Conceiving baby 2 with PCOS.

[Beautifulblue]

Has anyone had a second child with PCOS? Was it easier for you to conceive the second time round? It took us 3 years to get pregnant with our first daughter naturally after just being referred to the fertility specialist. We are looking at trying for our second soon & im hoping it won't take as long this time. Any experiences? Both positive & negative to weigh up the likelihood. Many thanks!

I have PCOS took 3 months to conceive our son. We're trying for our second now. I took Angus castus tablets to help with cycle and ate lots of spinach, drank water and lost weight. That did the trick. I haven't been for any scans or had medication. I just tried the herbal tablets and changed diet :)

I have PCOS and have had four pregnancies with very erratic cycles.

First DC took 2.5 years of not trying but not not trying.
Second DC took 11 months of obsessive trying (on my part). I finally gave up with all the obsessive charting etc, and also had an HSG test and fell pregnant.
Third DC was with a new partner and I was so convinced I couldn't get pregnant without some form of trying so we weren't always careful. After 6 months of mostly being careful I amazingly fell pregnant. It was a huge shock but we were delighted. Sadly we lost her in pregnancy.
Fourth DC we conceived very soon after our miscarriage but again she or he died in pregnancy.

2.5 year later and DP has finally agreed to TTC again. I am now on my third cycle but it seems like forever and people are falling pregnant all around me so easily. It's a real bitch.
I've ordered an Ovusense in the hope it can tell me a little bit about my crazy cycles.

Regarding Agnus Castus, I have only read that it is highly advised not to take so make sure you do your research if thinking about it. I wouldn't personally.

I agree with @Frazzlerock I took it for one month but then stopped after ovulation, it is only good for regulating your cycles X

I have PCOS. It took 14 months to conceive DD. We were just about to go for fertility treatment when we found out.

It took 12 months to conceive DS.

My DM had PCOS and it took her years and years to get pregnant with me, and we were expecting the same. Both times we were exceedingly lucky!

Thank you everyone. @frazzlerock I'm so sorry about losing 2 babies, as hard is infertility is I can't imagine mourning a baby so my thoughts are truly with you. I should have said that I do have fairly regular cycles. They have not long returned due to having a 1 year old & only stopping breast feeding recently so the last 4 have ranged between 28-42 days. My average length is 34 days according to the app. My cycles were only this regular for about 6 months before I got pregnant with my daughter as I lost weight. Hoping as they're reasonably regular again, this is a good sign?

@CoodleMoodle my mother also had it, although she got pregnant reasonably easily she only had 1 successful pregnancy (me) out of 5. Very sad, I'm fortunate that even though it took me a long time I had a brilliant pregnancy & healthy daughter. I'll forever be grateful for that & feel a lot less pressure this time as even if it doesn't happen, I am a mum.

I have PCOS but no DC yet. Do you take metformin? I've read we are more at risk of miscarriage (50% likelihood with PCOS) and that it can reduce the chances of it.

I did conceive DD naturally so am hoping I'll be lucky enough to have that again, I won't however leave it as long as I did if it isn't happening & will definitely see a GP after abouf 6-12 months. I wonder if the fact I did conceive naturally the first time round will make them reluctant to prescribe it though.

@zzzzz I didn't know that. I was terrified of having a miscarriage & actually phoned the GP to ask if there was anything (medication) that could help. He basically laughed at me & said are you bleeding? Then I don't understand why you're asking? He was a right twat tbh.

I have been taking Metformin for years, and I still have two MC's so I wouldn't rely on it for avoiding MC's. However, it is good at regulating cycles and for doing some magic to your insulin. I think the main thing you should do is alter your diet. Avoid/reduce as much a poss: dairy and sugar and gluten (if you can). A low GI diet is the best for PCOS.
Also, I am taking Inositol (be careful where you purchase from!), it is often used as a Metformin substitute, but can be used together (I take both)

I've read lots of different things about PCOS and the 'best' diet. I wonder if that too can be affected by whether you have 'thin' PCOS or the type where you carry extra weight? Seems like such a minefield still. I have IBS as well and have found my symptoms have improved since the metformin.

