<<<However, what I really need is some numbers;  what would be the normal
blood progesterone levels for a woman in the early postpartum who has no
retained placenta>>>

Dear Pamela

Progesterone level is the same in lactating and non lactating women in early
postpartum.
about 800 nmol/l at the end of pregnancy
fall rapidly after childbirth : about 110-120 nmol/l at 2 days, less than 10
µmol/l at day 5, about 5 µmol/l at 10 days.

For HCG, it is normally indetectable a few days after delivery. I know that
it is elevated in choriocarcinoms, but I don't know how (and if) it is
elevated in retained placenta.

Kindly
Françoise Railhet
Manager of the LLL France Medical Associates Program
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