ttc #2/bc - seeking advice/thoughts

arichlife · April 2014

Hi ladies!

I hope this is an appropriate place to post this. If not, please let me know and I will remove it!

My H and I just had our first baby a few weeks ago. As I have my 6 week pp check up coming up I'm sure I will be talking to my doctor about birth control at the appointment so my question(s) are about resuming BC after a successful pregnancy following IF knowing you will be facing IF again when you want to TTC #2.

I was on the NuvaRing for 2 years, then stopped it to TTC #1 and discovered I had PCOS and it took 2 years to conceive #1. I only ovulated about 3 or 4 times in the 2 years but 3 of the 4 times were my first 3 cycles off BC because it was keeping my body/hormones regular(ish), then the 4th time was a stroke of luck (gift from God) and we got pregnant. I had been on Metformin for about 10 months when we conceived.

I definitely noticed changes in my cycles/periods between pre-BC and during/post-BC so part of me doesn't want to go back to BC because I felt it messed with my hormones, and made things even more irregular, but another part of me thinks that maybe I should go back to it so that when we decide we are ready to TTC #2 we can go off BC and hopefully it will be keeping my body regular like the last time and I will ovulate the first few cycles again and give us a better chance at conceiving quickly.

Anyone here have thoughts or experience in a situation like this?

I will be talking to my RE about it as well but thought I would try to get some personal experience input too.

TIA!

kmc84 · April 2014

Congratulations!

Are you breast feeding?

kbeach82 · April 2014

I am currently on BCP to regulate my cycle and prevent cyst formation. I take a generic version of S.easonique and only have a period once every 3 months. It is convenient, and I have always tolerated the hormones in BCP pretty well. I rarely ovulate on my own. My postpartum cycles after the birth of my oldest DS started off fairly regular, and quickly went back to being sporadic at best - every 60, 70ish days or so. BCP regulated my cycle again and also kept me regular enough that I was able to begin our first IVF cycle without needing Provera when TTC #2. Congrats on your new baby and good luck with your decision.

Mnerani · April 2014

kmc84 said:

Congratulations! Are you breast feeding?

This was my first thought too. The reason she asks is that breastfeeding is a form of BC, if certain conditions are met (see kellymom.com on the subject).

I never went back to hormonal BC after my first pregnancy, because while BF I didn't get my period. By the time DS weaned at 11 months, were were ready to TTC, so there was not a time that I needed BC.

I also felt like it would be counterproductive to "getting my normal cycle back" (whatever that means with PCOS). Basically, I wanted to know what my body would do when I wasn't on BC, and to give it the best chance of natural conception for #2. If we'd ever been TTA during that time, we would have used condoms and FAM.

TJ1979 · April 2014

If you aren't ready for a 2nd, I'd take something. Or use some method of contraception. I have PCOS and had never ovulated on my own. After LO, I got pg on my own in only 3 months after I quit taking the mini pill. We couldn't be happier, but if it had happened any earlier, I would have freaked.
Congrats on your baby!

kelnyc · April 2014

Trust me, even if you think things might take a long time, use birth control of some form until you are actually ready to TTC #2. I thought getting the Mirena was just a silly precaution since we never once got pregnant on our own in 2 years of trying even with fertility treatments, but now I am surprise pregnant the first cycle after it was removed! We were only given maybe a 3% chance of ever conceiving naturally because of my age and DOR, but here we are. I never in a million years thought we would be "those people". And BFing isn't entirely effective either, so take that with a grain of salt. Just my two cents.

itsmevkb · April 2014

I don't have PCOS so probably don't even bother reading any further, but, I have friends with it who were told by their doctors that their best chance at conceiving naturally would be their first few post-partum cycles and/or their first few cycles coming off of birth control. That would seem to make sense as pregnancy and the pill will both sort of help "re-set" homones in many women.

So, if you're thinking about a baby later rather than sooner, I'd probably go back on the pill.

amd1982 · April 2014

I could've written your story practically verbatim. Nuva ring user here who got off and found out she had pcos. Was anovulatory bc of this and went through a few treatment cycles and 18 months of trying before successfully conceiving our twins.

I was convinced we wouldn't get pregnant on our own just because I didn't think I'd ever ovulate. Breastfed for nine months, got a period, then another one 35 days later and poof. We are pregnant with number three with fifteen month old twins! Don't get me wrong I am thrilled and this baby will be yet another blessing. But ditto what pp's said. If you're not ready NOW then go on BC or use condoms at the very best. I only say it because IF robs you of so much. Don't let it rob you of enjoying these precious early months with your baby. I feel ok now that we are having another one but in all honesty was scared out of my mind thinking "can I do this so soon?" Best of luck to you in the future. Whatever happens I look forward to seeing you intro on here again as a second time mom.

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