PCOS and child #2

[Flower of Bliss]

I'm not really sure what I'm looking for here... just btdt advice and stories I guess...

I was diagnosed with PCOS when ttc #1. I tried 2 rounds of clomid with my gyn, when it wasn't a magic pill, we backed off. I tried some herbal supplements, diet changes, and charting. In the end I went to a fertility specialist and conceived on my first cycle with clomid, ultrasounds to watch egg size, and thickness of uterine lining and then an HCG shot. I also took progesterone to induce a period, estrogen in the clomid cycle, and progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. I got pregnant with DD that first round.

DD is 6 months old. I have not had a PPAF, but then again, I rarely have AF w/o inducing it with progesterone anyway. I am not interested in TTC #2 yet, but we'd be very happy with an oops. I expect to go through the same treatment to ttc #2, which we plan to do when DD is 18 - 30 months depending on her.

I hate charting. It makes me crazy. My cycles are all out of whack. It stresses me out. I am a control freak, and very detail oriented. I just find charting to be very stressful. The last thing I want to do is take BC to further screw with my hormones. I took it for several years. I hated it. I also really don't want to introduce a barrier method. I had a 4th degree tear. I still have some pain during penetration. A barrier method would make this worse.

So, I'm not quite sure what to do here.... I don't want to assume that having trouble ttc #1 will mean I'll have the same issues with #2. My only real fear with getting pg right now would be losing my milk during a pregnancy.

Is it irresponsible to just let it be and see what happens?

[OTMomma]

I think if you feel comfortable just letting be what will be, its fine. Have you read, Taking Charge of your Fertility? In it she does talk about just watching for changes in your cervical fluid while you wait for that first ppaf- no need to chart, but if you want to feel like you are taking a little bit of precaution, you can just check for fertile fluids daily, and if they are present not bd for a few days. I went that method for a long time when dd was a baby- not charting and temping exactly, but watching for anything out of the usual.

[erika978]

Hiya, I also have PCOS. It took me 4.5 years to conceive DD (born 6 days before your little girl, btw ) and in the end our magic pill was metformin. Only took me 6 weeks to get pregnant on this so I was amazed. Like you, I am now thinking about contraception beyond just condoms, which I hate. I also hate charting.

I don't think there is anything wrong with taking the "what will be will be" approach. The only thing to bear in mind is that women with PCOS tend to be much more fertile after giving birth for at least a few months. Breastfeeding could negate this though since breastfeeding tends to delay ovulation anyway.

BTW, have you thought about metformin when TTC for #2? It really does seem to be the magic pill for PCOSers. I wasn't able to take clomid without being on heparin so I wanted to try met first. I also lost 40ibs which helped beyond belief.

ANd also, isn't it wierd to have to consider contraception after years of not having to!

[Pookietooth]

I used injectibles to conceive ds, and never used any bc method after he was born. He's 4 and I never got pregnant again, so yes, I would say don't bother with it. to you mama.

[cristeen]

DH and I were just discussing this the other day, as a matter of fact. I also have PCOS and went through 3 months of Metformin, 2 rounds of Clomid and HCG before conceiving this little bean, and another 3 months of Metformin and progesterone to maintain the pg (although luckily they never asked me to chart).

So the other day I asked DH what we wanted to do about BC after the bean arrives, if I should go back to BCP or barrier or what. Since I'll be EBF, he said he'd prefer I not go back on BCP and just to "let it be" and go from there. And if it happens easier the 2nd time, wonderful, our children will just be closer together than I would have planned. If it doesn't, we won't be too surprised, and we'll go back to the RE when we're ready.

I don't think it's irresponsible at all, if you're willing to accept the consequences.