Breastfeeding & IVF

[~ Mylitta ~]

I continued to breastfeed my son through two cycles of IVF and also all through my pregnancy. My daughter is now 3 1/2 months old and they both love their "mumma milk". I discussed continuing to breastfeed with my IVF doctor and also the ABA. My IVF doctor was happy for me to continue based on the drugs I would be taking (nothing out of the ordinary and fairly low dose) but warned me the drugs might reduce mt milk supply. The ABA pointed me to the podcast posted earlier, and told me that the woman that did the podcast would be happy to talk to me over the phone if I had any more questions.

My milk supply didn't drop during the IVF cycles, but did drop dramatically when I was pregnant. My son went from 10-12 feeds a day, down to 2-3, but he was still happy to suck away When I had my egg collections I was put on an IV drip to keep my fluid levels up so it wouldn't effect my breastfeeding. And they also let me have my son with me right up until they took me to theatre so I could give him a feed right before

[onthefly]

Sticky HERE to collate info
Mylitta I copied your post from your thread, hope you don't mind

[~ Mylitta ~]

I don't mind at all. If the info can even help one woman continue to breastfeed during IVF then I'd be over the moon

[briggsy's girl]

My IVF doctor was happy for me to continue based on the drugs I would be taking (nothing out of the ordinary and fairly low dose) but warned me the drugs might reduce mt milk supply.

i suspect this would be a pretty important factor, so it would be personl to each person individually. at a guess, the dose required for harvest for someone with MF or PGD requirements (so mumma ovulates ok and responds well to the drugs) would be very different to what would happen for someone like myself (i was on 200IU puregon just for 1 follicle for IUI, 350+ for EPU) as well as other supporting drugs.

i think it would fantastic to not HAVE to wean to go through further IVF treatment if you can manage it

[MummaSue]

i think it would fantastic to not HAVE to wean to go through further IVF treatment if you can manage it

This is ultimately why I'd like to get as much information as I can.... not even necessarily for me, but for others who are in the position of wanting more babies through IVF who are currently breast feeding. It would be awesome for women to be able to at least be armed with information when talking to their FS's about future cycles/ babies.

[~ Mylitta ~]

BG is right, it would absolutely depend on what drugs and what dosage you will be having. I was already proven fertile as had my husband, and we were going through IVF for PGD reasons. I had to use Gonal-F, Orgalutran and Progesterone. My Gonal-F dose was on the lower end, even in my second cycle when it was increased to get more eggs. Had I been on a much larger coktail of drugs at much higher doses I was going to try to express and dump (just to keep up my supply) for my entire IVF cycle if possible, and give my son frozen EBM that I had in the freezer. We knew that we wanted another baby fairly soon after my son, so I had been expressing and freezing breastmilk for about a year (in deep freezer) and had about 8-9 litres stored in case I needed to wean him. I'm a good cow though, so I know that doing something like that does not come easy to everyone, so I really do count my blessings for that.

EDIT: Lol, the forum edited the correct spelling of "coktail", hehe.

[Loula]

entreat, Thank you so much for posting this thread, we have an appointment booked to see the FS when DS is 10mths old and plan to 'start' IVF again just after he turns one or maybe at the start of next year. I too am finding this pulling at heartstrings atm due to loiving bfing so much and not wanting to enforce weaning, I would prefer he self wean (whenever that may be) he has currently just started to wean after switching the feeds/food around (and now sleeping better at night) but AF has not yet returned for me, and im not thinking i will see her before we go back to IVF, as I often go without af even while 'trying'

so very interested in this thread. I am yet to discuss with my FS (July) but will be happy to return here to post what has been suggested

GL with your planning of the cycle

and big thank you to all who have responded with information