been a genetic abnormality or something that would make your body say 'this is not a healthy baby'.  

Very interesting Mountainbride!! thanks for that, i as a mother already had no idea what a chemical pregnancy was. 

And to Caribear.. My thoughts go out to this couple!! hopefully they can start trying right away!! Best of wishes

this just kills me.. :(    My thoughts and prayers go out to your friend and her family.

Aww that's sad. I'm so sorry.