What would be normal levels of progesterone during pregnancy?  We know
babies can nurse through a subsequent pregnancy.
Pat in SNJ
----------
> From: Lyla Wolfenstein <[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> Subject: progesterone treatments for infertility
> Date: Monday, May 12, 1997 1:24 AM
>
> As i mentioned in my introduction, this mom could really use advice about
> the following:
>
> she currently has a 5 month old baby - conceived after several
miscarriages
> and with progesterone treatments to help with conception and to prevent
> miscarriage of htis baby.
>
> She wants to have another baby - and at age 41 right now, with a history
of
> problems conceiving and carrying to term, her doctor has advised her to
> start trying, with the progesterone treatments, when her daughter will be
 6
> months of age.  She is not willing to stop breastfeeding so early (she
would
> nurse a three year old if she had the option), but she and her husband
have
> pretty much decided ot start trying at 9 months instead - a harsh
> compromise.  however, she got her period recently, so she no longer needs
to
> quit breastfeeding to encourage ovulation - it is just a matter of hte
> progesterone treatments.
>
> An  LLL leader told her she  thought taking small doses of progesterone
was
> ok.  But this mom has to take it by injection in large doses.  She has
not
> asked anyone, but  assumes that much progesterone can't be good for a
baby.
>
> She has to take an injection of progesterone every 12 hours, and the
> progesterone levels stay pretty high in her system, apparently.
According
> to the mom, with most pregnant women, they want their progesterone levels
to
> stay above 15 units (not sure what measure they use).  For her, they
wanted
> her level to stay above 30, but they usually kept it much higher than
that.
> They claim that high levels of progesterone don't negatively affect the
> fetus, but thre is very little info about breastmilk.
>
> Also, with the last pregnancy, she only had to take progesterone
injections
> for the first 10 weeks. After that, she took a sublinqual tablet for 2
more
> weeks.
>
> so, i guess the questions are:
>
> is progesterone contraindicated for breastfeeding?
>
> if so, at what doses?
>
> if so, why - (just influencing supply - or affecting the baby as well?)
>
> if so, can she pump and dump, or does the drug stay in the milk the whole
time?
>
> any other thoughts on this subject that might help her not have to wean
her
> baby so young?
>
> Thank you!
>
> Lyla
>
> Lyla
>