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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

PCOS and Breastfeeding.

31 replies

loopybear · 07/10/2006 21:31

Does anyone know if Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affect your ability to produce milk? To cut a long story short I desparately tried BF DD, milk never came in (got loads of support on here) (Before anyone asks how I know boobs never got hard/ sore DD didn't produce many wet nappies and no poo for 3 days at 10 days, latched was checked by MW) Today was in chemist asking what else I could try to relieve DD's colic and reflux and ended up telling him I got over the whole feeling of being a failure about BF cos am lucky to have DD cos of PCOS. He then said that was probbaly the cause of my BF problem and they should have given me drugs to help before DD was born!!! Does anyone know if he's right? I'm sitting here seething in case it is (made worse by DH being away on exercise and poor DD having colic and reflux)

OP posts:
vitomum · 07/10/2006 21:41

yes i believe there is a connection between the two which can affect some people. I had a friend whose milk supply was similarly affected through PCOS and she was never able to build up enough of a supply despite doing everything. i'm sorry it is not something i know all the science about though.

Charellie · 07/10/2006 21:51

I'd never heard that before.

I have PCOS and 4 year old dt's. I was determind to BF them but gave up after a few days as I didn't seem to be producing any milk. I was warned that a few days later my breasts would be extremely painful as I had stopped. I never felt any pain or any leaking.

Would be interesting if true as I felt guilty for not BF at the time and was given no explanation.

MummyPig · 07/10/2006 21:52

yes it does, sorry . I remember someone on another board having the same problem and here's the kellymom.com page about it. I can quite understand you are seething, although it sounds like it would be a rare doctor who knew enough about it to give you the drug in the first place.

Sorry but rarely around on mumsnet any more although I might not have made the connection earlier anyway. What milk is your dd on at the moment? There's a UK-based reflux babies discussion group I used to be on, and have loads of other links which I can send if you like.

GetInTheBackOfTheVan · 07/10/2006 21:55

Loopybear
No personal experience but my stepmom had PCOS and described exactly the same as you: Boobs never got hard milk never came in ect ect!
Have a look at la leche league see if they've got any info?

Charellie · 07/10/2006 21:58

Coincidentally, also dt1 had quite bad reflux and needed to go on prescription formula. I had to fight for this though.

Original poster
loopybear · 07/10/2006 22:02

We're using aptimil at the moment. Have appointment to see GP on Monday. DD is 9 weeks and only just started to reflux. Just feel pants again about whole BF thing and that poor DD seems in pain after feeding.

OP posts:
TheBlairAitchProject · 07/10/2006 22:02

The specialist bfing unit i accessed said that there could be a connection. Something to do with a surge of male hormones in adolescence triggering PCOS but at the same time this is when the cells that will produce milk are being created in your breasts.

And a surge of male hormone does not do them any good of course so you may end off with less actual cells. You may be producing milk the most milk you could ever produce from every single one of your cells but still not have enough to sustain your wee baby.

I was given domperidone to maximise my supply and it did help, but not enough so i only ever managed to mix feed. But domperidone isn't actually licensed for this use in this country (it's a seasickness drug, LOL) so it is only available from specialists i think.

i like your attitude about being grateful for your baby because of the PCOS and going easy on yourself for not BFing. I'm going to try to remember that a bit more often myself...

brimfull · 07/10/2006 22:04

fascinating! I have pcos and I had difficulty feeding my dd ,I gave up after 8 weeks and poor milk supply despite constant feeding.
I wish this was known about 14 yrs ago!

TheBlairAitchProject · 07/10/2006 22:05

oh, and yes, i had EXACTLY the same thing as you, breasts squishy, milk never appeared in any great quantity. occasional drips of milk but nothing like the let down gush that people talk about... baby wasn't wetting nappies, oh yes, very very similar. am off to look at the kellymom link now.

Original poster
loopybear · 07/10/2006 22:18

The thing I love about Mumsnet is that you're never alone in experiencing an issue!! Have read article on Kellymum and related articles, if does appear that there is link (helps woth the failure feeling) it does says that 20% of PCOS have over supply problems!!! (going to have a word with the man upstairs and tell him I'd like that problem if we are lucky enough to have a 2nd)

OP posts:
GetInTheBackOfTheVan · 07/10/2006 22:21

Loopy: You shouldn't feel a failure anyway!!
You gave it a go at least

MummyPig · 07/10/2006 22:22

ds2's reflux only started at about 8 weeks and it took ages and ages for the GPs to accept that it was a real problem (despite his hugely significant dropping through the percentiles and his persistent green poo and screaming and being sick over me in the waiting room ). Just wondered which milk you were using as a high proportion of babies with severe reflux are sensitive to cow's milk and soya, so if you are ff you might find better results with a specialist formula like neocate or nutramigen. Unfortunately you will probably have to get a referral to a paediatrician to get this prescribed. Or you might just be able to see a dietitian, if they know their stuff. But anyway the staff at our hospital have told me it's getting harder to get referrals as it's cheaper for GPs to try to deal with everything themselves. What I'm trying to say is that I would advise being really really pushy with the GP, otherwise they might not take any notice of you. I wish I had started being pushy far earlier on.

