Early Pregnancy Symptoms: What to Expect & HCG Levels

Question
Dear Dr. Rappaport,

I am 36 years old and waiting for confirmation of my first pregnancy from my ob/gyn.  My LMP was June 16, 2004.  The expected date of my period was July 13, 2004.  I took an early HPT test on July 9 and July 12 because my breasts were very tender & swollen; both tests were positive.  My ob/gyn did an HCG test on July 12 which was 450.  She did another HCG test on July 20 to see if the numbers are doubling; I do not know these results yet.  

However, my breasts are not sore anymore and I'm not as fatigued as I was a couple of weeks ago.  Is it considered normal for early pregnancy symptoms to begin to dissappear?  I have had no bleeding or spotting or 'morning sickness'.

Thanks for any info you can provide!
Trina

Answer
If your last period started on June 16, then you were due for your next period on July 13. Since you have a 28 day cycle (from the first day of your period until the first day of your next period) ovualtion occurred on June 29. Therefore, you could only have conceived if you had unprotected sex on June 28,29,30, or July 1. If you had two positive pregnancy tests, you are definitely pregnant, as long as you have not had any vaginal bleeding. After July 20, your HCG values should double every 48 hours. It is not unusualy for you to stop having symptoms of pregnancy, but loss of symptoms can also indicate the possibility of miscarriage. If the HCG values continue to rise , have a sonogram done at 6 weeks from the first day of your last period (July 28). By then, if all is well, you will see a fetus and a fetal heartbeat. (A sonogram done too early will not show anything but, perhaps, an empty gestational sac).