Chemical pregnancy 2 months in a row - linked to breastfeeding?

[Panda34]

I had a chemical pregnancy last month which was first month of ttc baby no2, and having one again this month I think :-(

Started testing 11dpo and got faint line on easy@home, the clear blue and bottom 2 tests were today (13dpo) and the strips have not got any darker.

I'm still breastfeeding dc1 who is 22months, only twice a day usually but wondering if this is causing chemical pregnancies?

We're not in a rush to conceive but aware it took us a long time to conceive first time round so wanted to get trying. Weirdly over 2 years trying for dc1 (with a tfmr in the middle) I never had a chemical pregnancy and just got bfn most months, so to have 2 in a row has concerned me.

I'm sorry for your losses OP. I have wondered about this too. I fell pregnant in March when I was still BF my then 15 month old, and she was a total boob monster so fed a lot, especially overnight. Sadly that pregnancy ended in missed miscarriage, with babies (it was a twin pregnancy) having stopped growing around 6 weeks. I know BF can impede progesterone production which is something but that's needed in early pregnancy, so I've always wondered if BF so intensely at the beginning of that pregnancy could have contributed to it failing. I couldn't find any evidence to support this theory and any healthcare professionals I asked didn't agree it could have contributed. I know women the world over have been breeding while BF for centuries, but in my mind this made sense as a logical possibility. I hope things work out for you OP xx

Hi @CosmicLove Thankyou, sorry for your losses too. I was wondering about the lack of progesterone maybe too, although as you say there's not a lot to support that theory online.

After last months chemical pregnancy I cut down from 3 feeds to 2 and thinking of maybe now dropping another one as she's taken quite well to cows milk in a cup now. Kinda makes me feel sad though as she still loves the boob!

Please ignore if not helpful but I noted in a comment that you said that you are sad at the thought of further cutting down breastfeeding, which I totally understand. I delayed TTC a 2nd baby because of my worries about how it might impact breastfeeding - we both are still really happy continuing.

I didn't know if maybe you didn't know many people who were breastfeeding while TTC so therefore might be more likely to feel it must be that causing issues? So I just wanted to say that anyone I know who has recently conceived a second child was actually breastfeeding at the time, about the same frequency as you (4 people).

I've recently tested positive myself and I actually breastfeed my 2.5yo a lot more on non-nursery days. Of course, I don't want to dismiss your concerns that it might be linked to your chemical pregnancies (I'm so sorry that you've had that experience - it must have been really distressing after feeling hopeful), because of course I can't know that. But I just wanted to share some anecdotal evidence that might make you feel more comfortable to continue breastfeeding at the frequency you are if you still want to.

Ahh thankyou @Mielbee that's really good to hear and made me a bit more hopeful 😊 congrats on your bfp as well!

I think I will still continue to breastfeed until she's 2 and maybe then think about stopping. I'm proud to have got this far when my goal was 6 weeks, just makes me a bit sad to think about giving it up when maybe that's not the problem. Guess it's hard to know really either way, I'll give it a couple of months and see

Thank you! I really hope you get your sticky bfp soon and can continue to enjoy your breastfeeding journey - you've done so well getting so far past your initial goal. Wishing you all the best.

@Mielbee Thankyou 🤞🏼still getting faint but obvious lines come up but expecting AF tomorrow, definitely would be darker by now if it was going to stick ☹️

Oh I'm so sorry 😔. That's so disappointing... Is that the second one or third one in a row now?

@Mielbee this is the second, due on tomorrow so we shall see but would rather it not drag on too long! See what next month brings!

Many women have chemicals and missed miscarries sadly, I’m one of them. They can happen with or without BF.
BF can prevent ovulation but once that’s happened it’s down to the pregnancy. As you say you don’t want to stop so I’d not rid yourself of that too while you’re going through a tough time. It’s quite normal for it to take some time to conceive -even though it’s so frustrating at the time!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for next month to be your month!

I seem to think it has something to do with prolactin levels being high whilst breastfeeding which can stop ovulation?

I suppose if feeding is dwindling (when baby begins weaning) ovulation can kick in again but prolactin can still be high so there is not enough progesterone to support a pregnancy? High prolactin often means low progesterone. A good level of progesterone is required for thickening the womb lining. A fertilised egg cannot be supported if the womb lining is not sufficient.

I had naturally high prolactin as a result of an under treated under active thyroid and a consultant explained this to me many years ago.

Having said that my daughter had a son in January and another son in November (10 months apart) of the same year. She exclusively breastfed both of them.

Sorry for your losses OP! I personally beleive there might be something in it.....asin a link...after all progesterone is given to sustain pregnancies and breastfeeding lowers it.

I lost a pregnancy with a missed miscarriage at 9wks whilst still breastfeeding DD1.She was 3 at the time and only having a couple of feeds a day, but obviously the hormones were still different because of it.
I stopped feeding her at 3.5, TTC again afew months after and had a healthy pregnancy with DD2.
Maybe coincidence maybe not....but if you Google or search mumsnet posts there's quite a few people correlating a miscarriage with breastfeeding.

I don't think the NHS would likely never admit a link, as they are desperate to promote breastfeeding and that wouldn't help.

I just wanted to clarify that when I said that 4 of my friends had conceived again while breastfeeding, it wasn't just conceived. 3 of those had a healthy pregnancy and have their babies now, while the 4th has had a healthy pregnancy and due in a few weeks.

I'm back again! Not sure if having another chemical this month

This is 9-13dpo, very slight progression but would have thought would be darker by now. I've got different strips this month so harder to compare to last month. What do we think?

@Panda34 just reading your thread because I’m TTC number two while BF my 17 month old. I’m having very delayed ovulation (CD24-26) and short luteal phase. Not sure if I had a chemical last month or not.

I can definitely see lines but they all look quite similar I think? I know you say your test are different but how dark were your lines the previous to months?

I agree with all of this.

Im in the exact same situation OP. I have a 2 years 7 months old, down to feed to sleep only now / waking at night

I’ve lost at least 5, as many as 8 pregnancies, all before 6 weeks
I have zero problem catching, they don’t “stick”
Granted a certain % will have genetic issues or what not, but no way it’s been the cause of all of them.

Im utterly convinced it’s linked to BF. There’s been nothing else found that’s “wrong”, and his pregnancy was textbook before all this.

Consultant says no, but of course they’re never going to admit it, there’s limited research, and every person and pregnancy is different.

I’ve been prescribed progesterone also now.

Im waiting cautiously to see if this will help one stick

Is this an option you could explore OP?

I’m sorry you are going through this too, its utterly shit

I know this is old. But wanted to add my research. I knew 2 women who were unable to conceive 1st babies as thwir peolactin levels were naturally high, they have never been pregnant. It is a phenomenon that can affect anyone BUT more prevelant in BAME communities both the women I knew of were BAME, one was black the other Palestinian/Colombian. Once they startes meds to reduce prolactin they were able to concieve and remain pregnant.

I believe it is the case for me as I have chenicals while nursing but once I stop nursing after a couple cycles and Hornones normalize I get oregnant and have a normal pregnancy. TTC baby.3 at the moment and have had back to back chenicals. Not close to weaning as DS2 is only 12 nonths old. Want to try around 18montha of age.

But just wantes to add to my story. Prolactin dampens progesteone which is what the corpus Luteum produces to sustain an egg and embryo until the placenta can take over. 9/12 weeks. Even if you ovulate Prolactin may be high enough to stop progesteone rising and then you have the chenical and a "normal" period.