Choosing between BFing and TTC?

LyssRob · October 2013

Is anyone else battling this?

I needed Clomid/injects to get pregnant (didn't get a regular period--if any!), and RE said when I was ready to try for a second, I would stop bf-ing, see if my period came on its own, and if not, go for fertility drugs again. I never thought I would enjoy breastfeeding, let alone continue to do so for so long, so I never thought this would be an issue. Now I find myself kind of bummed that I will probably have to choose...am I alone??

kleigh926 · October 2013

Up until a few weeks ago I would have agreed with you. I also needed Clomid to get pregnant due to PCOS. My plan was to BF until DD was a year old and then wean so that we could TTC for #2.

However, within the past couple weeks BF'ing is no longer enjoyable for me- DD bit my nipple, causing a crack to form and significant pain. APNO cream helped with the pain, but the crack has not healed and she's been ending almost every session by slowly unlatching, taking the tip of my nipple in her mouth before she lets go- it hurts!

All that to say, I think we may begin weaning very soon for other reasons, but there is the added bonus of hopefully getting my periods back and being able to TTC again. I know where you're coming from.

LyssRob · October 2013

@Kleigh926 I definitely am interested to see if your periods come back...you didn't really get them before, right? (I didn't)

Also--is it weird that I am anxious to know about someone else's period?

kleigh926 · October 2013

Hahaha. Not weird when you hardly ever get it, like us! I got periods but they were extremely irregular. I never knew when/if to expect it. My longest cycle was 123 days (ended with progesterone). I averaged 40-60 day cycles. I am also anxious to see when my cycle will retun after we wean. We'll have to keep each other updated

tamarar5 · October 2013

I had the opposite before baby and now I feel like it's s crap shoot. I have a friend though who is on clomid. Can I ask how long it took my wonderful friends on clomid to get a BFP? She is anxious since it's "not happening."

kleigh926 · October 2013

I got lucky... it worked for us on the very first round. That was after 13 months of TTC with little to no chance of getting pregnant naturally because I was barely even ovulating.

babywisher · October 2013

TamaraR4 said:

I had the opposite before baby and now I feel like it's s crap shoot. I have a friend though who is on clomid. Can I ask how long it took my wonderful friends on clomid to get a BFP? She is anxious since it's "not happening."

I am one of the unlucky ones that never go pg with Clomid. I did 6 rounds with different add ons the last 4 times. I hope your friend has luck soon.

I am with you pcos ladies. I am very curious what my periods will be like. I enjoy bf'ing too much to stop. Ttc will have to wait even though I am ready now!

tamarar5 · October 2013

I know results vary and my friend really needs to try and relax because stressing isn't helping ... but I also know telling her that won't help her either. Any other suggestions I can give her?

kleigh926 · October 2013

The only other advice I have is to make sure your friend is being treated by a good doctor and that she does her research and advocates for her own health. Is she being seen by a Reproductive Endocrinologist, and not an OB who is just giving her fertility drugs with no monitoring or follow-up? Fertility drugs are serious, so she should be seeing a specialist. How many rounds of Clomid has she done?

kelly321 · October 2013

How do you respond to pumping? Could you pump and build up a supply so you can keep giving your LO BM but after another month or two you could stop BFing and see what happens with your period?

I'm sure there are a lot of things factoring into your decision like your age, how close you want your LOs in age, etc.

I think there's no wrong decision here, so you just need to do what feels best for you and your family.

JD722 · October 2013

I am struggling with the same decision! Also PCO (no other PCOS symptoms except very long irregular cycles) and want to TTC now in case it takes forever! BFing went downhill for us around 6 months when I went back to work and he got super distracted, biting, scratching, pissed at my low supply. I weaned down to only BFing first thing in the morning and pumping once at night for each bedtime feeding bottle, but still no period! I'm ready to stop altogether but having major mom guilt over it! I am ready to be preg again so our kiddos are close in age.

We did Clomid for 3 months and it worked beautifully, but I am hoping that we are one of those people that get preg naturally for LO2 (wishful thinking I'm sure!) Do you think I have to stop BFing completely to get a period? Or will I probably not get it bc of the PCOS? I haven't asked my doc for a referral to the RE yet bc he thinks I'm nuts for wanting to try again so soon, but he doesn't get how stressful infertility is!

