Vitex during First Trimester

[beachyvibes]

Hi everyone!! First time poster here so please bear with me.

Okay I am 25 years old and I have a beautiful 17 month-old daughter. Up until 14 months postpartum I did not have a period(still nursing my daughter), so I began taking Vitex capsules(3 400-mg capsules a day). Two weeks later, I got my first postpartum period(7/5/17). I continued taking 3 capsules daily until my next period 5 weeks later(8/12/17). After my second postpartum period, I dropped down to two capsules(800-mg daily total-- one in the morning, one in the night). I ovulated way late that cycle(9/17/17). Well lo and behold, I am pregnant! I have been BBT-ing since late August and everything was out of whack until a temp spike on the 17th--my husband and I did the deed(lol) on the 17th.

Anyhoo, got my BFP pretty faint 9DPO. But it has gotten darker and darker. So my question: when should I wean off Vitex? Can anyone share personal experiences? I have read too many horror stories but quitting cold turkey. I don't know if I should wean now SUUUUPER slowly. Or wait until like 10-12 weeks and THEN start weaning slowly?

I should add my daughter nurses frequently during the night and once during the day so I really feel like I need the hormonal balance Vitex offers since I am still producing prolactin and would hate for it to override the estrogen or progesterone needed to maintain a happy and healthy pregnancy.

I have done so much reading and stressing. I was just love some input.

 

[AndreZZ]

Hi I'm on the dame boat as you. I got my BFP at 10 dpo a few days ago. I will continue on vitex until end of first trimester (this is advice from my naturopath) but I am also taking progesterone suppositories 200mg/day because I had a progesterone drop.
It's really up to you. I personally would continue the vitex though and slowly wean at the 12 week mark.

 

[AndreZZ]

Oh and congratulations!

 

[beachyvibes]

congrats to you, too! may I ask how you knew you had a progesterone drop? through a blood test I am presuming... did yu get tested after your BFP?

So happy to have someone in the same position.

 

[AndreZZ]

congrats to you, too! may I ask how you knew you had a progesterone drop? through a blood test I am presuming... did yu get tested after your BFP?

So happy to have someone in the same position.

Yes it was through bloodwork and the drop was actually before my bfp which I find so strange because it consistently should be going up.
Yesterday I went in for hcg/progesterone bloodwork (2 days after my bfp) and my progesterone went up! I think my obgyn wants to be on the safe side and put me on prometrium in case it drops again.
My obgyn advised to stop the vitex since I will be taking progestwrone but my naturopath suggested to stay on both just to wean to a lower dose of vitex.

You could always request bloodwork to check your progesterone even if your doctor doesn't recommend. I had to be really forceful (and annoying lol) to get my.progesterone consositently monitored.

 

[beachyvibes]

I think I should call and ask for bloodwork... I'm just scared they're gonna think I'm crazy because I don't have any bad symptoms or anything yet. May I ask if you're breastfeeding? I feel like every time I nurse I worry that my progesterone is dipping too low.

 

[AndreZZ]

I think I should call and ask for bloodwork... I'm just scared they're gonna think I'm crazy because I don't have any bad symptoms or anything yet. May I ask if you're breastfeeding? I feel like every time I nurse I worry that my progesterone is dipping too low.

Calling for bloodwork is a great idea. I just got 2 blood draws this past week to confirm pregnancy and check my progesterone.
I'm not breastfeeding bUT I feel if you explained to your doctor your concern that breastfeeding may interfere with progesterone production they would understand. Are you breastfeeding often?