[~katiez~]

*Baby mentioned. Also posted Assisted Conception general*


So as the title says, I have a young baby (many IVF cycles to achieve), am quite young (mid 20's) and am almost in menopause. I have a plummeting AMH that is currently sitting at about 2. I am breastfeeding her on demand and if we ever want to have another child we need to do a stimulated IVF cycle and freeze some embryos immediately. I'm very conscious of the fact that she may very well be my only child and would like to keep feeding her as she's still quite young, but we're starting a stimulated cycle in a couple of weeks and whilst my doctor is going to work around the breastfeeding (he hasn't ever done it before but will give it a go) I was wondering if anyone else has done this and how you got on with response? And a possible reduction in milk supply? I know that transferring frosties is fairly common but doing a full stim is a bit of a different ball game! Anyone out there attempted this? (or even considered it?)

Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by ~katiez~: 06/02/2013, 06:59 PM

[password123]

Thanks for posting OP. I'm in a similar boat (older than you though) and will be watching this thread. Bub is a booby monster and no sign of changing her mind!

Reason for edit: Removed Siggie

[indigo~]

OP, I would be very interested to hear how you go. I'm going to be in the same situation later this year and just assumed I'd have to wean early. Thanks for posting.

[frizzle]

If you look in the depression section there is a phone number in the sticky area where ou can call about drug interactions in pregnancy and breast feeding. I am not sure if they would know how supply is affected as well as side effects but it might be worth a shot. I think they are part of a women's hospital. The other I would try would be the aba. The phone counsellor likely wont know but they could refer you in to someone I would imagine.

[Jenflea]

I'd ring the ABA and ask if they have any advice. They might have someone with experience on the matter.

[sqawk]

I doubt the ABA would know. High oestrogen levels decrease milk supply and can alter the taste of milk leading to breast refusal. I think u would need to accept that baby may end up weaning.

[Moo point]

I've been wondering the same thing - DS is only 6 months old but I can see him breastfeeding for a long time to come yet!

I found this, I haven't listened to it yet but will do when I have time on the weekend - it might be helpful ( you can download the podcast from the bottom of the page).

http://mumsright.libsyn.com/ivf-and-breastfeeding

[fooiesmum]

I know there was a thread about this a while ago, not sure how long ago though..........

I'm an IVF mum and as far as I am aware you can't breastfeed and do a stim/medicated cycle, I didm look into it with my clinic (IVF Australia) - you can do a non medicated FET though.

It was a choice I made as I wasn't ready to stop breastfeeding my little one to chance another cycle.

[~katiez~]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I have been in contact with a lots of people and will be going ahead with a stimulated cycle starting in two weeks! My daughter will be 8 months old then.

I did call the ABA and their expert is the women in the podcast. Her and I have been in close phone contact and I have gotten a lot of advice off her. She is also very experienced in drugs and anaethetics and whether or not they pass into breastmilk. The drugs that my doctor is using is going to be designed to be safe for my daughter - he is going to use the fact that breastfeeding has me 'down-regged' so no need for Synarel or Lucrin or the pill (and he will check I'm 'quiet' enough before we start). FSH will be gonal-F which is a synethetic derivative of the hormones women already produce, so I'm had multiple experts tell me I'm okay with that one and I will feed and then take the shot so I have 4-5 hours afterwards with no feeds just to further help. Orgalutran is one I had to check carefully but it's good too. Ovidrel is just HCG, so no problem there. Progesterone in the form of pessaries does not make it into breastmilk and if it did it would be destroyed my the babies digestive system and I also have clearance to take a small does of prednisone to help with implantation.

So my doctor is on board, he knows what he's doing. The ABA have helped with their expert and I've sought drug information from Dr Thomas Hales who is the world expert in drugs and breastfeeding. The anaethetic will be one that will be too large to pass into breastmilk.

As for milk supply - I know there is a chance it will dry up, but I need to take that chance as we have a timer on our IVF. I have introduced the concept of 'milk in a cup' to my daughter and if it does occur we will cross that bridge.

Oh and my doctor is of the opinion that prolactin levels, even if mildly inflated can reduce the chance of implantation so any good embryos that are capable of freezing will be frozen BUT I said if we had one that wasn't good enough to freeze and therefore would be left to succumb (therefore nothing to lose and a lot to gain) could we be sneaky and put that one in? And he said sure, why not!

So that's the plan!!

This post has been edited by ~katiez~: 07/01/2013, 12:21 PM

[password123]

Thanks so much Katiez. This is a huge help to me. We are seeing the specialist in early Feb. It is great to know you are going ahead. I was starting to get depressed as my babe is still so keen on breastfeeding and we really need to get cracking on another cycle.
I understand the prolactin can shorten the luteal phase quite significantly in terms of implantation.
Edited to wish you the best of luck for your cycle.

This post has been edited by Mrs_Snorks: 07/01/2013, 12:34 PM