hunting out some links on reflux that might help you:

basic info on GERD from the PAGER organisation
\link{http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/help_infant_reflux.php/14 steps to help reduce acid reflux} from Infantrefluxdisease.com. This site also has a good page somewhere about how to get your doctor to take you seriously
pollywogbaby.com has a very comprehensive pdf document called 'living with infant acid reflux' (click on the link in the middle of the page)

MummyPig · 07/10/2006 22:25

oops sorry about those links

'14 steps' from infantrefluxdisease.com
pollywogbaby.com
and here's the dealing with doctors page

Original poster
loopybear · 07/10/2006 22:26

Thanks GetIn... I know I shouldn't but I was so desparate to and then felt guilty I'd been starving my baby.

OP posts:
MummyPig · 07/10/2006 22:27

and I can guarantee that if you have a second it will be a whole different kettle of fish

Original poster
loopybear · 07/10/2006 22:33

Thanks MummyPig they really helped DD hicups alot (never connected it to reflux) poor thing hiccuped for an hour continually this morning.

OP posts:
determination · 08/10/2006 17:07

Have you stopped bfing? It is terrible that your HCP didnt actually make you aware that you could experience trouble with supply.. Just shows that they are NOT all trained to the same standard...

There is one thing that could be bought to massively increase supply for PCOS sufferers, it is from Motherlove and has goats rue in it.. here is a link: www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=23

I beleive goats rue is the herb used specially in the cases of PCOS and actually makes you engorged in no time at all.

reliantrobin · 08/10/2006 17:13

Rings all the bells with me loopybear.

I tried v hard to breastfeed both DS and DD - no joy with either I'm afraid. I had no problem with latching on, just couldn't produce more than a few drops of milk.

It never occured to me that this could be linked to my PCOS - if anyone else gets more info please post as I'm vaguely considering a 3rd!

Original poster
loopybear · 08/10/2006 18:48

Thanks determination DD is now 9 weeks I gave up after 3 weeks (mixed fed from 6 days) but am keeping a note of every thing for when we have a second.

Relaint Robin did you have problems getting pregnant with number 2. We weren't trying for DD and my Gp at time told me I'd probably only have one!!! How much gap is between your 2?

OP posts:
reliantrobin · 08/10/2006 18:55

Hi loopybear,

I have a 3 year 1 month gap between my two.

I sadly miscarried between the two - they would have been 2 and a bit years apart.

After the miscarriage it took around 9 months to concieve again.

I would take heart from the fact that you concieved and successfully carried a baby to full term.

Good luck.

reliantrobin · 08/10/2006 18:58

Oohps - I meant that they would have been less than 2 years apart (maths brain not functioning tonight...)

Dottydot · 08/10/2006 19:01

Blimey - never heard of this. I've got PCOS and breastfed ds2 until he was 4 months (when I had to give up - went back to work full time). It was fine - he was a hungry baby but I managed OK - although never seemed to have enough to express.

CarolinahowlingattheMoon · 08/10/2006 19:26

me too dottydot. I had pcos before ds was born, and I never leaked. I never tried expressing seriously, but couldn't get anything out by hand expressing - possible crap technique though.

I bfed ds exclusively and he grew normally, although he went down from the 75th centile to the 50th at around 3-4 months (this may have been because the 'old' charts were being used).

otoh, the kellymom info talks about it happening to women whose breasts don't develop as they should during puberty and don't grow during pg - mine were always on the small side but normal enough and grew a couple of cup sizes during pg.

Original poster
loopybear · 08/10/2006 21:49

Yes reliant concieved whilst taking minipill (although never worried if I forgot one here and there) Had seen gynacologist 2 months before hand to be told I needed to think about starting IVF in the next 18 months as I was getting old (was 28!!!!) I carried full term no problems at all. My poor Gp went into shock as I sat there telling her I was pregnant (had mumps so was mega worried) 3 weeks before hand at smear I'd spent 20 mins crying about what gynacologist had said!!!

OP posts:
hunkermunster · 08/10/2006 21:56

I'm really sorry to hear this - as has been said before, don't feel bad. Not your fault at all.

I hope you don't mind me posting this though - I have PCOS and haven't had any problems with milk production and can express a fair amount too. I realise this may seem an insensitive but I don't mean it to - I'm just concerned that other women with PCOS reading this may be put off giving bfeeding a try because they won't be able to do it anyway.

Glad you've been given advice that will hopefully help you bfeed your next.