Low ovarian reserve results - very upset, please tell me there is hope

[onthefly]

That must have been very upsetting to hear
Hang on till you can talk to your FS - hopefully like Dusty says this can be balanced against better news elsewhere.
All the best~~

[Honeybee]

Thanks so much for replying Arimeh, Dusty and Marcellus. It came as such a shock, as I had assumed that the test would come back fine. Now I'm wondering if I'm going into early menopause and will ever have another baby.

Dusty - thanks so much for your message. I didn't realise that the AMH doesn't reflect poor egg quality, that makes me feel a little better. The nurse I spoke to said that she was going to ask the head FS at the clinic whether BF might impact on AMH, but the asking around she had done so far indicated probably not.

My FS apparently wants to check my FSH on CD2 before coming to any conclusions about my diminishing fertility. But I have to wean in order to ever get to a CD2. The thought of giving up BF my son in order to try for a baby I might never have is awful. The thought that DS might be my only baby makes me want to keep BFing him for as long as possible

Thanks for your positive thoughts - I did get pg, and it was only two years ago. I guess I'm just scared that since then my body has started shutting down, and maybe even early menopause is on the way. I'm now worrying that my cycles aren't being suppressed by BF, but because something bad is going on.

I think the news has taken me back emotionally to where I was when I was TTC my DS, and the thought of going back there to all that uncertainty and misery is just awful.

I guess will just have to hang on until next Tuesday and get the whole picture from my FS.

Thanks again
HB
xxx

[onthefly]

Honeybee, there's a women at the ABA that's done a lot of research into breastfeeding and IVF - she might have a line on this. Worth giving them a call anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if there's little known about the affects of breastfeeding in these circumstances.

Also, while bf in itself may not affect those numbers, the fact that you're currently not have cycles might (i guess). It is possible to have a normal cycle while breastfeeding and even do IVF without weaning - it just depends on the circumstances. How much are you feeding now? Cutting back might be enough to bring af back - it's a compromise, but would give you a better indication of what's going on without fully weaning (hopefully).

The decision to wean your first to try for another is really hard - especially when there's so much uncertainty about conceiving at all. It's why we put off ttc #2 till DS was 2.

Hope the next week isn't too stressful and you can get some clarity from your FS

[briggsy's girl]

Hun, one of my baby buddies is pg with a baby conceived through IVF while she continued BF her DS - so you don't necessarily need to wean. she had to have two stim cycles to get a healthy embryo and is now about 6, maybe more, weeks pregnant and continues to BF her one year old.

as to the results - i really have no idea, but i'm wondering if the fact your cycle hasn't returned is impacting you at all. hope you can get some answers next week hun

[Honeybee]

Thanks Marcellus and BG.

When I saw my FS last I asked whether I could have treatment and continue to BF. He said it wouldn't be ideal, but wouldn't refuse to treat me if I was still BF. I don't know how happy I'd be taking artificial hormones and BF at the same time, especially as I have a son - it would worry me that the female hormones would get into the milk, and then into him. I am very confused about the whole thing. It's breaking my heart to think about weaning him, he couldn't possibly understand why his source of love and comfort would be cut off. How could I hurt him for the sake of a baby that doesn't even exist yet?

I will look into the ABA woman's research, sounds very interesting. I'm looking up some sleep specialists in Perth, I think I've found one that sounds 'gentle', so I might give them a call and find out what they do.

I only BF to sleep, so really only twice a day. But if he's restless during the night, sometimes he can be sucking on me for ages off and on.

I do wonder whether my absent cycle would affect the AMH levels. I tried googling AMH and BF, but no results. It would be so great if that was causing the low results.

Thanks again girls.
xxx

[onthefly]

There was a thread about the ABA stuff - including link to a podcast

I think the key issue for you at this point is getting your cycles back. The next step would be cutting out night feeding, I guess, and hoping for the best.

On the hormones, it's good to remember that these are normally ocurring hormones through your cycle (though at elevated levels when doing IVF, admitedly). Also, if pregnant you would have elevated E2 and P4 levels, but it is still safe to breastfeed.
The woman in the podcast goes through the main IVF drugs and their risks etc.

[Trillian]

Honeybee, I don't have any advice, but I just wanted to give you some 's and I hope that it all works out just fine for you.