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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

PCOS - successful full term pregnancy without any medication?

43 replies

Peasandyoghurt · 13/12/2011 17:08

I'm 5ish weeks pregnant and the more I read about links between PCOS and miscarriage, the more terrified I become. I almost feel like 'why am I even bothering - it seems like it's just a matter of time before it all goes wrong?!'

One thing that's particularly frustrating me is reading that metformin, progesterone (injections) etc can help, but that whenever I've asked my GP about any of this all I get is variants of 'if you miscarry, you miscarry'. I know this! But I feel like if there is something I can take/ do to protect against miscarriage surely I should be allowed to?! Would I have to be referred to a specialist to be prescribed metformin, or is it actually possible for a GP prescribe this?

Finally, as the title says - has anyone with PCOS had a baby completely naturally without any need for medication? It would be really nice to hear a happy story - if indeed one exists!

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samwellsbutt · 13/12/2011 17:36

my mum has 3 children with pcos she never had any medication. she did miscarry as well however in between having the children but it is entirely possibly for women with pcos to carry children to term. most of my aunties have it and they all have children.

fhdl34 · 13/12/2011 17:37

Congratulations on your pregnancy :)
I have pcos, am not on metformin (have been in the past at various points) and am now 38+6, just waiting for bubs to pop out. I also have underactive thyroid, which increases your risk of miscarriage. I have had the best pregnancy ever, no sickness, just heartburn and tiredness in first trimester. They also told us we were highly unlikely to conceive naturally without assistance and yet here were are, about to become parents. Yes I was at a higher risk of miscarriage but I really felt right from the start that this pregnancy happened for a reason (and I'm not in the least bit religious), that perhaps after all, I was meant to be a mum.
I know it's hard but try to stop reading all the gumph you can find online, think positively that you have conceived and enjoy this life growing inside you, I've found it to be the most special of experiences and I shall miss it - although I'm sure having my first DC will more than make up for it :)

NatashaBee · 13/12/2011 17:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user59457812 · 13/12/2011 17:57

I saw a leading expert in repeat miscarriage a few months ago and he told me there was no evidence at all of a link between PCOS and miscarriage, and I see above that others have been told the same thing.

Step away from Google (which is the devil's work in these kind of circumstances) and try and think of all the positive stories people are sharing. A friend of mine had severe PCOS and had an uneventful pregnancy with her little boy too.

Wishing you an uneventful nine months xx

MissRee · 13/12/2011 17:57

I was told 10 years ago that I have severe PCOS (as opposed to just PCO - there is a difference which not many people know) together with severe endometriosis and abdominal adhesions. It's z sticky horrible cysty mess in there

I'm now 37 weeks pregnant with my first and have managed to get here having a very easy and healthy pregnancy and even (miracle!!!) fell PG naturally It is possible so try not to worry too much x

PrincessSugarPlum · 13/12/2011 18:58

My sister has PCOS and fell very easily with both her girls. No hint of a mc whatsoever, and certainly no medication.

I also have PCOS and it has been harder to fall pg. Took 10 months of clomid to get me ovulating and (just before I started IVF) - bingo! Had my 12 week scan today and there is a perfect baby in there.

So really do try and relax. Reassuring to hear what HotPinkGingham says. TBH, I didn't know there was a myth of a link between PCOS and mc. I think the commonest cause of mc are chromosomal defects, which is nothing to do with PCOS.

COngratulations, by the way!

Listzilla · 13/12/2011 20:37

One and three quarters successful pregnancies without medication here : ) I've never miscarried, as far as I know.

GlaikitFizzEggNog · 13/12/2011 20:51

My story is almost identical to natashabees. Ds is now 7mo and currently sleeping soundly upstairs.

My mw however scared me shitless at my booking appointment with the "higher mc rate" and sent me to the consultant. Consultant actually called mw while we were there because he thought it must be a mistake I was referred for pcos. I think she got a bit of a row about it as she apologised at my next appointment for worrying me unnecessarily.

Congratulations!!

annekins · 13/12/2011 21:14

Another member of the PCOS but still up the duff club here...

I was treated as higher risk at the beginning of pregnancy just in case (didn't know NHS did stuff just in case but there you go), but got to my 26 week consultant appointment without any problems related to PCOS and was discharged back to my CMW. AND my glucose tolerance test was fine, much to their amazement!

Sitting here at 37+4 wondering if the feelings in my tummy are finally braxton hick's or just LO enjoying her dinner!

Sit back and enjoy your pregnancy...congratulations xx

hippieshake · 13/12/2011 21:25

I have PCOS and I'm currently 15+4. Been at the hospital today for a consultant appointment, they said due to the PCOS I'm at a higher risk of gestational diabetes, but no higher risk for anything else.

I had to book in for a glucose test at 25 weeks. They are really going against metformin now, the midwife asked me if I take it (which I don't) and she said it isn't good to unless you actually have diabetes.

So I would try to stay away from taking anything, your body will look after your baby on its own :)

daveywarbeck · 13/12/2011 21:28

I have PCOS. I have had 2 miscarriages and 2 full term healthy pregnancies without medication. With DS I took metformin for three months before conceiving, but no meds during pregnancy. With DD I took nothing before conceiving, just happened completely naturally. I conceived on metformin with one of the MCs and without with the other.

