FET and breastfeeding

[ALS17081982]

It's quite a specific qu, I hope someone can help!

I want to do a FET in the next few months. I've been cutting back on breastfeeding my daughter and now I'm down to twice a day.

I want to ask my GP to prescribe something (maybe norethisterone?) to jnduce my period. Has anyone had their period induced for a FET? And if you were breastfeeding, did it dry your milk up?

Has anyone got any experience with doing a FET whilst breastfeeding just generally?

Thanks!

My clinic won’t do any transfer until you’ve stopped feeding for 3 months. Pretty sure they do a prolactin test as well, so would know if you’re still feeding

It’s the downside of the HFEA insisting on blunt data being the measure of success for clinics, I’m afraid

@tenbob oh really! Hmmm, I'm not sure what the policy at my clinic is. I spoke to them this week about wanting to get my cycle back and they suggested I go to a GP for a prescription to induce my period. I presumed that it wouldn't necessarily dry up my milk but perhaps it will and that's why they didn't mention no FET during BF on the phone? Is your clinic NHS or private?

oh, I think I should have said... I'm doing a completely natural FET cycle. No hormones or drugs whatsoever. So I guess it would be fine to continue breastfeeding if I can manage that whilst also getting my period back (may not be possible, I know)

And re-reading your post, you don’t have periods yet so would have to do a stimulated cycle for an FET? Not sure what impact the downregging would have on your milk supply but I would guess it would be negative

And if you’re currently anovulatory, medically inducing a bleed (that won’t be a ‘proper’ period) won’t kickstart your cycle if you’ve still got too much prolactin in your system. So that would mean a natural cycle FET won’t work

The best bet is probably to make an appointment with your clinic, ideally with a reproductive endocrinologist, to discuss your options
You should probably brace yourself for being told they won’t treat you while you’re feeding though...

Completely natural as in not even any progesterone after transfer..?

You really need to speak to an endocrinologist about it because the hormone profile of a breastfeeding women is going to be different to that of one who isn’t and that could hamper your chances

I don’t know enough about endocrinology to know if that also means post-lutal progesterone but low progesterone after transfers has very negative effects on the chances of successful pregnancy so you would want to consider taking some

@tenbob well, I was hoping that I could have my period induced, wait a couple of cycles and the FET. Is it breastfeeding that creates the prolactin?

Yes - completely natural without even progesterone after transfer.

Will try and get an appt with endo!

No, prolactin creates breastfeeding!

While it’s floating around in your bloodstream, it sends signals to your ovaries to stay asleep because you’ve got a baby to look after and don’t want another one just yet

As you drop feeds, the prolactin drops and then eventually drops below the level that signals to stop ovulating, and then your cycle returns

You can’t have a proper period until you ovulate then produce a thickened lining

If you want to get your cycle back, I think you need to go at least 8 hours without feeding, and drops feeds until you notice you’re ovulating (and then hopefully a period will follow!)

There are various groups for people wanting to conceive while still feeding which advocate increasing your calorie intake among other things but you still will have the added complication of the clinic potentially wanting to check your prolactin

There might be something on the LLL website about it also

Thank you, so much help!!! Will try that website.

For the last month I have had a 9 hour gap between feeds in every day but no sign on period yet. Well, I do keep getting period aches and pains so perhaps it's on the way.

I'm with the NHS but as I've had successful IVF, I'm now paying for everything. I had a breakdown of the process and costs but it didn't mention a prolactin check. Although this could have been because they assumed I would completely stop BF before I start the FET. Which sounds like I might have to do anyway!

Hi, I was just wondering if you ever clarified the advice on breastfeeding and having a FET in the end?

I’ve just had a little boy and wondering when I should aim to stop breastfeeding - I have DOR so don’t want to leave it too late in case the FET doesn’t work. Thanks

My clinic was very clear that I needed to (1) stop breastfeeding and (2) get my period back before they would do a FET (although that was a medicated FET not natural cycle).

It was essentially done on trust though so they took my word that I had stopped (I had! But no one checked my prolactin levels)

Thanks @holidayrage. I’m not sure why people would lie about it - surely you want to give your embryos the best chance possible? I do especially as I’ve got diminished ovarian reserve so may not get much to work with in future fresh cycles! I guess my next question is how long do most periods take to return after dropping breast feeding? I’m trying to work out how long to feed my little one for if we’re aiming to transfer a year after he’s born....

I got my period back when I was breastfeeding but DD was over a year old when that happened and I had just night weaned her (which I think makes a difference). TBH I can see there may be a temptation to lie about it as DD point blank refused to take a bottle, cup etc so I felt I had to continue breastfeeding for longer than I really wanted to, then of course you worry about the ever increasing age gap (and see others having natural pregnancies despite continuing to feed).

If I was aiming to transfer at the 1 year point I would start dropping feeds by 8 months and replace with a bottle, and stop completely by 9 months, to have a cycle or two first prior to FET.

Hi @holidayrage, thank you! That was kind of what I was thinking - I want to do the recommended 6 months and then wean down so had roughly 9 months in my head. I do feel a bit guilty stopping breastfeeding my son for a child that might never happen - but I’m sure he’ll get more enjoyment from a sibling and unfortunately for me the clock is ticking!

Thanks again