Hi ladies. I have a question that I know the doctor's answer to, but it seems reality is a little different. Docs say there isn't a link, but do you personally think that there is any link b/t m/c and b/f'ing? I know that I had a m/c wile b/f'ing, and I know a lot of us on this board have had them too. I too know that several of us haven't. What is your gut sense on this? I think that maybe the body of some of us isn't just quite ready to be pregnant hormonally while b/f'ing. I kind of think that once I had the m/c, my body said, hey, I know what's going on now and got into gear. I'm personally not willing to wean in order to get get or sustain a pregnancy. We will be trying in about a year, and I'm hoping DS will still be nursing then (my goal is always two years). I wouldn't be surprised if we had another m/c, but I'm hoping it's not the case. I'm not saying that it's a mother's fault for the m/c in any way, especially since the "official" stats say it's not an issue. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings (believe me, I know how painful m/c can be), and I don't want to be flaming controversial, but I'm curious as to your sense.

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Kate
hcg @ 12 dpo 95.4, Progesterone 18
@ 17 dpo 960.6
@ 26 dpo 28,970.8
Heartrate @ 33 dpo (6w5d) 130

Beansie's EDD: May 12 (arrived May 10)
Lucky Clover's EDD: July 2 (arrived July 3)
Little Boo's EDD: January 25 (arrived January 31)
Heartrate @ 8w3d 174

I don't know about a m/c and bf connection. The m/c I had was when dd was basically weaned anyway. Statistically, 20% of all end in m/c. That's one in 5. I m/c my 5th pregnancy, so I am right in there statistically.

The common theory is if you are o-ing, your body is ready.

Now, there are many other things genetics, thyroid, etc, that may up your odds of a m/c.

My mom had at least 5 m/c, all of them being well after the first tri. She also smoked and drinked. She warned me before she died that her dr said it was genetic, and that I would probably have the same problem. Obviously I haven't.

If there's one thing I've learned on these boards, it's no two women are the same. What is true for one woman isn't always so for another.

So there's my

Next!

I've actually heard the number was much higher, both of my dr's said 1 in 3, or 33%, I think the numbers have gone up with the higher sensitivity of tests

Anyway as for m/c while bf'ing I've not had one while breastfeeding, but I have had one, when not. I honestly think, no matter when you get pg, if your body is not ready, it's not ready. If it's not ready b/c of weight, bf'ing, short lp's, diet, exercise, stress.....any of the 100's of things that could affect it, you may m/c.
I've not read enough stats to say that NO bf'ing does not increase m/c, but so far, what I have read suggests that the numbers are no higher. We certainly seem to be higher in the chemical pg area though(on this board).

My confusing thoughts of the day

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Shannon

You know, I wonder how many m/c go on that pp who aren't charting don't even know about. We are a bunch of early testers, lol. The stat 20% was for confirmed (as in blood test by dr) m/c, so I could easily see how the real statistic would be much higher. Many women never go in if it is early on in the pregnancy and the bleeding stops on its own.

LOL, sorry Shannon, I thought you meant ++ after POAS then start bleeding m/c. I'm sure that's what my dr's meant.

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Shannon

There has not been a connection in my life. I have had 5 MC, only one during BF. I think it might depend on why you MC. I have trouble with implantation because of swelling of the uterus. I believe this is due to stress and not anything else.

I do believe the %'s might be higher than anyone of us really realize. I have read some docs believe it to be 50%.

I don't know.. I don't blame either one of my 2 m/c on bfing. I was not bfing with my first one.. and with this last one I think it was related to my LP not being long enough to allow a good enough implantation. Which just means my body wasn't ready yet.

I see a MW.. and she says that it increases your chance.. its proven to increase your chance.. its proven to increase your chance of early labor as well.. but not enough to encourage people to stop bfing unless they are prone to mc's or early labor.. Which.. I am now *prone* to both..

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I don't think it has anything to do with m/c'ing. I also believe that the main issure is if your body is or isn't ready to be pg. Xander nursed through the entire pregnancy. I had more braxton hicks and they started sooner but that could have been due to not drinking enough (because I don't drink much now that I'm at home) or just that it wasn't my first pregnancy.