Chasteberry/Vitex while BFing to get period back.

[juliayadda]

no. Always talk to your doctor before taking any over the counter medication or "natural" remedies.

[Deleted]

Didn't read, but I'm going with don't take it. That shit is scary.

[ohinvrtedworld]

I've heard really mixed stories about Vitex. It sounds like it had a really strong effect on you previously, with multiple periods in one month. I'd ask my doc before taking it and see if there are any other things that they can recommend.

[icaughtfire]

You said yourself taking it previously caused some really wonky cycles..I'm not understanding why you think taking it again is such a great idea?

You're still BFing. It's not uncommon that you don't have your period back yet. I'm paging bunnyfungo, lazyreader & Sparkly to shed some light on all that.

[anonymouseliza]

I took Vitex for long cycles and it did fuck all for me. At this point, I would be leery of it, given your history. I'm going to suggest that it was weight loss that most affected your cycles, having been in that boat before. If you want to continue breastfeeding, leave off supplements. Talk to your doctors about what you should be considering. I EP'd and didn't get my first pp period until 8 months out, and then it wasn't regular until I weaned off pumping.

I would especially not use if it you are on other medications. I don't think there is sufficient evidence about how it might interact with what you are taking and metformin and thyroid meds are not to be fucked around with.

[Sparkly]

I've heard/read mixed things. A couple people recommended Femaprin/Vitex to me to try to bring my cycle back/regulate, but all acknowledged they were not BFing at the time of taking it.

Personally, I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize my BFing relationship prior to the 1 year mark. Most of a baby's calories/nutrition should still come from BM and/or formula up to a year. If they are eating more solids, they may reduce their milk intake (this usually doesn't happen until closer to 9-12 months depending on the baby), which is fine, but I would be wary of possible negative effects on your supply earlier than you want.

I understand it's tough to wait it out. I found it frustrating at 11 and 12 months PP. We had hoped for 2 under 2. I got my first period at 13 months. Your DD is only 7 months. That is WAY too early IMO to be trying to reduce BFing and taking measures to bring back your cycle anything but naturally. Unless you want to wean and switch to formula, which is entirely up to you... I would do that before taking an herb/supplement to get your period.

[bunnyfungo]

LactMed should be your go-to source for determining what medications are safe to use during breastfeeding. Personally, I would not use vitex while breastfeeding, but here is a link to the article so you can educate yourself and make the best decision for you:

toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+lactmed:@term+@docno+896

From the article: Because of the lack of safety data and the possibility of lactation suppression, chasteberry should be avoided during lactation.[10]

Obviously, many times information is lacking because of the question of ethics in testing on pregnant and/or lactating women. So, again, I suggest you read the whole article.

[heatherj9603]

I have no experience personally, but I do know friends who had regular cycles before getting pregnant, but didn't have a period as long as they were breast feeding.n(one friend bf to 2 years and never had a period in that time)  So I honestly wouldn't be too concerned with a lack of period yet.

However, I would be leery of taking such a strong drug while breastfeeding. If it's hard on you, it's going to do God knows what to your daughter.

[peanutmuse]

Personally, I don't take stuff like this. I don't take Mucinex or drink green tea to increase EWCM, I don't eat pineapple during the TWW. I just don't do this stuff. So my answer would be, no. Don't eff with things like that.

As for you, since none of your doctors even know anything about Vitex and apparently you had some pretty significant bleeding last time you took it, I'm going to go with HELL NO.

[peanutmuse]

Also, I am still breastfeeding, and wouldn't do anything (unnatural) that would specifically jeopardize that.

[bunnyfungo]

I also think you need to focus on one issue at a time. First, you need to decide if you are willing to wean completely to get your period back. You might need to switch to formula and wean for that to happen. Many women do not have a return of their period until they have weaned.

After your period has returned you might have irregular cycles as your hormones readjust. This is normal. I would wait to take any medications until I saw how my body responded to post-partum cycles.

[heatherj9603]

Feb 11, 2015 11:24:06 GMT -5 peanutmuse said:

Personally, I don't take stuff like this. I don't take Mucinex or drink green tea to increase EWCM, I don't eat pineapple during the TWW. I just don't do this stuff. So my answer would be, no. Don't eff with things like that.

As for you, since none of your doctors even know anything about Vitex and apparently you had some pretty significant bleeding last time you took it, I'm going to go with HELL NO.

I've done the pineapple and green tea. But that's cuz I love both of those things! Lol  

[heatherj9603]

Feb 11, 2015 11:25:29 GMT -5 bunnyfungo said:

I also think you need to focus on one issue at a time. First, you need to decide if you are willing to wean completely to get your period back. You might need to switch to formula and wean for that to happen. Many women do not have a return of their period until they have weaned.

After your period has returned you might have irregular cycles as your hormones readjust. This is normal. I would wait to take any medications until I saw how my body responded to post-partum cycles.

This is a good point. My ob told me that if we can get pregnant, we would want to try as soon as Im done breastfeeding if we want a 2nd. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can suppress the hormones that make things like endometriosis and pcos worse. So they are kind of dormant in that time. 

[peanutmuse]

bunnyfungo makes an excellent point about dealing with one issue at a time.

This is one of those tough choices in life. You have to decide if it is more important to you to have your children close in age or to breastfeed your baby as long as possible. Taking Vitex or Chasteberry is just a way to try to avoid making that decision, because there is no guarantee that it is going to work (and it might even cause harm).

[peanutmuse]

Feb 11, 2015 11:29:17 GMT -5 heatherj9603 said:

Feb 11, 2015 11:24:06 GMT -5 peanutmuse said:

Personally, I don't take stuff like this. I don't take Mucinex or drink green tea to increase EWCM, I don't eat pineapple during the TWW. I just don't do this stuff. So my answer would be, no. Don't eff with things like that.

