Nursing and Infertility

[usmcwfe]

I am nursing my 2 1/2 year old, and we have been trying to get preg. for a year without success and with 2 miscarriages. Dr's assume that nursing is the problem but I'm not so sure. I've had a reg. period since my daughter was 13 month old. Any ideas? :

[Kristeremy]

Looking forward to responses. We are in almost the exact same boat.

[monocyte]

I honestly feel everyone bodies are different, and some are more sensitive to hormone changes than others.

But, riding in the same boat as well.

[Pookietooth]

I know of plenty of women who conceived while nursing their toddlers, so to blame it on that is a cop-out. It's true that if you are already fertility challenged, nursing does seem to make it worse, but it's not in and of itself a suppressor of fertility, unless the toddler is taking most of his/her nutrition from nursing, and/or nursing every hour or two all day and night like a newborn.

[kristenok18]

Since everyone's body is different, I think it can be a factor for some women. Not all, though! I think if you're charting, and you know you're ovulating, then it's probably not a factor. We've been ttc for 2 years, and I'm still nursing my almost 4yo. One doctor told me to stop immediately (when ds was 2.5). Ummm, NO. The last doctor thought there was a possibility, but he thought it was slim and didn't think it was worth weaning to find out, since there wouldn't be any going back then. And after I explained how much total time I was still nursing (3 and 4yo and very efficient nursers!), he was sure it couldn't be a factor.

I've heard that night nursing has more of an impact on your fertility than any other time of day, so if you think it could be an issue for you, you might try some night weaning or limits.

Kristen

[usmcwfe]

I'm sorry that you are in the same boat, but its nice to have some company. I was reading about hormone levels and nursing and I've read that elevated levels of prolactin can cause problems with implantation of the egg. I'm wondering if thats the case. I know I am ovulating, and I know I can get pregnant. But there is a problem somewhere in the mix.. I will not wean my daughter though. I want her to nurse as long as she would like to and I would feel terrible if I weaned her and I still continued to have problems. We are going to give it one last try ( my husband deploys next month so that will put everything on hold for a year) and see what happens. I'm glad to hear that you are still nursing toddlers!!

[croleRN]

Hi, same boat here. DD is 3 yr and still nursing. We have bee TTC over 2 yr. I saw an endocrinologist when she was18mo and he told me he wouldn't even investigate further until "I stopped that!" He gave me the most horrific "information" - and COMPLETELY wrong....I am so glad that I was studying to become an IBCLC and knew better. We started going to an RE about 1-2 mo ago - and he didn't even say a word about it - nor did the resident taking my history. (Other than, wow - that's great.) They did run a prolactin level - standard part of the inital labwork. But the level was NO where near a level that would be a possible problem.

We are still waiting for DH to do his SA - but RE thinks that the problem may be with him - or "nothing."


Secondary IF can be very challenging! You don't understand why it won't happen when it did the first time. And you also feel guilty - b/c you already have at least one wonderful blessing.

[Pookietooth]

Yes, secondary infertility is strange, because many people don't understand why you don't just accept having one as enough.

[croleRN]

I definately agree w/ PP though - it's not worth weaning - !!!

[OTMomma]

I think you should get all your hormone levels checked. Since weaning dd I've had low progesterone (had it while nursing too and couldn't concieve), but my prolactin is fine. Dh and I ttc for over a year while I nursed, and its been another 10 months since weaning. DD is 4 now. Looking back, I am super glad that I didn't wean for fertility, longer age spacing will be better for our family. But I do think there are some women who can't have another baby while nursing, not tons, but some of us.

My dd was concieved on the first month we tried, so I don't think I had horrible fertility before nursing, btw. If you do blood work and find you do lack progesterone (or other hormones) you can usually take them and continue to nurse.

[AnaMom]

same boat!

Just quickly chiming in to say I am in the same boat. My nursing DD is 3 and I am almost 40, so time not really on my side either. DD nurses 2-3 times a day (upon waking, before bed and at naptime on days I'm not working). I got PP AF at 1 year but silly us didn't even start trying until she was almost 2 (regretting that now). Now it has been about 15 months of trying with one miscarriage in there. Ironically we got preg first month we tried, but it was a blighted ovum.

I am seeing an RE and we are doing injectables, that is, when my cycle is regular enough to even start meds. Since going to RE, my cycles have gotten a lot worse, actually, making me much more dependent on meds to conceive. I've missed 3-4 cycles this year in fact. Major drag.

Best to everyone.

AnaMom

[harmoni]

I'm not bfing but I do have elevated prolactin levels. I know for a fact that my prolactin levels were inhabiting my fertility because my charts were crazy before I started taking meds. My prolactin levels were 36 and 21. Which really isnt that high but my ob/gyn said it could be high enough to effect my fertility. All I know is that I started taking bromocriptine for the elevated prolactin levels and my charts leveled out. So I would say i guess it depends on your body. All I know is that prolactin blocks the adequte production of FSH and possibly progestrone, estrogen and LH.