Metformin during pregnancy

[leigh09]

I had very low milk supply with babies 1 & 2 due to my PCOS. We are currently TTC #3 and I am wondering about continuing my metformin throughout the pregnancy to help with breast tissue.
I think my doctor would continue the prescription for me if I could show him research articles proving the effectiveness. Does anyone have any links to articles I could print off??
Thanks in advance.

[lifeguard]

I have pcos too & understand metformin can help reduce miscarriage & the risk of gestational diabetes but I haven't heard about benefits for bf.

[Jane]

I only know about Metformin used for infertility, not for diabetes or glucose intolerance. The recommendation is that it be used through 10 weeks to reduce miscarriage risk, but discontinued to avoid messing with the baby's developing blood sugar systems.
I'm not sure how a blood sugar stabilizing agent would help grow breast tissue?

[smanore]

metformin and breastfeeding

Using Metformin throughout pregnancy is increase breast tissue and milk supply (after baby is born) is being researched now. There is some thought that it really helps to do just that. You might want to read through info on www.lowmilksupply.org and mobimotherhood.org Also, doing a google search for PCOS and Lisa Marasco will yield you much info on the topic. If you need further info, send me a PM and I'll try to find the info for you.

[thepeach80]

http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/pcos.html

A friend of mine sent me that, I haven't read it though. Sorry. I would pick up the new book, 'Making more milk'. I'm following it w/ this pgcy in hopes of having a better supply.

[leerypolyp]

Originally Posted by Apricot

I only know about Metformin used for infertility, not for diabetes or glucose intolerance. The recommendation is that it be used through 10 weeks to reduce miscarriage risk, but discontinued to avoid messing with the baby's developing blood sugar systems.
I'm not sure how a blood sugar stabilizing agent would help grow breast tissue?

Actually, metformin is predominantly used for glucose intolerance (and has been for forty years). The infertility treatment is a side effect of normalizing blood glucose usage -- and in the same way that normalized insulin allows fertility to work better, it allows lactation to work properly in a woman whose PCOS is interfering with milk production.

The general recommendation at present is to continue through 14 weeks (first trimester), but there are no contraindications to continuing it throughout pregnancy if your practitioner's on board (and it's been used in women with GD, throughout pregnancy). As a pp mentioned there are some studies going on, and if you have a history of low milk production, I would certainly think it would be worth it.

Check out this blog: http://breastfeedingpcos.blogspot.com/

There might be some links at soulcysters.com, too.