[GMum]

I'm driving myself crazy.

Now I know that BFing whilst pg is supposed to be safe but I have been reading a lot of different soucres that suggest that BFing can lower progesterone and that progesterone is needed to sustain a pg and low levels can cause m/c. One article suggested that younger women ( less than 30) may not see much of an effect but above 30 will increase the risk.

I am 36 yo and 6 wks pg, miscarried in Feb and can't shake the feeling that it is because I am BFing DD and that the same thing is going to happen again.

Is there a link between BFing, low progesterone and miscarriage? Does anyone have any thoughts, suggestions or experience? Other than wean DD asap ( which I am VERY reluctant to do) what can be done?

TIA everyone.

 

[boobs4milk]

Do you have low progesterone or a history of low progesterone? My OB suggested that nursing my 17 month old (then) DD may have dangerously decreased my progesterone during my last pg that ended in m/c. BUT, (BIG BUT) I was not tested for low progesterone during that pg until the m/c had already begun.

This time, I've been in the 'okay' range, but the numbers have never been extremely high and my OB and I think that, if I had been bf still, weaning would have been the best option for me.

I will start the 17P injections soon, probably at my next visit. Until now, my number have been okay, but I also have a history of low progesterone during second trimester and I also have incompetent cervix, and it is believed that progesterone supplementation may help keep the cervix long and closed.

I guess what I'm saying is that you will need to work closely with your health care provider and do what you feel is best for your situation. At 17 mos, Natalie was still nursing every 2 hrs or so, but we did night wean. We do not know, definitively, what caused our loss, but in my situation I would definitely not be nursing now.

Hugs! I know that I second guess EVERYTHING I do, so I can understand your fears!

 

[famille_huggins]

I don't know if there's a link, but if you're prone to low progesterone or recurrent early miscarriages, it never hurts to have your levels drawn. In this pregnancy, I had blood draws every Monday and Thursday from 4 weeks until 14 weeks. That allowed for the most effective level of progesterone supplementation.

Like b4m will do, I too am prone to preterm labor and cervical incompetency and have been taking 17P injections once weekly since 17 weeks. I'm 23 weeks (tomorrow) and this is the best pregnancy I've ever had (healthwise).

Do not hesitate to talk to your health care provider about your concerns. As for your previous loss, there may or may not have been a connection to BF -- you can never absolutely know for sure. Still, don't make yourself sick with worry. Keep doing research, talk to your doctor, have some blood tests run, etc. You are your own best advocate.

 

[GMum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by boobs4milk Do you have low progesterone or a history of low progesterone? My OB suggested that nursing my 17 month old (then) DD may have dangerously decreased my progesterone during my last pg that ended in m/c. BUT, (BIG BUT) I was not tested for low progesterone during that pg until the m/c had already begun. This time, I've been in the 'okay' range, but the numbers have never been extremely high and my OB and I think that, if I had been bf still, weaning would have been the best option for me. I will start the 17P injections soon, probably at my next visit. Until now, my number have been okay, but I also have a history of low progesterone during second trimester and I also have incompetent cervix, and it is believed that progesterone supplementation may help keep the cervix long and closed. I guess what I'm saying is that you will need to work closely with your health care provider and do what you feel is best for your situation. At 17 mos, Natalie was still nursing every 2 hrs or so, but we did night wean. We do not know, definitively, what caused our loss, but in my situation I would definitely not be nursing now. Hugs! I know that I second guess EVERYTHING I do, so I can understand your fears!

Thank you Mama. I have never had my levels checked so I have no idea. It's just a feeling after reading some info that I got. DD is 16 months and nurse every 3-4 hours during the day, and we have recenlty nightweaned her so she can go 8 hours without nursing at night. Thanks for understanding my second guessing! I will call my Dr. tomorrow and she what she says.

Quote:

Originally Posted by famille_huggins I don't know if there's a link, but if you're prone to low progesterone or recurrent early miscarriages, it never hurts to have your levels drawn. In this pregnancy, I had blood draws every Monday and Thursday from 4 weeks until 14 weeks. That allowed for the most effective level of progesterone supplementation. Like b4m will do, I too am prone to preterm labor and cervical incompetency and have been taking 17P injections once weekly since 17 weeks. I'm 23 weeks (tomorrow) and this is the best pregnancy I've ever had (healthwise). Do not hesitate to talk to your health care provider about your concerns. As for your previous loss, there may or may not have been a connection to BF -- you can never absolutely know for sure. Still, don't make yourself sick with worry. Keep doing research, talk to your doctor, have some blood tests run, etc. You are your own best advocate.

