Fertility Meds & Breastfeeding

[Scooter]

DH & I are in the planning stages for ttc#2. We conceived #1 with IUI & injectibles, so are assuming the same will be needed for #2.

The problem is I would like to continue to breastfeed. The info I have found online is very mixed--some people say the hormones are fine and some say you can't breastfeed with them. Others say the RE won't even see you until 3-6mos after weaning, so your hormones even out. And still others say there's no point in continuing to BF, because it makes your prolactin level high enough that it decreases the effectiveness of the fertility meds.

Anyone know anything about treatment while BFing, or have you discussed it with your REs? TIA for any info.

[jennylou]

Scooter - I suggest looking at the exact med you'd be taking. I was given a complete paper by CVS when I took clomid for Nora. One of the side effects was that it's said to dry out breast milk - but it didn't say you couldn't breastfeed with it. I still don't know if I would want to try to BF with even the clomid. We'll be thinking of this and weighing our options when N is closer to one, but I can certainly understand the dilema, even with our drug being the lowest level of fertility drugs (or so it seems) ;).

[alisong]

Scooter - a friend of mine is in a similar position. Her DD was conceived with IVF, and is now 20 months old. She doesn't want to wean, but her RE won't even talk about a FET while she's still breastfeeding. She's in the Bay Area, too.

[Scooter]

Jenny, clomid may be "lower level" but you know I don't take that stuff too lightly! I found injectibles easier than being on that! :p Unfortunately, there's not much info about nursing while on these meds, because they can't exactly do studies on it. The one I was on says this:
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the nursing infant from this drug a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Alisong, I'd certainly feel better about weaning if my DD were closer to 20mos, but I can understand your friend's reluctance. :( Maybe I should call my RE's office & ask what they recommend, as well.

[jennylou]

Did you post this in the BF thread? I'm just curious, because maybe Marisa might know something?

Remind me to ask my LC in a few weeks (we meet on Mondays, but the next two Mondays are holidays). I'd be curious to see what they say.

[Scooter]

I didn't post it there--I tried in the secondary IF thread first, but got the suggestion to try here instead. I think for me it's really breaking down into two issues.

1. Is it safe to BF while on the meds?
and
2. Is it worth it to be on meds while BFing or do they reduce the chances of pregnancy too much?


I will remind you about asking the LC, that makes me curious, too!

[tigerest]

I dont know whether its safe to brestfeed while on the meds. But I do think most RE's want you to stop BF'ing before TTC again. I would definitely give them a call.

[Scooter]

I just realized I never updated this thread!

I found this page to be very helpful:
http://66.230.33.248/discus/messages/53/256.html?1166651057
It's a thread on fertility meds on Dr Hale's meds & BFing forums. It talks about specific drugs, such as clomid, femara, FSH, lupron.

I ended up going in for a consult with my RE to come up with our treatment plan for this year. She had the same opinion as every other RE I've heard of--no treatment until 3 mos after weaning. She said it would likely be safe, but the chances for achieving pregnancy would be decreased so much that it would not be worth all the time and money.

[Standrea]

Thanks for bumping this up for me Scooter!

We are ttc #2-and I'm still BF DD 4x's a day...I have an appointment with my OBGYN tommorrow for our next step (I'm currently on Metformin)...

[amychris03]

Scooter

HUH, My RE didn't say anything about 3 months, does that mean that we'll be less successful? Why is that, out of curiosity?

[Standrea]

We are starting Chlomid as soon as I get my next period. The dr. said that she's never had a problem with anyone bf on chlomid this late in the game, and that we should be ok. My milk may diminish a little, but we Abbie is almost a year, so I'm ok with that. My goal was to EBF for 1 year! I'm actually really proud of myself!

[jennylou]

standrea - hmmm, everything I have read says you shouldn't nurse at the same time as clomid. At the same time, one of the side effects of clomid is your milk drying up. Mine certainly did (which I was very happy about at the time) after I went on clomid. I guess if you're okay with weaning, then that wouldn't be as much of an issue. Congrats on almost making it a year.