hormone question

[Mom2Brody]

I might be posting this in the wrong place, if so, please move me......

DS has been nursing for 2 years now and I have been on the mini pill since 6 weeks PP....I was on the mini pill way too long for my liking and decided to just quit taking it on 6/30....i was always in a stinky mood and just got ticked at every little thing DH did....I knew something wasn't right and blamed it on the pill....that and PPAF has not shown up and DS turned 2 in August..... DH & I would like to TTC in the near future and I wanted everything to be back to normal (physically) before we did TTC..... I have noticed a difference in my mood for the better (thank goodness!!!)

now it is 2 months later and PPAF has not shown up (nope not pg either)....not even one little sign so I called the doctor and asked her what I could do to help things along and she says she want's to do a blood test to check my hormone levels and go from there.... I don't have a problem with that but my question is this.....if she puts me on some kind of hormone therapy (i'm sure there are several options out there depending on my levels) should I expect problems with BFing DS? He is only nursing to sleep and maybe once at night then again in the morning and I don't think I want to stop that soon (don't think he does either ).....

Since i have been off the pill, nursing DS has been excruciating (sp?)....I seem to have one milk blister after another....SIL suggested thrush but i don't think that is the case....I just wonder if it isn't the change in my hormones (or lack thereof) that is causing the super sensitive feeling & near constant milk blisters....

I hate to end my 2+ year BF relationship with DS but I just don't know how much longer I can stand the pain!!!

Any thoughts or suggestions?????

[pbjmama]

What was your fertility like before your ds was born?

I would take it one step at a time. If the test shows something abnormal you don't have to go straight to adding hormones. There are alternatives that are safe while nursing - check out the fertility forums. If you do need to use hormones they can negativly impact supply but it depends on the person, the dosage, etc. It is possible that your ds would contine to nurse with less/no supply. IMO the older they get the more nursing is a form of comfort vs nutrition.

Painful nursing could be an indication of returning fertility. Many women, myself included, have alot of pain during ovulation. Yeast growth is also a common problem during hormone fluctuation. You are having blisters but no plugs? Are these like milk blebs where you get a white pimple looking thing on the nipple?

[Mom2Brody]

Previous to TTC for DS, I had been on BC for 15 years.....went off 2 months before DS was concieved and started cycles regularly before he was concieved with no problem....

I thought about the painful nursing being an indication of returning fertility but for 2+ months? I just wasn't sure if it should be lasting that long....

I did have a case of mastitis shortly after i stopped the mini pill but was able to resolve that without it going too far....so I keep expecting the milk bilsters to give me a case of mastitis but it hasn't so far..... yeah they look like little white milk blebs but one actually popped and bled at one point so that is why i assume they are blisters.....maybe I'm wrong?

[pbjmama]

One of the most likely times to become pregnant is right after you stop birth control. This is actually a fertility method for some women - it sort of jump starts cycles for them and then when they get off the pill they are able to get pregnant. Could age be a factor in your fertility? I only ask because 15 years of bc + 10 mo pregnant + 2 year old = 18ish years, so I'm guessing you are 35+. Have you considered charting? I know you aren't having periods but it could help you determine if nothing is happening or if your fertility is begining to return.

I agree that 2+ months is a long time but I think the milk blisters might be contributing to the pain? Do you have the same one over and over or multiple at the same time? Have you tried saline soaks and lecithin?

Or it could be that your ds latch/suck has changed and it is coincidence with the timing of stopping bc? That would explain the pain and the blisters.

Just throwing out all my thoughts here for your consideration...

[Mom2Brody]

Wow...you have given me a lot to think about....I knew there was a reason I should ask here.....

I tested last weekend to make sure I wasn't pg and and it was neg......age might be a factor but i'm not quite 35 yet (close enough though).....

I have signed up with fertility friend and started to set that up but I think I need to get a reliable digital thermometer (which I will get this weekend) and read up on charting a little more as I am quite new at it......

I'm sure I have had multiple milk blisters at once but they just keep recurring and I can't seem to get rid of them....I will try a saline soak this weekend....I've never heard of lecithin. Is it like lanisoh? I have used lanisoh and it doesn't seem to help at all.

I had considered DS's latch as part of the problem but I have been making sure he was latched properly for the last 2 weeks each time and it hasn't seemed to help so i don't think that is the problem.....plus before going of BC his latch could be awful and it wouldn't bother me at all....

thank you so much for your help....at least now I have some clue where to start and what to start trying to do.....like I said, i will do the saline soak this weekend and try to look for some lecithin to see if that will help....hopefully this will resolve soon....it is just really frustrating......

[pbjmama]

If you are just at 35 I wouldn't worry too much If you were early 40's or more or had other factors it might be more of a consideration.

A great book about fertility in general and charting is Taking Charge of your Fertility - your local library should have it. If you don't know much about fertility it is an easy to understand in depth guide.

If you are having multiple blisters at once it is really indicative of thrush. Are your nipples pink and shiny or peeling? I would suggest getting on a probiotic (oral) and using a vinegar rinse on your nipples. What worked for me was to make a pack of vinegar wipes - cut a bunch of paper towels into 4 pieces and add a solution of 1 part vinegar to 4-5 parts water. Wipe off your nipples after every nursing session (vinegar kills yeast). Also make sure that anything touching the breast is one use - bras, towels, etc. Change breast pads often if you wear them. Do not use any lanolin products, they can create an environment for yeast to thrive. The good news is that thrush is often caused by changes in hormone levels.

Lecithin is thought to reduce the thickness/ stickiness of milk, it is also oral. But given your last post I don't think you need it.

[Mom2Brody]

I have the book on the way....now I can't wait for it to get here!!!! I'm excited about the prospect of finally taking care of this myself and not ever using BC again!!! Thank you for the recommendation!!

My nipples don't appear to be shiny or peeling.......are these signs of thrush as well?

sorry for my ignorance....I've just never dealt with thrush before.....I guess I need to bop over to kellymom too....

it just amazes me that for 2 years we were able to BF without any problems except for one case of mastitis when he was weeks old.....i get off the pill and now I may have thrush....it just stinks....: crazy, crazy crazy....

[Carita]

as far as the bleb - i never had BC PP, but I did have a re-occuring bleb. I ended u peach time having to rid it with a needle - not fun! Anyway, finally I went to a doc and he recommended a small mix of hydrocortisone and antifungal cream - and it never came back. Reoccuring blebs are sometimes caused by yeast, and I think I had a touch of it. Yeast can also come with fluctuation of hormones, so it may be related...