Thanks Mama. I mc at 10weeks the first time and 7 weeks the second. I am going to talk to my Dr, tomorrow and do some more research. Thank you!

 

[Cotton]

This has been a question on my mind too. We are currently 5 weeks pregnant & nursing my 27m old. We had a miscarriage in October (while our son was nursing). But we also had 3 miscarriages prior to ever having our son.

My midwife's insist that it is safe to tandem nurse. My RE told me that nursing did not cause my last miscarriage, however they encouraged us to wean before trying again. We kind of got pregnant by accident this time & they have said several times that we need to wean.

I am very torn on the subject. I wanted to do child led weaning. we are gently weaning our son & he has cut down a lot.

Our levels:

non breast feeding miscarriage:
day 34 13.2
day 38 14.7 -started oral prog
day 40 17.5

pregnancy with son
day 30 prog 40 (I can't remember if I was on prog at this point or not)

miscarriage while breastfeeding:
day 32 23
day 38 23 (I insisted we start prog --they gave me oral)
day 45 32.6

This pregnancy
day 34 19.5
day 36 18.0 (started prog supp)
they haven't checked another one.

I don't know if these numbers help you or not. They don't know what causes my miscarriages, so I didn't really want to early wean my son & then have more miscarriages. Then I would have felt like I weaned for nothing. Also nursing our son was very comforting when we had our last miscarriage.

It is a tough decision. I can see both sides of it. I wish you all the best.

 

[readytobedone]

i have heard that BFing can shorten your LP (luteal phase), which leads to increased miscarriage rates. how long is your LP? the little bit of charting i have done leads me to believe mine is short to begin with (~10 days); not sure if it is shorter when nursing or not.

FWIW i have had two chem pregnancies while nursing (however, i encouraged them both along with herbs and vitamin C because i didn't want a baby--please no flaming; i'm just sharing info for the OP and wanted to be thorough).

 

[GMum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cotton This has been a question on my mind too. We are currently 5 weeks pregnant & nursing my 27m old. We had a miscarriage in October (while our son was nursing). But we also had 3 miscarriages prior to ever having our son. My midwife's insist that it is safe to tandem nurse. My RE told me that nursing did not cause my last miscarriage, however they encouraged us to wean before trying again. We kind of got pregnant by accident this time & they have said several times that we need to wean. I am very torn on the subject. I wanted to do child led weaning. we are gently weaning our son & he has cut down a lot. Our levels: non breast feeding miscarriage: day 34 13.2 day 38 14.7 -started oral prog day 40 17.5 pregnancy with son day 30 prog 40 (I can't remember if I was on prog at this point or not) miscarriage while breastfeeding: day 32 23 day 38 23 (I insisted we start prog --they gave me oral) day 45 32.6 This pregnancy day 34 19.5 day 36 18.0 (started prog supp) they haven't checked another one. I don't know if these numbers help you or not. They don't know what causes my miscarriages, so I didn't really want to early wean my son & then have more miscarriages. Then I would have felt like I weaned for nothing. Also nursing our son was very comforting when we had our last miscarriage. It is a tough decision. I can see both sides of it. I wish you all the best.

Thank you mama - I wish you all the best too - congratulations

. The info you share is realy hepful. I hope my Dr. will agree to having my levels checked out and if they are low i also will insist on oral progesterone so the level you gave will help me out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by readytobedone i have heard that BFing can shorten your LP (luteal phase), which leads to increased miscarriage rates. how long is your LP? the little bit of charting i have done leads me to believe mine is short to begin with (~10 days); not sure if it is shorter when nursing or not. FWIW i have had two chem pregnancies while nursing (however, i encouraged them both along with herbs and vitamin C because i didn't want a baby--please no flaming; i'm just sharing info for the OP and wanted to be thorough).

I know my LP is too short. Since having DD I know it was 4-7 days so that is another factor working against us. This is for sure due to nursing as before i was clockwork 28 day cycle with great LP.

