Here I Go... starting my hhcg while breastfeeding experiment - Page 2

jnaakins · 07-16-2011, 10:28 PM

Again, wanted to wish you luck! I nursed my twins until they were 8 months old and by that time I was 4 months pregnant with a singleton. I had to quit nursing because my supply was so scant that they were practically starving. At the end before I quit nursing, I was up between 8-10x per night to breastfeed (I never was able to tandem feed so I had to nurse each baby separately). Anyway, I know in my case, the more pregnant I became, the more my milk dried up. With the hcg though, you'll get so much less of a dose than in real pregnancy that I'm sure you wont face that issue. On the other hand, Ive heard of lots of women nursing while pregnant right up until and after delivery and never have a supply issue. For some reason, being pregnant definitely affected my milk supply.
PS my twins are 8 now and such a joy! They made the 8th set in my family

Trishagrrl · 07-17-2011, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnaakins

Again, wanted to wish you luck! I nursed my twins until they were 8 months old and by that time I was 4 months pregnant with a singleton. I had to quit nursing because my supply was so scant that they were practically starving. At the end before I quit nursing, I was up between 8-10x per night to breastfeed (I never was able to tandem feed so I had to nurse each baby separately). Anyway, I know in my case, the more pregnant I became, the more my milk dried up. With the hcg though, you'll get so much less of a dose than in real pregnancy that I'm sure you wont face that issue. On the other hand, Ive heard of lots of women nursing while pregnant right up until and after delivery and never have a supply issue. For some reason, being pregnant definitely affected my milk supply.
PS my twins are 8 now and such a joy! They made the 8th set in my family

Thanks for the well-wishes!

My twins are the first set in our family. Nobody can think of any twins as far back as we can go. It was a HUGE shocker, but a delightful one

Trishagrrl · 07-17-2011, 04:54 AM

One successful load day under my belt. I gained 4 pounds! One more day to go.

paulabob · 07-17-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wifey

I meant the Hcg diet plan. If it releases all of that fat in your system it also releases whatever toxins are in your fat stores which will go into your milk.

Just wanted to comment...there's been at least one study showing toxins aren't any higher in a breastfeeding woman losing weight than in one maintaining her weight. YMMV with those things.

Anyways, to the OP, good luck. I lost ALL of my pg weight the first time...all 45 pounds, eating taco cabana and mcdonalds. The second time around...I immediately started gaining weight, eating far less. So frustrating, and I did eventually do WW while nursing, but stalled out after awhile.

I nursed both kids till they were almost 5...so big nursing fan here.

And it's amazing that you are supporting twins, that's so hard to do!

Trishagrrl · 07-18-2011, 05:38 AM

Finished loading, up another couple of pounds.
Pre-load weight- 206.2
Post-load weight - 212.8

BigBravesGirl · 07-18-2011, 06:50 AM

I'll be praying for the babies.

ouizoid · 07-18-2011, 07:04 AM

I had to post here tho I usually don't bother since the hhcg crowd doesn't want to hear about it, but I had a BAD reaction to hhcg--I know it is homeopathic and supposedly has no real hcg in it, but I had softening and lengthening of my ligaments while I was on it--which led to several severe joint problems. I am having surgery this wednesday for a rotator cuff problem that I believe was created by the hhcg. 26 years ago when I was pregnant I had the same problem and couldn't walk due to the lengthening of my ligaments. I am sure its a ymmv problem, but I guess I really really wouldn't risk this if I was breastfeeding. It's one thing to do it to your own body and another to do it to your child's. Just my input for whatever it is worth.

Trishagrrl · 07-18-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulabob

Just wanted to comment...there's been at least one study showing toxins aren't any higher in a breastfeeding woman losing weight than in one maintaining her weight. YMMV with those things.

Anyways, to the OP, good luck. I lost ALL of my pg weight the first time...all 45 pounds, eating taco cabana and mcdonalds. The second time around...I immediately started gaining weight, eating far less. So frustrating, and I did eventually do WW while nursing, but stalled out after awhile.

