Question:
Can I ask my doctor for fertility help while breastfeeding?
Even if it's been under a year and I am under 35 years old?
There is nothing wrong with bringing up your concerns with your OB/GYN, that is what they are there for.
The real question will be whether your OB/GYN shares your concerns and will offer you help before it has been a year of trying to conceive if both your spouse and you have no known fertility issues and are trying while breastfeeding. Some OB/GYNs are awesome and will definitely help. You'll find many mothers in the same boat have had different experiences when they sought help.
I'll just share mine. I have been diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometriosis before trying to conceive # 1. I had a laparoscopy to diagnose and laser out the Endometriosis and remove a cyst off of one of my ovaries. That being said, I got pregnant 3 cycles a few months post lap. Now when my first was 9 months old, my husband and I wanted to get a head start on trying to conceive because we had never done that before while I was breastfeeding a baby and we know that I have Endometriosis. We tried unsuccessfully for 8 months and 1 week before my postpartum menstrual returned at 17 months postpartum. After 5 failed cycles, we asked the Gynecologist who had diagnosed me with Endometriosis for help. His advice was to wean from breastfeeding and if I was not pregnant in 3 months after weaning, he would give me Clomid. I didn't like that answer and kept trying while breastfeeding. We tried for 6 cycles out of 9 menstrual periods, we had a 3-month break between cycle 5 and 6. I wanted my first 2 kids to be 2 years apart, however, I didn't get pregnant until my first was 26 months old and my first and second are 34 months, almost 3 years apart.
When my husband and I were trying to conceive # 3, I went to my obstetrician who had given me prenatal care during my first and second pregnancy for help, after I had been trying for 10 cycles while breastfeeding. Once again, I received no help, however, he felt confident that if I had become pregnant once while breastfeeding, I could do it again. I saw him during my 10th cycle for a pap smear and he said nothing we can do now for you this cycle anyways, you could be pregnant for all we know. I did indeed become pregnant again. We tried for 10 cycles. But even close to 12 cycles, I was not given any help while breastfeeding. So I know in my case, my OB/GYNs will not help me while breastfeeding and under a year of trying to conceive even with a fertility diagnosis of Endometriosis and a health condition, high cholesterol, that can also affect fertility as well.
When my husband and I were trying to conceive # 3, I went to my obstetrician who had given me prenatal care during my first and second pregnancy for help, after I had been trying for 10 cycles while breastfeeding. Once again, I received no help, however, he felt confident that if I had become pregnant once while breastfeeding, I could do it again. I saw him during my 10th cycle for a pap smear and he said nothing we can do now for you this cycle anyways, you could be pregnant for all we know. I did indeed become pregnant again. We tried for 10 cycles. But even close to 12 cycles, I was not given any help while breastfeeding. So I know in my case, my OB/GYNs will not help me while breastfeeding and under a year of trying to conceive even with a fertility diagnosis of Endometriosis and a health condition, high cholesterol, that can also affect fertility as well.
Not to say this will be the case for you if you go to your OB/GYN with your fertility concerns while breastfeeding. But it is a possibility that some may tell you to wean first and may help you 3-6 + cycles after that or possibly tell you, wean and then see them if it's been 12 cycles or if you notice anything concerning like you've weaned, but you aren't ovulating every month or other signs of a fertility issue. But you will never know until you go in and ask.
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