PCOS Buddies (10 BFP)

[GoldenRatio]

Hey! I was just coming back to tell u ladies about my breastfeeding experience, what a coincidence that u are already talking about it.

I wish I knew that pcos does effect milk supply. First two days I tried breastfeeding like mad woman even tho I didn't even have a drop of colostrum. Nurses kept telling me that it's okey not to see the colostrum but he is getting it. He cried for two days and got jaundice the night before we left the hospital. He was loosing weight like crazy and crying nonstop. At this point my nipples were bleeding and nurses kept telling me that he is probably latching wrong. Anyways, I had to start supplementing him due to jaundice and my milk came in day 6 so by the time my milk was in, he was already drinking formula from bottle.
I tried so hard to breastfeed, everytime I put he latched he was screaming. I kept thinking maybe he doesn't like thit flow. I started pumping and I was getting 1-2oz max every 4-6hours. My nipples were bleeding... was so stressful and painful. Then I decided to just pump slowly, use nipple shield and slowly build my supply and get him latch couple meals.
When he was 2 weeks old, doc put me on domperadone and I tried lactation cookies, mothers milk tea, fenugreek....etc I was still not getting more than 1.5-2oz. At 5 weeks my milk supply almost diminished, I was literally getting 5 drops after pumping for 30mins.
Then my doc put me back on metformin, he said insulin resistance can cause low milk supply. Metformin did work in two days, I'm back to pumping 1-2oz every 2-3hours. My baby is drinking 3-4oz formula every 2-3hours so there is no way I can catch up to that but I'm hoping to give him couple meals a day.

Sorry for the long story. I just wish that I knew about this during pregnancy. I think pcos only effects milk supply if you have issues with insulin. Apparently taking metformin as soon as giving birth can help. Next pregnancy, I will be taking metformin my entire pregnancy, will get nipple shield and SNS with me to hospital.

 

[krissie328]

Congrats on your baby Golden.

 

[sarah2211]

Congratulations Golden and thanks for sharing. Sounds like it's been stressful! I'm sorry. After all we go through to get pregnant (and some of us have hard pregnancies) to then also have trouble with BFing it just sucks. It sounds like you really persevered and that it was really hard going. Did you see a lactation specialist or just the nurses? I'm glad Metformin is helping you! I'm not insulin resistant but I'd go back on metformin if it could help. I might even mention it to my doctor that I'd like to just be put on it regardless. I hope everything else is going well!

 

[GoldenRatio]

Congratulations Golden and thanks for sharing. Sounds like it's been stressful! I'm sorry. After all we go through to get pregnant (and some of us have hard pregnancies) to then also have trouble with BFing it just sucks. It sounds like you really persevered and that it was really hard going. Did you see a lactation specialist or just the nurses? I'm glad Metformin is helping you! I'm not insulin resistant but I'd go back on metformin if it could help. I might even mention it to my doctor that I'd like to just be put on it regardless. I hope everything else is going well!

Thanks Sarah, it really sucks that pcos effects even after having the baby. Actually lactation consultant mentioned that pcos effects my milk supply then I asked my doc about it. Metformin did help but honestly I'm only getting 1-2oz every pump and that will cover 30% of my babies daily intake. Really sucks but I try not to stress about it, as long as he is healthy.

 

[sarah2211]

How is everyone here doing? Golden I hope you're doing well. I saw a lactation consultant a few weeks ago and she has had me hand expressing colostrum. I've got 200mls frozen so hopefully if things turn pear shaped we will have a good supply there.

 

[Betty.Rubble]

Great news on the colostrum supply Sarah. I got about 35ml out before DD arrived but I seem to have oversupply rather than under. Even with being on the pill! 6 weeks old and gaining weight like no one's business I must have really been a mild case of PCOS.

Hope you're all well x

 

[krissie328]

Congrats on your second little girl betty!

Sarah- that's a great amount.

I can't believe it's been since April that I posted in here! I got my bfp in June after deciding we were done trying. But it appears everything is going well and I'm due in February.