 

[crazycandigirl]

I had 2 losses before DD2. Both were related to low progesterone. I was not nursing at the time.

With DD2 I also had low progesterone (9.5) and with supplementation only got up to a 12 until about 16 weeks when I hit a 16 and continued to go up so I had no more weekly blood tests or supplementation.

I am pregnant with our third. I am 21 weeks and still nursing DD2. I had my progesterone drawn twice and had a 13.4 and a 13.9. So very very high for me. My OB says that nursing can lower progesterone in some woman, but because I have had no sign of progesterone dropping, no cramping or spotting, and no other problems- I am comfortable to continue nursing with my doctors blessing.

I plan on nursing DD2 as long as I can (having some emotional issues with it right now) and possibly tandem nursing.

This is just my experience though.

 

[Cotton]

I was so glad to read this thread--I thought i was the only one out there w/ history of miscarriages who was trying to tandem nurse. It is reassuring to hear from you ladies.

FYI if you do ask for progesterone supplements you might ask for the suppositories (spelling). There are probably others on this board who know a lot more than I do about the subject. But I think the supp. are more effective (although I my OB w/ Jessup (son) said there wasn't any difference between the supp and the oral med). I have always asked for supplements if my level is less than 20--that isn't scientific, it is just a number that I have used from talking to other moms etc. They tell me that 19.5 is ok, but I would rather be on progesterone than not, it is kind of like extra insurance.

Also someone on here told me that if you take the oral supplements than it is reflected in your blood levels and if you take the suppositories it isn't reflected in the blood levels.

Hopefully you won't even need them at all

I also heard that about nursing shortening your Luteal Phase. It can all be so confusing.

One other thing that I keep telling myself is that if my body wasn't ready for another baby (due to the nursing) then my period wouldn't have resumed.

OK I will quit rambling.

Wishing all of you happy healthy babies!

 

[btmama]

I don't really have anything scientific or anecdotal to add here. I just wanted to say that I wish you all well who are nursing and TTC!!
I nursed while pregnant with #2 and tandem nursed. It was a beautiful and memorable time.

 

[GMum]

Thank you mamas for all the wonderful support and information. It's really helping to hear your experiences...making me a bit more relaxed.

I fogot to mention that my first m/c was before DD so obviously I was not nursing.

Tandem nursing has always been a goal of mine. I hope I can.

I have never had any levels checked before so it will be interesting to see. I just have a hunch but I'm also a little crazy worried right now.

Cotton, thanks I will ask about the suppositories ( mmm lovely

)

I agree really, if my body is ready it will work out. I'm half reluctant to mess around with my hormones ( ie.maybe my body is saying that I need to slow down on TTC #2) and half wanting to sort it out if it is out of whack as I feel my clock ticking.....

If my levels are low is it too late to start supplements at 6 weeks? I mean, I would have needed them right off the bat....I'm now half way through the worrisome time before the placenta takes over.

For those who have had low levels did you have any symptoms?

ETA btmama - thanks for the support and encouragement.

 

[famille_huggins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cotton FYI if you do ask for progesterone supplements you might ask for the suppositories (spelling). There are probably others on this board who know a lot more than I do about the subject. But I think the supp. are more effective (although I my OB w/ Jessup (son) said there wasn't any difference between the supp and the oral med)... Also someone on here told me that if you take the oral supplements than it is reflected in your blood levels and if you take the suppositories it isn't reflected in the blood levels.

Cotton -- I've taken both kinds of supplements and/or a combination of supplements and the degree of effectiveness has varied from one pregnancy to the next. In my first pregnancy, I took the vaginal suppositories only. I lost my second pregnancy before I began supplementation because I had a new doctor who wouldn't listen to me about my levels. I took oral only in my third pregnancy. I took a daily combination of two oral and one vaginal suppository in my fourth pregnancy. I took the same combination in my fifth pregnancy. I took the lowest dose of oral only in this pregnancy, but added baby aspirin.

