TTC #2 while BF with PCOS

[Flower of Bliss]

I have PCOS. My DD was conceived on a clomid cycle with a trigger shot. I rarely/never ovulate on my own. My DD is now nearly 18 months, and is of course still BFing MANY times a day and several times at night. We went back to the fertility specialist and did a round of clomid, but I didn't respond. We tried an increased dose (150mg instead of 100mg) this cycle, but still no response.

So, I'm trying to decide where to go from here. I don't expect to manage to conceive without treatment. I would like to conceive again soon, though we're not in any desperate rush. I am not at all willing to consider weaning, night weaning, cutting back nursing, etc for the purpose of TTC#2. DD isn't ready and neither am I. Perhaps I'll feel differently after she turns 2, but I'm not counting on that.

My fertility specialist has told me that I can try injections or just wait until I wean DD. I'm not sure how I feel about either option. He has not pushed me to wean, but he also acknowledges that the nursing is probably the contributing factor here.

Can anyone recommend supplements I can take to help? Anything more natural I can try? I don't want to stop trying, but I think I'll probably take a few months off before I go to injections...

[Julia'sMom]

I don't have any advice, but I'll be watching to see what others say. I'm in the same situation, DD conceived with metformin & clomid & trigger shot. Next month I start treatment for #2 and will see if I respond while bf.

[beangoddess3]

I understand what you are going through. We started TTC#2 in June, 2007. We have inseminated 3 times, this month will be 4 (in a few days). I originally conceived on Metformin, and was off Clomid for two months. The dr thinks that i had a "rebound effect" from Clomid which caused the pregnancy. This time around (starting with last cycle), we are doing it all, Clomid, boosting with injectibles, trigger shot.

I agree that the breastfeeding may be the contributing factor. My dr told me that breeastfeeding can really adversely affect a woman with PCOS chance of getting pregnant. This is true for any woman, but he advised that if we want to increase our chances, to stop breastfeeding. I had a very hard time breastfeeding in the first place, but I wanted to do it so so badly, and believed in it so much, even if I could not do it for a long time, I wanted to at least do it for 6 months to a year...but I never got enough milk in, and even though we tried to increase it with medication and herbs and anything we could, it was never more than an ounce and a half to two ounces when I pumped, after feedings which lasted less than three to five minutes, and I pumped every 1.5 to 2 hours, round the clock. A lactation consultant told me that there are jsut some women with PCOS who cannot make an adequate milk supply. Therefore, my partner and I decided it was best for me to stop supplemental breastfeeding to increase our chances.

While we have yet to conceive again, it was the right decision for us. I understand that you are not ready yet, and that is okay, but at least you know the facts about it.

Soy and cinnamon supplements are good. Cinnamon is supposed to be like metformin and soy is supposed to be like clomid. You can always try boosting with the injectibles if you are not ready to go straight into them. take the 150 mg of clomid and then two like two shots on cd's 8 and 9 or whatever your RE recommends.

Good luck to you both!

[socialworkmamma]

I was in a very similar boat 4 years ago. DD was/is very sensitive and was a very attatched little nurser. DH and I made the decision for us that the nursing relationship was more important than medical assistance to try for another child. That said, as DD approached 3 I really began to work on my diet. I lost around 20 pounds and decided to take Metformin. At that point DD was nursing for comfort, not really nutritionally and I felt the risk of passing on Metformin was very low. I began to cycle myself and after two 33 day cycles I added Vitex. I had used it to conceive DD after being told I had an anovulatory cycle with Clomid. Low and behold the month I added Vitex I o'd on day 14, unheard of for me, and DH and I caught the egg with a "recreational" BD. DS came 4 days after his sister turned 4. I took Metformin throughout the pregnancy and stopped at his birth.
I was 35 when I had DS and he has just turned 3. I sometimes think about trying for another, but with 40 approaching fast and my weight back at it's high, I don't see it as a reality.
Good luck with whatever you decide, I know how hard it is.
Pamela

[cristeen]

You may want to ask this question on the PCOS thread, which you can find in the Finding Your Tribe section. You'll probably get more answers, as there are several mamas who have gone through this.

[Flower of Bliss]

Originally Posted by cristeen

You may want to ask this question on the PCOS thread, which you can find in the Finding Your Tribe section. You'll probably get more answers, as there are several mamas who have gone through this.

Thanks! I had no idea there was a PCOS thread on FYT. I'll go find it.

I appreciate everyone's input and personal experiences. DH and I have decided to put fertility treatment on hold until May, and then we'll re-evaluate. Perhaps DD will have cut back nursing enough then for trying clomid again to sound like a good plan. Perhaps I'll be willing to try injectables by then. Perhaps we'll wait a few more months until DD's closer to 2 and then try again. Maybe I'll try night weaning when she's closer to 2. We'll see. I've made peace with the decision. I'll be hoping for a baby in 2009 instead of 2008. All of that said, we'll continue to DTD and hope for a surprise