 

[Betty.Rubble]

Fantastic news Krissie! X

 

[sarah2211]

Thanks Betty, I feel like it's a good amount if something goes wrong. And my midwife said any extra can be frozen for 3 months and we can mix it in with EBM if he gets sick. I'm also quite happy to look at donating it if anyone wanted. Have you found your pcos symptoms to be manageable PP? I've found my hair and skin are so much better during pregnancy but I'm expecting it to all change after he's born.

Krissie, I'm so excited for you that you stopped trying and this happened. Will you find out the gender?

 

[krissie328]

Sarah- Yes, we will be finding out the gender next month. I think I will book my appointment today so I can start my official countdown!!

 

[sarah2211]

Haha I found that I was so much more impatient to find out the gender than I thought I'd be. But my gut feeling was right! Do you have a gut feeling or preference?

 

[krissie328]

No real preference, I can see the perks of either gender.

Ds has told me it's a baby sister from the start. I feel like it's a girl too.

 

[Betty.Rubble]

I didn't have many physical symptoms of PCOS before to be honest - Mine was mostly lack of periods and ovulation. X

 

[GoldenRatio]

Sarah that's great to hear! Hopefully u will have a good supply.

Congrats on ur baby Betty!

Krisse I'm so happy for u! Right when u gave p it happened!!

I have a news too! My son is 6 months old and doing great, he smiles non stop and just makes my day everyday! After giving birth, doc wanted me to take birth control pills and I didn't want to since pcos is like birth control. I always thought bc pills caused pcos for me. Anyways we were using pull out method since I'm sensitive to condomds and I got pregnant!
We literally had sex once and that was like CD3 so I have no idea how it happened. We always wanted two kids so it's kinda nice to have this one without worrying about pcos but I'm scared a bit, they will have 13months difference. Gonna be hard but I'm so happy to be pregnant "ACCIDENTALLY" I can be like everyone else "oh it just happened"
Anyways I'm 8weeks preggo now, hopefully it's a girl. Due April

 

[krissie328]

Aww congrats golden! That's exciting it happened for you with no effort.

 

[GoldenRatio]

Aww congrats golden! That's exciting it happened for you with no effort.

I know! I tried so hard to get pregnant for my son. Even tho I have no idea how I'm gonna take care of two babies. I won't even be able to go back to work and get maternity leave for this pregnancy.

 

[krissie328]

I think no matter the age gap it's gonna be hard. I have heard small ones are hard at first but they usually bond well as they get older. I figure we adapted to the first one and well adapt to the second as well.

That's a big bummer you won't get any maternity pay for this new one.

 

[sarah2211]

Congratulations golden! That's such exciting news!! I hope you've been feeling ok in the first trimester. That's always my dread for number 2. But absolutely amazing that you conceived without any help. My husband keeps telling that this will happen for us haha if we were your position he would be the happiest man in the world. Can I ask if you were still BFing?

Krissie, yup I see what you mean. I've got a feeling you're having a girl too haha. Please let us know.

Betty, thanks for that. So have your cycles gone back to what they were like or changed PP?

AFM, still pregnant haha. Come on baby we want to meet you!

 

[GoldenRatio]

Thanks Sarah, my husband was so happy too! Have no idea why. Our gp makes fun of me, keep saying how I'm gonna be pregnant every year lol

This pregnancy I'm feeling super tired n nauseous. It's helping me lose weight so kinda bonus😂 I could only breastfeed until he was 2.5months old and that was me pumping the last drops. This pregnancy my gp agreed to keep me on metformin and see if it help with milk supply.

Btw my husband thinks clomid babies are advanced because my son hits his milestones super early. Would love to see our second baby and check his theory.

 

[sarah2211]

Haha it must be a male thing? Mine was so keen on Irish Twins except this one is due in August/September so there's no time. What a shame haha. Haha you might just be able to pop them out now. My husband is sure this is going to happen and that being pregnant will magically correct my PCOS. We will see. Did you feel like that last pregnancy? I felt terrible so I can empathise. I lost about 8lbs in the first trimester. Will you stay on Metformin the whole pregnancy?

Haha we will see! I'll let you know if we can confirm your hubby's theory. Currently our baby's head is in the 86th percentile while his arms and legs are in the 25th ish. So he's got a big brain haha. I was reading a pregnancy book a few months ago and it said you're more likely to conceive a girl on Clomid than a boy. Not sure why. But hopefully that's wrong for you and you get a girl this time