I don't think the MCs were necessarily PCOS linked, sadly anyone can have a MC.

saoirse86 · 13/12/2011 21:31

My friend had PCOS and had one miscarriage. She then struggled to conceive again so was given some medication, but I don't know what, and then had 2 very healthy gorgeous children.

Good luck with everything

SantaffetaClaus · 13/12/2011 21:32

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 18 and told it was unlikely I'd have children. I met DH at 34, married the year after and thought we'd give it a bash anyway. Got pg first month of trying, miscarried, then 3 months later fell pregnant with DS (now 8), then tried for 2 months then miscarried, then tried for 11 months and then fell pregnant with DD(now 5).

Didn't have any assistance or medication.

Tonksforthememories · 13/12/2011 21:35

3 DC here and have had PCOS since i was about 17 AFAIK. Concieved very easily each time, and although i bled throughout pregnancy 2 & 3 it was cervical erosion, not a threatened mc. I was told not to TTC while on Metformin, but have since discovered i have an underactive thyroid too which doesn't help.

I had a glucose test with DC3, not with 1 or 2. Try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy, Congratulations! :o

Charliewasagoodhamster · 13/12/2011 21:43

Hi Peas, I'm 36 weeks today with my first pregnancy and suffer PCOS. I was lucky to fall pregnant soon after trying and have felt great all through the pregnancy. I had 2 episodes of small bleeding which was nothing to do with the PCOS. I was also told I'm at increased risk of gestational diabetes. I have had sugar in my waters for a few months now but tests show no diabetes and it has been put down as a normal pregnancy symptom.

Earlier advice is right, stop reading things. Concentrate on your body and your baby, try and relax and be positive.

StellaAndFries · 13/12/2011 21:47

Hi I was diagnosed with PCOS after having my second dd and was told I wouldn't conceive naturally again, I've gone on to conceive 3 time since, 2 pregnancies which went to full term and gave me dd3 and dd4. I've never had any medication for my PCOS but was tested for gestational diabetes during my pregnancies but never developed it.

daveywarbeck · 13/12/2011 21:52

Never developed GD either.

Llareggub · 13/12/2011 21:58

I was told by my endocrinologist to take metformin in a higher dose while TTC as it would help make me ovulate. It did. She said that it reduced the risk of mc and I took it throughout two of my pregnancies under her supervision.

I was induced at 38 weeks with both babies due to GD.

Bubbaloo · 13/12/2011 22:14

I was diagnosed with PCOS 9 years ago and after 7 years of ttc I had ds1,followed by ds2 (less than 2 years later) and now 5 years later,I'm pg with number 3.
Have never had to take any medication,have been told that PCOS doesn't make me a higher risk,and have also never had Gestional diabetes either,even with a very high bmi
Step away from Google.Been there,done that,and it scares the life out of you!
Congratulations and enjoy your pregnany

justhayley · 13/12/2011 22:17

I have it! I did the same read about it and totally freaked myself out. I had extreme abdominal pain until 6 weeks and was told to basically go home & wait for a bleed. I'm now 20 + 4 weeks and having a healthy boy my advice is stop reading about it on the net and think positive! I hope it turns out ok for you good luck Hun xxx

taniar82 · 13/12/2011 22:28

I have very bad PCOS and went on metformin to conceive my 1st stopped taking it as soon as I fell pregnant and he is now 3 my second I took nothing had the coil in as well but he was very persistent and he has just turned 1 x

debka · 14/12/2011 06:53

Hmmmm. Came on to tell you about my 2 successful pgs with PCOS but my sister got there first! Thanks PrincessSugarPlum!!

I also have never heard of a link between PCOS and MC. Conception can be troublesome, but once it's there your chances of keeping it are the same as any other woman.

Best of luck with your pg.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 14/12/2011 07:06

I too had successful pregnancy with PCOS

Original poster

Peasandyoghurt · 14/12/2011 09:56

Thanks so much ladies, all those stories are so reassuring to hear - I really was beginning to think maybe none existed! Hotpink and others who have been told there's no link between PCOS and miscarriage, that's really interesting to know - whenever I've raised it with GPs I've seen they've all said 'yes, you're right, but if it happens it happens etc'.

So, so relieved to be able to know people like me do have lovely babies too! I'll keep thinking back to your stories next time I have a meltdown!

I went for a private early scan last week because I was driving myself mad thinking 'it' had already happened (I was having quite a bit of pain). It was supposed to be a 6 week scan (she calculated from dates I should be 7+) but she could only see the sack and yolk - no heartbeat - so she concluded it was either a 'struggling pregnancy' or we'd got my dates wrong and I was actually only 5plus4... Praying it's just that we got it too early... Going back on Friday for re-scan, probably even more nervous than last week - which I didn't think was possible! Fingers crossed please!

OP posts:

user59457812 · 14/12/2011 12:16

Good luck peasandyoghurt - dates are easy to get wrong (esp if your cycles aren't regular) and from what I've heard very early dating scans have a margin of error. Sending you good vibes and crossing fingers

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