Thin PCOS!? How do I get myself that one!? I definitely want that one.

I think the low GI diet is good for insulin levels so, not only does it keep the lbs off, it also improves symptoms caused by excess testosterone.
So if you're lucky enough to have the 'thin' type, then at least it can control the other shit that PCOS gives us

Thin PCOS!? How do I get myself that one!? I definitely want that one @frazzlerock. I'll have that one too, please thanks.

@Beautifulblue get in line!

How do you feel about keeping this thread on as a general I WANT A BABY NOW BUT PCOS IS BEING AN ARSE thread?
I know there are other threads, but there are so many people on them and they are so long and established that they make my brain hurt a bit...

Completely agree, how long have you been TTC, is it for first baby, 2nd...? What's the severity of your PCOS? (E.g. Symptoms) Sorry million questions, but let's get the deets out the way then we can piss & moan!

You say lucky to have thin PCOS, my GP doesn't think lifestyle factors eg. Diet and exercise will help to improve mine to any great degree which is why she gave me the metformin, and my Consultant has said the same too. This is why I have been doing my research, to try and find people in the same boat, hence stumbling across so many different views re diet. I think diet will be the next thing I try anyway.

I think it was an American forum where I saw it referred to as thin/lean PCOS. I'm not a rake by any means, but my BMI is under 25.

@OrcinusOrca from what I understand, everytime you eat sugar/carbs your pancreas sends out insulin. With PCOS it sends out too much insulin which in turn messes up other hormones and sends signals to the ovaries which then produce too much testosterone (or something) which then causes facial hair (and hair in other places you don't want), and spots, and male patterned hair loss, mood swings, erratic periods etc.

I would say that diet plays a HUGE part in the life of someone with PCOS, no matter if you are thin or fat. I'm neither btw, I am a healthy weight but losing a few lbs would be more comfortable for me.

Metformin will also help, but not as much as diet. Like I say, I take Metformin and have done for years, and now I take it along side Inositol.

@Beautifulblue This will be our fifth pregnancy but third living child. My first two are from my previous marriage. My last two pregnancies were with my lovely DP.
We've actually only been TTC since June - I'm only on my third cycle. But it feels like forever as we lost our babies 2.5 years ago and I've been utterly desperate for another since then but DP vetoed it (which sent me to rock bottom emotionally).

Symptoms: struggle to keep weight off, hair in daft places, periods do whatever the hell they feel like. Weirdly they have been crazy since we started TTC (sods law), I can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now.

Supplements and meds: Metformin 1500mg, Inositol 2000mg, Food sourced conception supplement (though it is bloody expensive so thinking of going synthetic with Pregnacare conception once these run out. I thought I'd be pregnant by now ). I also take a herbal supplement called Shativari which is supposedly good for hormonal imbalances.

Your turn

@Frazzlerock thanks for the mini whistle stop tour, it's helpful after having read journals and all sorts of other stuff over the last few months! Lose sight of it a bit. I think I'm unsure how much the met can do by itself, I'm unsure if that might be a lot or very little.

My GP asked about my diet and didn't think it was that bad. A normal day for me would be no breakfast, a wholemeal pitta with chicken, some melon and raspberries, maybe a banana. A few cups of tea, and dinner can be things like cottage pie, chicken and a jacket potato with veg. I would have had a couple of digestives or something before dinner probably too. I have cut out coke, used to have a can or two of that a week. Have Pepsi max in but rarely drink it. Don't drink wine or smoke or anything, I'm pretty dull! I tried a FODMAP diet for IBS once and it didn't help and was so hard to stick to, (I much prefer fruit to veg but will eat some veg) think it has put me off major dietary overhauls, especially as it didn't help the IBS

@OrcinusOrca I'd avoid artificial sweeteners too if you can (Pepsi max ), they mimic sugar or something which still buggers up insulin/hormones - I'm clearly an expert with all my technical wording

Also... HAVE BREAKFAST WOMAN!!
Maybe swap the digestives for something else? - ryvita with peanut butter if you're hungry? I know it is boring, but save the digestives for a once in a while treat, rather than daily. I love digestives too but avoiding sugar really helps to curb cravings. Also, my go-to daily treat (usually after dinner) is very dark choc. Apparently it is quite good to have a little bit or dark choc anyway as it can reduce inflammation which us PCOSers are prone to.