Every time I've taken supplements before this particular pregnancy, my levels have risen, but slowly and after very high doses of supplementation. When I lost my last pregnancy, my MFM said I'd need to take baby aspirin with this pregnancy. I tested negative for all the normal clotting disorders, still he was concerned there was an issue we couldn't find. I started taking baby aspirin the moment I got a positive test and my progesterone levels during this pregnancy were unbelievable (for me). I took the lowest dose of supplement I've ever taken and my levels were better than ever. They stayed between 22-27 the whole time we tested (every 3-4 days from 4-14 weeks), when I normally struggle to get up and stay around 15. If you're really concerned, you may ask about baby aspirin, as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grahnola Mum Cotton, thanks I will ask about the suppositories ( mmm lovely )... If my levels are low is it too late to start supplements at 6 weeks? I mean, I would have needed them right off the bat....I'm now half way through the worrisome time before the placenta takes over. For those who have had low levels did you have any symptoms?

Grahnola Mum -- The suppositories are taken vaginally, so they're really not that bad. As far as when you start, I didn't even know I was pregnant with DD until 6 weeks and started supplementation after that. If your levels are not where they should be, it's never to late to start (or increase, as the case may be).

As far as symptoms, I never had any. Some women experience spotting early on, but I've only had spotting in relation to sex or a subchorionic hematoma. I've never had any symptoms related to my low progesterone levels -- except for recurrent losses and proof in the bloodwork.

 

[Cotton]

Thanks--I am on a baby asa as well. They haven't found any clotting disorders in my either, but I've taken baby asa with the last 4 pregnacies (1 turned into a son)! I am hoping the baby asa is enough. I mentioned low dose heparin to them, but I don't think they will give that w/o a diagnosis.

I don't think that 6 weeks is too late to start progesterone--it can't hurt. I have my fingers crossed for you!!! I hope it works out. We scheduled an early us for 7 weeks (4/23). I am counting down the days until that.

Even if we have to pay for the US ourselves, I don't care. We usually wait until the 10 week appointment to hear a heatbeat, then get a us when we don't hear a hearbeat.

I am so glad that we are doing the us at 7 weeks, I don't think I could wait another 3 weeks! Although our last baby they thought passed away at 8 weeks, so I am going have to ask them if I can come in for frequent hearbeat checks or something to give me reassurance until we get past the 12 week mark

Happy baby growing to everyone!

 

[mysticmomma]

Progesterone and Prolactin compete. Look that up, I have no idea where I got it from. It may help. I have documented low progesterone and have used progesterone creams from the local HFS to sustain my 3 babies.

 

[Cotton]

I'm trying to do some "googling" on the progesterone/prolactin. So far I have found that progesterone decreases prolactin (which is why your milk "drys" up when pregnant. I have not found a souce that says that prolactin decreases progesterone--although I would like to read a source if anyone finds one. All of the breastfeedin pregnancy sites talk about bf causing uterine contractions.

Has anyone else found info on prolactin lowering progesterone?

 

[GMum]

Hey Cotton,

I googled it too and could only find the same info. I will keep looking though on and off when I get chance and/or when I have a crazy/panicky moment,

How are you doing and feeling?

I have an appt with my Dr. tomorrow so I am going to insist she checks my levels.

 

[Cotton]

Good luck tomorrow. I talked to my RE's physician assistant & she didn't know how or if progesterone affected prolactin. I was hoping for more info from them. She is going to ask the dr. about checking my labs again today. She also gave me the name of a counsellor who specializes in birth loss. so i am going to check that out too

I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow. You will feel so much better after you get your levels checked.

 

[Julia'sMom]

Aaacckkkk, reading this is making me very nervous. I just found out I'm pregnant, and am still nursing (barely). Because I conceive with medical assistance, I am already on progesterone, but they taper it off between 8-12 weeks so I'm off at 12 weeks. That was when I lost the twins. My levels were never tested. I think I'll insist on it this time. So...for those that supplement, how long do you continue to supplement?

 

[mysticmomma]

This person is a little intense, but has some studies/info on his site if you can read through the crap.

http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2369

 

[famille_huggins]

I'm generally encouraged to begin weaning off my supplements around ten weeks, going completely off by 12. This pregnancy, though, I was too worried to start at ten weeks, so my doctor let me start weaning at 12 weeks and I was done by 14 weeks. It won't hurt to stay on supplements for a bit longer -- talk to your care provider if you're nervous.