FET success while breastfeeding?
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Anonymous
Has anyone had success with a FET while still breastfeeding? I am at SG and while the Dr did not even ask if I was still nursing when I called and asked the nurse about BCP decreasing my milk supply she said they wanted me to wean my son before the transfer. My son is 11 months old and nursing only about 4x in a 24-hr period (I estimate 12-15oz of breastmilk total) and my periods have been regular since he was 2 months old. When I asked my nurse what the reasoning was the only reason she gave is that the nutrients it takes to breastfeed could be nutrients for the uterine lining. I just don't want to rush my baby to wean.  Plus, women get pregnant all the time while breastfeeding (I did with my 2nd when my 1st was only 6 months old). I also just don't want to wait TOO much longer to try the FET because I just turned 40.
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Anonymous
| Its not the nutrients. Its the hormones you take to prepare for the transfer. They can transmit in the breastmilk and affect your child. Also the prolactin you produce while breast feeding can affect how your uterine lining responds to the meds. |
Anonymous
| OP here. The hormones are estrogen and progesterone; from what I read they are not harmful to a breastfeeding child? And that is seriously the only "reason" she gave me,nutrients being taken away from the lining. :/ I would also think that the amount of prolactin is not all that much since my baby isn't nursing that much? |
Anonymous
| Are you happier to bottle feed breast milk? Would your supply allow banking for a few weeks so it doesn't feel like an abrupt cut off? |
Anonymous
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We went through a similar dilemma when TTC #2. Ultimately, we decided to wean first because we only had a few frozen embryos left and wanted to give that cycle our best chance possible. Plus, we were cycling out of town and it was a big commitment of time and money to be out of town. Plus the FET itself. No need to do that more times than needed.
If you have a bunch of frozen embryos and your clinic is nearby you could give it a shot. Like you said, women get pg all of the time while BFing. But for us, it just wasn't worth the risk. I did compromise a bit on timing -- weaned a little earlier than I wanted and cycled a little later than I wanted. |
Anonymous
PP, We only have 1 FE. At first we didn't "care" so much if it worked or not because we really just wanted one more. BUT, now that it's there and this would be my last chance I kinda want it to work.  I will probably end up compromising as well, wean a little earlier and give it a try a little later. Thanks.
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Anonymous
OP here. He will only take a bottle from my husband. Unfortunately, it would take forever for me to build up that much extra milk. He actually takes a sippie cup really well. I guess it's the actual closeness of nursing him that I don't want to give up just yet.
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Anonymous
| I weaned to TTC #2 at almost 13 months. While it was still hard for me to miss out on the cuddles, my LO was starting to be less willing to cuddle at that point because he was getting into every thing and didn't want to be still long enough to nurse. It felt very natural and alleviated a lot of the guilt. |
Anonymous
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One thing to consider: which will break your heart more? Weaning a little earlier than you wanted, or not having that one more baby?
Of course you aren't in full control of whether or not you'll get a BFP again, which raises another question: if you wean in order to attempt an FET, and you don't get pregnant, how upset will you be at having weaned this child "for no reason"? Of course, it isn't really no reason, but it might feel that way if it isn't successful. I totally understand not wanting to give up the closeness of nursing... I'm dealing with secondary infertility, and I nursed my first for a long time until she self-weaned. But I can tell you that the closeness you have built up will not just disappear when the nursing stops, and there are many, many other special things you can develop to be a sort of substitute. As far as trying the FET without weaning, I think it will lower your chances of success, and I also think there is some possibility of the hormones affecting your child through the breastmilk. I seriously doubt there have been any big studies on this topic for anyone to know for sure how much of an effect either of those 2 things will have, so anything anyone tells you is most likely speculation or educated guesses. |
Anonymous
| I did. Our son was 13 months when we did our FET (not in the D.C. area, but that doesn't matter). Our doc told me to stop nursing, but I was still nursing 2x/ day. Now we have 2 sons. The older self-weaned shortly after the baby was born. During pregnancy, he was still nursing, but I don't think he was getting anything. I was too tired to tell him no. |
Anonymous
| What if you wean and don't get pregnant? How would you feel then? Personally, I wouldn't short change my living child for a "what if" Estrogen absolutely affects milk supply (which is why bfing women can't take a combo pill) |
Anonymous
This made me laugh. OP here, thanks for your input and bringing up some good points...I am still torn. I guess I will give it a month and once he turns one, reevaluate then. 
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Anonymous
| OP here. I was planning on having an update in a few weeks about the FET. My 12 1/2 month old has cut way back on nursing but still does 1-2x in a 24 hour period. I was going back and forth on whether to do the FET this cycle or wait a few more months. Well, I have been crying for no apparent reason for a week...weird dreams, extremely hungry... So I took a HPT this morning. Holy cow, I am pregnant! So unexpected after 5-6 years of being unable to except with IVF! Oh, boy... |
Anonymous
| Fun! Congrats. |
Anonymous
| Awww, congrats!! I just love stories like this!! Wishing you an easy 9 months!! |