I nursed both kids till they were almost 5...so big nursing fan here.

And it's amazing that you are supporting twins, that's so hard to do!

THanks for the well-wishes. Good to know about the toxins in breastfeeding women, thanks for sharing that tid-bit of info. Do you know where I could fine the study to read, or what it's called?

Trishagrrl · 07-18-2011, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBravesGirl

I'll be praying for the babies.

Thanks!

Trishagrrl · 07-18-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ouizoid

I had to post here tho I usually don't bother since the hhcg crowd doesn't want to hear about it, but I had a BAD reaction to hhcg--I know it is homeopathic and supposedly has no real hcg in it, but I had softening and lengthening of my ligaments while I was on it--which led to several severe joint problems. I am having surgery this wednesday for a rotator cuff problem that I believe was created by the hhcg. 26 years ago when I was pregnant I had the same problem and couldn't walk due to the lengthening of my ligaments. I am sure its a ymmv problem, but I guess I really really wouldn't risk this if I was breastfeeding. It's one thing to do it to your own body and another to do it to your child's. Just my input for whatever it is worth.

Wow, that sounds awful. Sorry that you went through such a terrible ordeal. When a person is pregnant and breastfeeding there is TONS more hcg running through your system. Health professionals say it's safe to breastfeed while pregnant, so I'm not too worried about the little tiny amount of hcg that might get into my breastmilk this way. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Lbibclc · 07-18-2011, 03:44 PM

I talked to the neonatologist i mentioned. Her concerns were that you might get dehydrated because of the diuretic effect of the HHCG and that you might have to take a supplement or increase your calories to get enough nutrients. I explained to her that you planned on increasing your calories. I just wouldn't try to lose too quickly, take a multivitamin, increase your fluid and calories and see what happens.

Trishagrrl · 07-18-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

I talked to the neonatologist i mentioned. Her concerns were that you might get dehydrated because of the diuretic effect of the HHCG and that you might have to take a supplement or increase your calories to get enough nutrients. I explained to her that you planned on increasing your calories. I just wouldn't try to lose too quickly, take a multivitamin, increase your fluid and calories and see what happens.

Thanks for checking, great to have the opinion of a neonatologist. Today I've stuck to all protocol foods, but doubled everything so by the end of the day I'll have had roughly 1000 calories. I've almost hit 1 gallon of water... which is what I typically shoot for when I'm on the hhcg diet anyhow. Do you think I need to up that any more? I actually might end up getting more than that today since I'm close to it right now.

paulabob · 07-18-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trishagrrl

Thanks for checking, great to have the opinion of a neonatologist. Today I've stuck to all protocol foods, but doubled everything so by the end of the day I'll have had roughly 1000 calories. I've almost hit 1 gallon of water... which is what I typically shoot for when I'm on the hhcg diet anyhow. Do you think I need to up that any more? I actually might end up getting more than that today since I'm close to it right now.

For sure girl, I was probably drinking a gallon and a half when I was just nursing one... I would definitely shoot for more liquids. I would try to drink when I was nursing, that helped me remember. If I remember I'll try to look up that study...gotta work right now though!

Trishagrrl · 07-19-2011, 06:07 AM

Had a pretty good day yesterday. I got hungry, actually not really hungry just the munchies in the evening. I had a big bowl of strawberries and that helped

I was down 4.6 this morning. So good to lose a bunch of that water weight. I felt like I had sausage fingers yesterday!

dazygyrl · 07-19-2011, 06:31 AM

oh, what a great loss! feels good to get that fluid off, huh? i'm having a "poofy" day too. hoping to see a whoosh of fluid, too.

have a great day!

Trishagrrl · 07-19-2011, 07:41 AM

Thanks dazygyrl! It sure does feel good. Can't wait to get the load weight off and see some real weight loss :-). Hopefully by tomorrow the load weight will be gone.

