Ivf and breastfeeding?

[MightyB]

Hi, I was successful with IVF with my third transfer. I am now lucky to have a 21m old. I have 4 embryos from previous cycles. Considering trying again with these.

Is it possible to do IVF and still be breastfeeding?

[sun-and-rain]

If you do a 100% natural, non-medicated FET I don't think there should be any issue with your 21m old. But if your clinic doesn't offer non-medicated FETs, you shouldn't breastfeed, as the progesterone supply will pass through the breast milk. Also, as there are hormones produced during breastfeeding (the very act of feeding) that make the uterus contract, which could add more discomfort/cramping, and thus more worrying during the first weeks of an eventual pregnancy. Good thing is that you don't have to stop breastfeeding a single day before starting to take eventual meds. I became pregnant with my 22m old on last embryo in the freezer, so if we wanted to try for a sibling, we had to take new blood tests, and for that I had to quit breastfeeding three months ahead, so we quit already at almost 13 months. We didn't have any success with first EC (only four eggs, and not even one egg surviving the first night), but I'm currently 10w pregnant with that only egg which reached blastocyst stage at second EC trying for a sibling. Utterly thankful ❤️

[MightyB in reply to sun-and-rain]

Thanks for sharing your story! Congratulations on your pregnancy and lots of baby dust to you xx

[Twiglet2]

That’s exciting for you to start trying again 💕I think it’s individual to your clinic regarding what their policy is. I know some clinics allow it but mine doesn’t, they ask that you are not breast feeding during treatment. I wasn’t so didn’t probe them further but I’ve heard of others who have managed to express and freeze to cover a couple of weeks of treatment so definitely worth asking them 🤗

[ZessB]

I was told to stop before a FET cycle. Best thing to do is to double check with your clinic, as it could be okay to continue if you do a natural unmedicated cycle. Good luck !

[MightyB]

Thanks everyone, since posting this I found a Facebook group specifically for fertility treatment while breastfeeding, and they have a spreadsheet showing clinics that allow treatment while breastfeeding, even if medication is needed. And lots of resources/research showing which medication is safe. Incase anyone else is interested the group is called Breastfeeding mums undergoing fertility treatment/IVF

[McQueeny in reply to MightyB]

I was just coming on here to say there’s a Facebook group for this 😆 I did consider it for a while , but as it turned out ended up stopping breastfeeding before going back for treatment…. Good luck 🤞☺️