[hopesmommy]

Hi Ladies,

I'm new to the group and unsure if im posting in the correct place. I need some help/advice. I am a mommy to two babies. My angel baby boy I lost at 6 months pregnant due to a health problem in both the baby and myself, and my beautiful 13 month old baby girl. The amazing thing was both babies were conceived after only one month of ttc. My daughter was conceived 8 weeks after i lost my son. My daughter is still nursing today although since i work full time she takes a bottle most of the time and nurses pretty much as a top off to help her relax/sleep. She wakes in the night and nurses like 4 times maybe a few minutes each, not 100% sure cause usually im sleeping. I got my first post partum af on June 8th, 2nd one July 26th and till now nothing. I am not sure if im ovulating since the signs are all over the place (cm, ovulation cramps, period cramps!). I used to have a 28 day cycle, now they r so irregular. I just started to test with opk few days ago just to try and see if im ovulating and im not charting yet. Will start charting if and when i get a period. I know im not pregnant cause did a bHCG and negative. Have also started Vitex like 6 weeks ago. I spoke to my MD 2 days ago and told her everything and that we have been ttc since june and no luck. SHe suggested progesterone for 10 days to start af (provera??), and then day 15 of my cycle 10 days progesterone again, and when the 2nd af starts to take a course of clomid. SHe said i have to stop nursing to take clomid and thats why she is not starting the clomid for a month since she want to give me a month to wean. She said i have to wean.

Here is my dilema:
1. i am not ready to wean, neither is dd. Any experience with nursing and taking clomid?
2. Wasn't that really fast of my MD to perscribe fertility treatment? I assumed my problem was due to nursing, thats why im irregular and not ovulating, since i got pregnant 2X before first try and wasnt nursing before.

Would really love some insight! Im so confused So sorry for the long post.

Hope's Mommy

[wishfulgal]

Welcome I had to wean my son in order to even get AF back in the first place, so I understand your dilemma. I'll try to answer your questions

Question #1: I assume from what your doctor said that Clomid is not ok for BFing. So I would say if you want to keep nursing you will not be able to take it.

Question#2: Ummm...Yes! That is extremely fast (less than 3 months of TTC) to be prescribed clomid and I agree that nursing is probably responsible for your irregular cycles (very common when BFing). I would get a second opinion. It may be that you do need to wean (when you're ready) and let your cycles get back to normal in order to conceive, but I doubt that you need Clomid, at least at this point. Why take uneccesary fertility drugs with side effects, when you may just need a little more time to conceive on your own.

Good luck and HTH!

[MamaAnna]

It's a little early so I really hope this makes sense.

1) I would NOT take Clomid while breastfeeding. It is a very strong medication that has a very large hormonal impact. If it gets to the baby through your milk she could experience a variety of symptoms, some of them painful, and there really wouldn't be anything to do except wait it out. That could take weeks. Nursing could also affect how your own body reacts to the medication. It's just risky the whole way 'round.

2) Some women have AF regularly while nursing, some have it sporadically, others don't have it until they've quit completely. Your irregularity is most likely caused by continued nursing and that's okay. You could still get pregnant if you're having even irregular cycles. It'll just take longer. If you're not ready to wean yet and you're not in a TTC rush I would continue nursing and casually TTC or even just NTNP until you're both ready to wean. There is no reason that I can see to induce a period (twice no less), wean earlier than desired, and go on a strong medication at this point. Even after you do wean it could take a few months for your cycles to return to normal. Your doctor is very much rushing things and should be slapped with a wet noodle.

[~InHisHands~]

I just wanted to you to the board. I have no experience with nursing or weaning so I'm not of much help but from everything I read, I would think the nursing is what is causing it myself.

[wishfulgal]

Originally Posted by MamaAnna

Your doctor is very much rushing things and should be slapped with a wet noodle.

That's pretty much what I wanted to say!

[MountainMomma]

First I want to say welcome to the board. Second, yes, I do believe that your doctor is seriously rushing things. It takes the average healthy couple 6 - 12 months to conceive normally. While there are exceptions, most doctors will not even consider giving your fertility treatments before the one year mark unless you are of AMA (advanced maternal age or over 35). I have NEVER heard of a doctor giving fertility treatments before 6 months without a history of fertility issues. I would definitly be looking for a second opinion.

As for nursing while taking Clomid...... there is no way I would do that. The side effects of this medicine vary from one patient to the next, but can be fairly extreme and painful. There is no way I would want to risk putting my baby through that. Me personally.... while I know it is hard, I would continue to nurse and give nature more time to do it's thing. If your baby weans on her own, and then you want to consider the treatments, go for it. For now though, I really think it's rushing things, and jumping into treatments too soon could cause more trouble than good, kwim?

[hopesmommy]

Hi Ladies,

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I have decided to wait a little bit. Will try with out any intervention as we r not ready to wean. Was hoping to nurse till 18 months and then if still unable to conceive will take the clomid. I do think my doctor was way o fast to prescribe. Still trying to conceive and hopng for some miracle although very irregular af and baby nursing regularly.

Good luck and baby dust to all you ladies!

[MamaAnna]

If it makes you feel any better a woman on the TTC w/PCOS board got a BFP while breastfeeding. She took soy and I can't remember what else and it worked for her. They're great with herbs and things over there.