Hope you see your woosh!

jnaakins · 07-19-2011, 10:51 AM

Just checking in on you, thats awesome you lost so much today!! By tomorrow Im sure all your load weight will be gone.

Bierarsch · 07-19-2011, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Please let me know how things go for you. Dr Thomas Hale at Texas Tech studies medications and mother's milk. You could post the question in his forum. I will also ask the neonatologist at the hospital where I work what she thinks. She has done several rounds of HHCG and is very supportive of breastfeeding. I won't see her until next week tho.

Don't mean to threadjack.... Liz, can you tell me where Dr. Hale has a forum? I am from Houston and for a long time traveled to a see a doctor in Lubbock that also taught at Texas Tech for my Hashimotos. I was just diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and my husband and I are trying to get pregnant before the end of the year. Everything I have read on ADD/ADHD medication during pregnancy/breastfeeding is so contradictory. I would love to get the opinions of someone that studies that (and your opinion as a LC, too).

Lbibclc · 07-19-2011, 04:41 PM

Try Infantrisk.org for his new website. You can also search Toxnet, a government site that I use.

Lbibclc · 07-19-2011, 04:50 PM

Dr Hale addresses HCG in his closed forum at Infant Risk Center. Check it out.

Trishagrrl · 07-19-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Dr Hale addresses HCG in his closed forum at Infant Risk Center. Check it out.

Only info I can find is when he says that HCG is too large to enter the milk and also states that there is no good evidence that it helps to reduce weight.

Lbibclc · 07-19-2011, 06:41 PM

Right so you know it won't affect the babies throuh the breast milk. That's all we know I guess.

KelliC · 07-20-2011, 06:03 AM

good luck! I'm no expert, but logically I wouldn't see much difficulty. I know many women who nursed through pregnancies with no trouble with supply(and nursed exclusively--no supplements) There is a ton more hcg in a pregnant woman's body than on homeopathic drops so if these women didn't release harmful toxins into their breastmilk or did not have enough nutrition in their breastmilk, I wouldn't think you'd have a problem either. Especially since you already plan on pretty much doubling your caloric intake and drinking water like a crazy woman

You also seem really in tune with knowing your supply and being able to check your babies wet/dirty diapers and weight gain to make sure they are thriving

Bierarsch · 07-20-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Try Infantrisk.org for his new website. You can also search Toxnet, a government site that I use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Dr Hale addresses HCG in his closed forum at Infant Risk Center. Check it out.

Thanks, Liz! I appreciate it. I will check the info out.

Trishagrrl · 07-20-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KelliC

good luck! I'm no expert, but logically I wouldn't see much difficulty. I know many women who nursed through pregnancies with no trouble with supply(and nursed exclusively--no supplements) There is a ton more hcg in a pregnant woman's body than on homeopathic drops so if these women didn't release harmful toxins into their breastmilk or did not have enough nutrition in their breastmilk, I wouldn't think you'd have a problem either. Especially since you already plan on pretty much doubling your caloric intake and drinking water like a crazy woman

You also seem really in tune with knowing your supply and being able to check your babies wet/dirty diapers and weight gain to make sure they are thriving

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm pretty sure everything will go fine, but if not... at the first sign of a problem I'll just stop.

Trishagrrl · 07-20-2011, 07:07 AM

Down 2 pounds this morning, so that's the rest of my load weight. Took two days to gain it and two days to lose it. Hopefully I'll start seeing some decent losses from here on out.

I've been dealing with some hunger... primarily psychological hunger though. I've had a few little off protocol slip-up's. I considered increasing my calories some more, but I don't think that I need to increase my calories because like I mentioned I think my hunger is just me wanting to eat, not actually being hungry. Hoping I can stick to protocol better today because I know if I don't the losses will stop.

