Metformin during pregnancy

[msmiranda]

I have never officially been diagnosed with GD (partly bc I declined the GTT last time and monitored at home but greatly restricted my diet), but I suspect that I have had it during both my previous pregnancies. Once I found out that metformin drastically reduces the chances of developing GD, I decided that during the next pregnancy I would stay on it for the duration, or at least until toward the end. I have PCOS and a first-degree relative (father) who is Type 2 diabetic, so I am at risk, but I am not overweight and do not have any blood sugar issues when not pregnant.

I talked to a local CNM about a year ago about this and she said that even though it is not technically *approved*, she thought that the weight of the evidence indicated that metformin was likely safe to take throughout pregnancy. I know that some docs recommend that their PCOS patients do stay on it, others are more conservative and say stop after the first tri.

Anyone stay on metformin throughout a pregnancy? Did your care provider recommend it, or did you have to argue for it? I am wondering whether I am going to have to argue with both the OB I'll be seeing for shadow care, AND my home birth midwife, who is not a big fan of meds as a general matter.

[Jenne]

I decided to stay on Met because the preponderance of research shows that there are not ill effects from being on it but there are increased risks with not being on it. Also, the latest research is showing that if you stay on it for the duration of pregnancy and after, the breast feeding problems that some women with PCOS encounter aren't as prevalent.

I was on Met prior to pregnancy so I just informed my midwife of what I had read research wise and that I wanted to stay on it. The OB did throw a little fit that I was declining the GCT (I'm using a glucometer to monitor my blood sugar) because she wanted me off the Met for a month, take the GCT, and then put my on glyburide. After discussing with my family practice doctor I decided to stick with my plan. As my family practice doc said, "You have PCOS not GD, there is no reason to switch what is working, and why would you want to feed your babe glucose when you are doing such a great job monitoring your blood sugar?"


I will saw that I was on 2000mg and it became too much and was increasing my bile production so that I was throwing up any vegetables and my prenatal. I've decreased my dose and am not having any problems now.

Good luck!!!

Jenne

[Stayseeliz]

I have PCOS and weaned off 1500mg of met around 16 weeks during my last pregnancy per dr's orders. I gained a ton of weight, ended up with preeclampsia and had to go on bedrest. Not fun.

I'm on 850mg now at 13w and have no plans to stop (seeing another dr in the same practice as my last pg). One of my good friends stayed on met throughout her last pregnancy and it was her easiest pg to date! It's safe!

[lifeguard]

I have pcos & stayed on the met for the first tri as has been recommended for quite some time now. I developed gd & it was awfully stressful. We had a really hard time keeping my numbers under control.

Next time I most definitely will be pushing to stay on the met throughout.

[~Adorkable~]

i really struggled whether to stay on or get off, and finally got off when i read a study that made it clear it was not suggested for breast feeding.

i know this talk goes back and forth on MDC about every there month, it is frustrating, i feel like there is no good choice. i have mild IR and a father with Type 2.

my biggest issue is that after reading dozens of studies i still found them to be either of way too small of a sample to get real info or to be of women that actually had type 2 or something similar so not really the same issue as my mild PCOS and IR

im 25 weeks now and thankfully my weight has been amazingly good and i got my OB to get me a meter and the full set up, im going to start testing on a regular basis. and adjust how strict i am on my foods accordingly.