As for you, since none of your doctors even know anything about Vitex and apparently you had some pretty significant bleeding last time you took it, I'm going to go with HELL NO.

I've done the pineapple and green tea. But that's cuz I love both of those things! Lol  

I mean, I still eat pineapple and drink green tea. But I don't specifically drink green tea pre-O and eat pineapple post-O.

[lazyreader]

I will say I agree with what the ladies have already said.
I also think weight loss was more likely the contributing factor, but hey... Not my body. *shrug*

At 7m pp I was struggling with accepting that my family plans were moot as long as breastfeeding was important to me. (I am 10m out and it's still a hard pill to swallow).
It might help to know that 14 months is average for BFers to have their period return. (I'm still not sure how that is affected by women in the US purposely weaning at 12m rather than mutually weaning when LO chooses).

[lazyreader]

Sources:
kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/
Or the original? (http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvdec98jan99p128.html)

[peanutmuse]

Feb 11, 2015 11:52:14 GMT -5 lazyreader said:

It might help to know that 14 months is average for BFers to have their period return. (I'm still not sure how that is affected by women in the US purposely weaning at 12m rather than mutually weaning when LO chooses).

Well I totally skewed those statistics! My son was exclusively breastfed until 6 months, and he still nurses now (13 months). No formula at all and no cow's milk until 1 year. Yet my period returned at 12 weeks and was immediately regular. WTF. I'm a weirdo. So he's 13 months now and I'm on my 12 pp cycle, lol.

[wowcheezits]

I've only ever heard horror stories when it comes to using Vitex. No doctor would recommend taking herbal remedies unless it is tried and true snd backed up by ACOG or the like. I would avoid taking any more of it.

[lazyreader]

Feb 11, 2015 12:02:42 GMT -5 peanutmuse said:

Feb 11, 2015 11:52:14 GMT -5 lazyreader said:

It might help to know that 14 months is average for BFers to have their period return. (I'm still not sure how that is affected by women in the US purposely weaning at 12m rather than mutually weaning when LO chooses).

Well I totally skewed those statistics! My son was exclusively breastfed until 6 months, and he still nurses now (13 months). No formula at all and no cow's milk until 1 year. Yet my period returned at 12 weeks and was immediately regular. WTF. I'm a weirdo. So he's 13 months now and I'm on my 12 pp cycle, lol.

Lol right, forgot to say 14 is average but the bell curve is H U G E. Like 6 weeks pp until 2++ years (aka weaned)

[ghostmonkey]

Feb 11, 2015 11:39:24 GMT -5 @iheartmyshiba said:

Thank you all for your advice, words, and links. I'm certainly going to wait it out then and not take it. My experience with any natural "drugs"/supplements has been that doctors say there is no research really on them since they aren't FDA approved and to take at my own risk. When I took it last, I did ask my DR about it and she pretty much shrugged and didn't have any advice. I had three "successful" months on it where my cycles were "regular" (5-7 period including spotting days and anywhere from a 28-32 day cycle) before shit got weird. At that point my DR suggested I stop taking it and that's when I started the progesterone. I'm hesitant to think it was the weight loss because even previously at the weight I lost down to, I was still having irregular cycles.

I'd like to keep my current BF'ing relationship through flu season (so maybe another 3 months) and then wean back to just mornings and nights until she's a year or so old. Once she's on a regular schedule for solids and can start cows milk, I won't wean her completely.

So you took Vitex for 4 months. The first three were fine then the next was screwed up.

It takes a MINIMUM of 4 months, usually closer to 6 months to see positive effects. Vitex did not help you. It sounds like it is responsible for fucking up your cycle. And for some reason even though you claim you aren't concerned by your lack of period you want to take things that screwed up your cycle in the past to fix something that isn't a problem?

Please tell me you realize how fucking stupid that logic sounds.

[onyx]

Feb 11, 2015 10:52:10 GMT -5 juliayadda said:

no. Always talk to your doctor before taking any over the counter medication or "natural" remedies.

+1 I wouldn't take anything that you haven't discussed with your doctor, especially while BFing. my doctor gave me provera to help start my period after I had my son. I was breastfeeding then as well.

[icaughtfire]

Feb 11, 2015 13:42:30 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Feb 11, 2015 11:39:24 GMT -5 @iheartmyshiba said:

Thank you all for your advice, words, and links. I'm certainly going to wait it out then and not take it. My experience with any natural "drugs"/supplements has been that doctors say there is no research really on them since they aren't FDA approved and to take at my own risk. When I took it last, I did ask my DR about it and she pretty much shrugged and didn't have any advice. I had three "successful" months on it where my cycles were "regular" (5-7 period including spotting days and anywhere from a 28-32 day cycle) before shit got weird. At that point my DR suggested I stop taking it and that's when I started the progesterone. I'm hesitant to think it was the weight loss because even previously at the weight I lost down to, I was still having irregular cycles.

I'd like to keep my current BF'ing relationship through flu season (so maybe another 3 months) and then wean back to just mornings and nights until she's a year or so old. Once she's on a regular schedule for solids and can start cows milk, I won't wean her completely.

So you took Vitex for 4 months. The first three were fine then the next was screwed up.

It takes a MINIMUM of 4 months, usually closer to 6 months to see positive effects. Vitex did not help you. It sounds like it is responsible for fucking up your cycle. And for some reason even though you claim you aren't concerned by your lack of period you want to take things that screwed up your cycle in the past to fix something that isn't a problem?

Please tell me you realize how fucking stupid that logic sounds.

Logic, shmogic...she's got babies to plan.