Metformin during pregnancy

[Moonprysm]

So I talked to my OB about the possibility of taking Metformin during pregnancy to help correct my IGT. While she said she's heard of it, she admitted to not being knowledgeable enough to prescribe it, know the dosage to use, ect. She offered to fill the script for me if I could find out. I told her I had a call in to my LC and she said I just needed to call back and she'll do whatever my LC says.

Talked to the LC and...basically said the same thing. That she'd really like to keep up with me if it's something I choose to do, to see what kind of effect it has, ect. but she wasn't sure on dosage, either. I know there are a few ladies on here who have done it before - I'm wondering what dosage you used. The only info my LC had was that the average person taking met (for any reason) takes 500mg 2x a day. But she had no idea if that's the right dosage for this particular use or not.

[BekTens]

Do you have PCOS or Insulin Resistance? This is one of the leading causes of IGT, but some women with breast hypoplasia do not have those disorders. If you have been diagnosed with one or both of them, then that could be the reason for your IGT and metformin could definitely help.

If you were previously taking metformin, it's best to stay on whatever dose you were on. If this is new to you, then I would say that 500mgx2/day is a good place to start.

The purpose of taking metformin to help with IGT is to keep insulin and glucose levels under control. When they're out of whack, they can get in the way of other hormones which help to stimulate the growth of new breast tissue. One VERY good thing to do is to avoid sugars during pregnancy, and do your best to keep your blood sugar level through diet.

I have PCOS/IR and IGT and am currently 22 weeks pregnant. I am taking 1500mg/day metformin (this was my dose before conception) and I am eating a whole foods diet consisting of meat/eggs, veggies, and the occassional oatmeal snack. I limit fruit to just a treat, because the sugars can also have an effect.

Two books I HIGHLY recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/Breastfeeding-...5532526&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Food-Br...5532543&sr=1-1

These are the only two books I have ever found that offer info on what can be done to help IGT and PCOS. They have a lot of good information regarding herbs to take, too.

Right now, I make an infusion of alfalfa, red clover, nettle and red raspberry leaf, steeped overnight and drink it every day. These herbs have helped many women to grow new breast tissue and eventually (for some) develop a full milk supply.

I will try to have more info tomorrow, but I really need to go to bed. LOL I just wanted to get you started.

Definitely check out those books, though. They saved my nursing relationship with my daughter, and give me hope for #2.

[Moonprysm]

Thanks. I tried pretty much ALL the herbal options with #1 and it made so little difference that I didn't put my whole effort (or pocket book) into trying all the herbs again with #2. I have an odd situation where I was diagnosed with PCOS before having DS1, but it was more a symptom-based diagnosis, as my hormone levels all checked out. Yet I only had a period 2-3 times a year, and they weren't "normal" periods...been like that my whole life except when I was on birth control. Charting showed that I wasn't ovulating at all. I was put on metformin and got pregnant with DS1 first cycle. After he was born and my cycle returned at 15 months, it was every 28-30 days like clockwork. So it looks like DS1 "fixed" me, but that didn't improve my milk supply with DS2 (well, it was improved slightly, but that was probably due to 27 months of nursing, since the act of nursing itself helps breast tissue growth). DS1 is 4 years old so I have no idea what dosage I was on back then. I still have many symptoms of PCOS even though my cycles are normal now. But I still wonder if it's TRUE PCOS since my hormones levels are technically normal. *shrugs* I figure it really can't hurt, and if I pray hard enough, it just might help. lol