LyssRob · October 2013

JD722 said:

I am struggling with the same decision! Also PCO (no other PCOS symptoms except very long irregular cycles) and want to TTC now in case it takes forever! BFing went downhill for us around 6 months when I went back to work and he got super distracted, biting, scratching, pissed at my low supply. I weaned down to only BFing first thing in the morning and pumping once at night for each bedtime feeding bottle, but still no period! I'm ready to stop altogether but having major mom guilt over it! I am ready to be preg again so our kiddos are close in age. We did Clomid for 3 months and it worked beautifully, but I am hoping that we are one of those people that get preg naturally for LO2 (wishful thinking I'm sure!) Do you think I have to stop BFing completely to get a period? Or will I probably not get it bc of the PCOS? I haven't asked my doc for a referral to the RE yet bc he thinks I'm nuts for wanting to try again so soon, but he doesn't get how stressful infertility is!

I'm a FTM, so definitely no expert, but at my annual my OB-Gyn told me that some people get periods while breastfeeding (duh) and for others bf-ing even once a day is enough to keep their periods away. Soooo...you never know (which is where the frustration lies!)

LyssRob · October 2013

@TamaraR4 -- I got pregnant on my second round of Clomid, but I paired it with other injectable meds and LOTS of monitoring. Hopefully your friend is seeing an RE who is monitoring throughout the cycle (for both safety AND to maximize effectiveness).

@Kelly321 -- I hate pumping.

Such a hassle to get everything out, sit for 20 min, clean everything, then get the bottle when needed, heat it, etc. etc. etc. I have LOTS of respect for EP-ers...so not for me!!! If I were to stop BFing I would just switch to formula. I dont have an issue with this, I just LIKE breastfeeding.

kelly321 · October 2013

LyssRob said:

@TamaraR4 -- I got pregnant on my second round of Clomid, but I paired it with other injectable meds and LOTS of monitoring. Hopefully your friend is seeing an RE who is monitoring throughout the cycle (for both safety AND to maximize effectiveness).

@Kelly321 -- I hate pumping. Such a hassle to get everything out, sit for 20 min, clean everything, then get the bottle when needed, heat it, etc. etc. etc. I have LOTS of respect for EP-ers...so not for me!!! If I were to stop BFing I would just switch to formula. I dont have an issue with this, I just LIKE breastfeeding.

I totally understand. I pumped and supplemented with DD1 for 9 weeks and for 3 weeks with DD2 before throwing in the towel because my supply was so awful (BFing didn't work with either). So, yeah, I definitely get it! Just thought I'd ask since some women don't have any issues with pumping.

tshores90 · October 2013

Don't stop!! Research vitax chasteberry - a natural supplement for regular periods, increasing milk supply, and increasing fertility while nursing. I'm about to start taking it too!

LyssRob · October 2013

tshores90 said:

Don't stop!! Research vitax chasteberry - a natural supplement for regular periods, increasing milk supply, and increasing fertility while nursing. I'm about to start taking it too!

Never heard of it....webMD says do not use while breastfeeding...do you have any info to share?

tshores90 · October 2013

I think that's one of those "we have to say this" things because the FDA doesn't approve natural supplements (government quackery if you ask me but thats another conversation haha). If you ask any natural health care provider they would tell you it's fine. It even says on the label that it increases breast milk!

kelly321 · October 2013

I'm not saying it's not ok to take because I have no idea, but just because it increases milk supply doesn't mean it's actually ok to take. If it passes into the milk, there *could* be negative side effects for LO. Again - I have no clue, but I wouldn't make the logical conclusion that because it increases supply it's safe.

tshores90 · October 2013

Yeah i know what you mean..i didn't mean for it to come across that way haha

I'm more so saying that in the herbalist and naturopath community this is for nursing moms and it's no big deal. if you're not comfortable with it, then do some research on what the negative side effects could be for the baby.

maybe try and find a homeopathic or naturopathic doc near you and ask them!

tamarar5 · October 2013

kleigh926 said:
The only other advice I have is to make sure your friend is being treated by a good doctor and that she does her research and advocates for her own health. Is she being seen by a Reproductive Endocrinologist, and not an OB who is just giving her fertility drugs with no monitoring or follow-up? Fertility drugs are serious, so she should be seeing a specialist. How many rounds of Clomid has she done?

She has done four round now and suddenly this month her DH excited they should wait another month before even trying. She was at my house earlier crying but I'm not sure if that was hormones, anger at her husband, or just biorhythms. We have the same ob and she was referred to a great re with the same hospital/clinic.

I just feel so helpless

I know what she is feeling. I never have a problem getting pregnant, but after four miscarriages with two successful pregnancies, I know what it's like. They were both on board with drugs to get pregnant so her dh suddenly not wanting to try doesn't make sense. He hasn't even given her a reason, or at least not the real reason whatever it is.

BTW, sorry for hijacking the post! Thanks for all the answers ladies!

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