Feel free to ignore everything I'm saying btw, this is just stuff I've read recently and I'm not sure I entirely understand it. There is a lot to take in, and more and more things are being discovered so its quite overwhelming!

@Frazzlerock thanks that's really helpful. I don't really enjoy the Pepsi so it is staying in the fridge mostly, guess that's good!

Urgh I can't eat breakfast and lunch! I have been trying breakfast but it ends up being at more like lunch time. How do I find out if foods are high or low GI? There doesn't seem to be an extensive list that I have found, or do you have to piece it together yourself?

If I WAS to eat breakfast, I'd probably go back to natural yoghurt and granola...is granola really bad?

I don't have digestives every day. Right now it's Hotel Chocolat because there is some in the cupboard, so even worse I am lactose intolerant which also helps my food plight. Lactase tablets help quite a bit though so I don't have to completely rid myself of dairy just dose up and watch it a bit.

Well you all sound a bit to bloody perfect to be sharing a thread with me! Wholemeal? What's that? ... day for me, jam on toast (always) followed by food, food, some more food, some wine.. & some more food. I'm a stone over weight but honestly my body is coping remarkably. I should be 22 stone in all fairness.

Haha Beautifulblue, I'm faaaaaar from perfect! Wholemeal bread is just something I've always had. We never had white bread when I was a child so it is normal for me and my DC find it normal too, though I do like a nice fresh white crusty tiger/giraffe (whatever its called) bread. that's usually a treat at the weekend with cooked chicken from the hot food counter at Saino's, a bit of crunchy lettuce and a shit load of mayo and pepper. Its sooooo good!

My body doesn't cope well with refined carbs and sugars, much as I'd love it to as I love love love haribo, and all sorts of puddings. I've got such a sweet tooth but the cravings are less when I stay away from those foods for a few days.

Orcinus, low GI foods are generally the types of food that is more natural and less processed. So anything with white flour in or sugar is high GI. Even a lot of fruit is high GI.
I've been doing it on and off for years so I have learnt gradually.

It's about making swaps really. Instead of white rice, go for brown or basmati. Instead of potatoes, go for sweet potato. Instead of sugary cereals and white toast, go for porridge or grainy/wholemeal toast (though bread in general is high GI), avoid sauces with sugar in (ketchup, HP, pre-made pasta sauce).

I have found this website useful and explains things really clearly without all the scientific phrases: www.pcosdietsupport.com/diet-tips/pcos-diet-glycemic-index-vs-glycemic-load/

There is a free tutorial that you can have emailed to you.

is granola really bad? - depends.... proper granola is FULL of sugar (its why it tastes so good), but you can get sugar free granola (just make sure the sugar hasn't been replaced by artificial sweeteners). I saw some in Waitrose yesterday. Though with PCOS you might wanna avoid the yogurt because of the dairy aspect, maybe try coconut yogurt?
I made some overnight oats last night. Jumbo oats, grated apple, cinnamon, chopped up apricots, a few goji berries, sunflower seeds, erm.. I think that was it. Oh and mixed in a load of Oaty milk. I am yet to eat breakfast so I will report back! I made a big batch to last a couple of days so I hope it is nice...

Took me 18 months to conceive my DD and a major shock have just found out in expecting after 1 month of trying with pcos. Can't believe it! Didn't do anything special. Angus castus always delayed ovulation for me so be careful. Good luck