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Success after IF
I'm freaking out. Please talk me down. WWSAIFD. LONG
Let me preface this by saying I know I could be doing all this worrying over nothing, but that doesn't help me.
I am seriously freaking out. It might be hormonal, but I can't get a grip. I am in desperate need of advice and I can't get in to see my OB till march or my reg Dr. for a month. So here it is.
I am pretty sure I ovulated a couple days ago. I have had intermittent spotting every month to couple of months, but no real PP AF. I had some spotting on NYE, and then a day or two later, started having EWCM. I had that for a couple days, and on a random whim a couple weeks ago I had started charting, just to see where my temps were at. 2 days ago, I had a definite thermal shift, all fertile signs disappeared, just like when I used to ovulate. DH and I had impeccable timing through my fertile CM days, so, however remote, there is a chance that I might get pg.
Herein lies the problem. I am still BFing Maya, though sessions and durations are lessening a little. I have read way too much about BFing interfering with the luteal phase and causing early miscarriages and now I am terrified that if I let her keep on as she is, it is going to cause me to miscarry (provided I even get pg). Before I had her, my luteal phases were 12 days. BFing can shorten them. I know plenty of women get pregnant and stay pregnant while breastfeeding, but my body has always been so sensitive to the slight change in hormone balance, it makes me nervous.
I have already been taking prenatals just to support BFing and a B6 to support it. At the suggestion of a friend, I stated taking an herb called Vitex about a week and a half ago as it is supposed to help restore fertility while BFing because we want to TTC #2. It isn't supposed to work so fast, and maybe my O is just a coincidence, but Vitex also helps support the body in making progesterone.
Though you aren't supposed to take Vitex if pg, a slow weaning process is recommended if you are so there isn't a sudden drop in progesterone causing miscarriage too. My OB has declined to advise me on herbal remedies in the past, especially over the phone, so I am at a loss. There is no one I can talk to besides Dr. Google about this on how to advise me.
I don't want to wean Maya before she is ready, but if on some random planet i have a chance that I could be pg, I don't want to do anything to compromise that, besides the fact that my post-O nipples make BFing torture. I seriously don't know what to do. I'm lost with no guidance.
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Re: I'm freaking out. Please talk me down. WWSAIFD. LONG
Hey sweetie - how exciting if you timed it all right and did indeed O. I know that reading about BF and early pregnancy can be all over the place, and it's certainly frightening, but I think it's important to keep in mind that many of the hormonal changes that happen during BFing happen and peak early on and as you continue to BF, and especially as you continue BFing a toddler, those hormonal changes are not as severe. Now I know you haven't had PP AP so maybe for you, these BFing hormones are still in full effect but for now, like Mousey suggests, I'd stay the course. Also, I'm sure you probably are reaching out to all your resources but I'd check with TBW too -- a lot of those ladies have used Vitex and gotten pregnant while nursing.
GL! I hope this works out the way it should!!
Cart before the horse.
If you're confident of when your ovulation was I'd get some cheap pee sticks and POAS at 11 or 12 dpo.
If it's positive demand a beta, progesterone and OB visit THAT DAY so you've got a doc working with you on supplementation if needed.
If your doc isn't versed on Vitex he or she needs to be. If they won't research it in order to guide your care I would find another OB who's more open to alternative medicines. They don't have to encourage it but it is their job to understand it enough to treat you properly.
As for the weaning thing? I'm the wrong person to ask. I weaned early in order to TTC again. It's a tough call and a very personal decision. The trick now is that if you're not pregnant this cycle you've got some decisions to make about upcoming cycles. Do you stop the vitex until she weans? If not you're going to have these same concerns every cycle.
I have a history of loss. There was no way I was going to throw elevated prolactin (breast feeding) in with pregnancy. It was just too much of a risk for me to take even though there are hoards of women who BF thru pregnancy and even tandem nurse just fine. I made myself stop BF'ing before TTC.
Total score: 6 pregnancies, 5 losses, 2 amazing blessings that I'm thankful for every single day.
I really, honestly think you are fine either way. If weaning feels right, then do it. Do it slowly and you'll be fine. I promise you, at this point, it is a much bigger deal to you than it is Maya. I think it will shock you how easy it is for her.
If weaning doesn't feel right, then don't do it...just don't make a decision you are going to regret because you MIGHT be pregnant.
I think I'd POAS as soon as it was reasonable and make a decision based on that. I nursed Caroline for a few weeks after I found out I was pregnant with Parker, and for me, it was not fun. She lost interest very very quickly, and my nipples were killing me..so it was an easy choice.
I think POAS will make your decision much easier.
Good luck and keep us posted!!
I know, totally, but I know you you girls know what its like to freak out at the possibility when there are other factors in the mix. I am trying not to get too freaked out till i have a reason to be or not, but also trying to make the best decision just in case.
Thanks for the replies so far. I am feeling better already.
I was still nursing Sam quite a bit when I conceived. I didn't wean him until I was close to 10 weeks pregnant, and that was only because my OB was pretty insistent. Once you wean, you really can't go back. Unless you are absolutely dead set on seriously TTC #2 RIGHT NOW, I would keep on doing what you're doing and slowly discontinue the vitex. If you ovulated, give your body some time to attempt a cycle or two before concluding there is a problem.
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
I agree with this. While hope is good; I've missed out on a lot of things because I might be pregnant.
GL!