Looking forward I've got some mini-goals to keep me motivated. First mini-goal is to get under 200 pounds. The second mini-goal is to make it to 194, which is where I was 2 weeks post-partum. YES, I managed to gain 12 pounds in 6 weeks.... I wasn't eating terribly, that's the sad part. The next goal is to make it back to 185 which was my pre-pregnancy weight. 185 certainly isn't my final goal, but I could be happy there for a while. I at least feel comfortable in my own skin at that weight. Hoping to make as much progress as I can toward that goal during this round!

Trishagrrl · 07-21-2011, 05:45 AM

1.6 pound loss today

paulabob · 07-21-2011, 06:20 AM

Awesome Trisha!

dazygyrl · 07-21-2011, 06:27 AM

congrats!

supply ok?

Trishagrrl · 07-21-2011, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazygyrl

congrats!

supply ok?

Still have more than enough milk!

07-19-2011, 04:50 PM	#50
Lbibclc Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Missouri Posts: 428 Gallery: Lbibclc Stats: 231.8/132 54/5-6 WOE: Primal/HHCG Start Date: August 2009	Dr Hale addresses HCG in his closed forum at Infant Risk Center. Check it out. Last edited by Lbibclc; 07-19-2011 at 04:54 PM..

07-20-2011, 07:07 AM	#56
Trishagrrl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 986 Gallery: Trishagrrl	Down 2 pounds this morning, so that's the rest of my load weight. Took two days to gain it and two days to lose it. Hopefully I'll start seeing some decent losses from here on out. I've been dealing with some hunger... primarily psychological hunger though. I've had a few little off protocol slip-up's. I considered increasing my calories some more, but I don't think that I need to increase my calories because like I mentioned I think my hunger is just me wanting to eat, not actually being hungry. Hoping I can stick to protocol better today because I know if I don't the losses will stop. Looking forward I've got some mini-goals to keep me motivated. First mini-goal is to get under 200 pounds. The second mini-goal is to make it to 194, which is where I was 2 weeks post-partum. YES, I managed to gain 12 pounds in 6 weeks.... I wasn't eating terribly, that's the sad part. The next goal is to make it back to 185 which was my pre-pregnancy weight. 185 certainly isn't my final goal, but I could be happy there for a while. I at least feel comfortable in my own skin at that weight. Hoping to make as much progress as I can toward that goal during this round! __________________ Trisha Intoxicated on Life Pursuing spiritual, mental and physical health!

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07-16-2011, 10:28 PM	#31
jnaakins Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: WA state Posts: 617 Gallery: jnaakins Stats: 206/155/145 WOE: hhcg Start Date: 7-18-2011	Again, wanted to wish you luck! I nursed my twins until they were 8 months old and by that time I was 4 months pregnant with a singleton. I had to quit nursing because my supply was so scant that they were practically starving. At the end before I quit nursing, I was up between 8-10x per night to breastfeed (I never was able to tandem feed so I had to nurse each baby separately). Anyway, I know in my case, the more pregnant I became, the more my milk dried up. With the hcg though, you'll get so much less of a dose than in real pregnancy that I'm sure you wont face that issue. On the other hand, Ive heard of lots of women nursing while pregnant right up until and after delivery and never have a supply issue. For some reason, being pregnant definitely affected my milk supply. PS my twins are 8 now and such a joy! They made the 8th set in my family

07-17-2011, 04:54 AM	#33
Trishagrrl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 986 Gallery: Trishagrrl	One successful load day under my belt. I gained 4 pounds! One more day to go.

07-18-2011, 05:38 AM	#35
Trishagrrl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 986 Gallery: Trishagrrl	Finished loading, up another couple of pounds. Pre-load weight- 206.2 Post-load weight - 212.8

07-18-2011, 06:50 AM	#36
BigBravesGirl Plastic Wrap Ninja Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: moving to TWOterville Posts: 43,126 Gallery: BigBravesGirl Stats: 397 / hanging on / 2?? WOE: My way! Start Date: today	I'll be praying for the babies.

07-18-2011, 07:04 AM	#37
ouizoid Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,920 Gallery: ouizoid Stats: 225/165/145 WOE: JUDDD	I had to post here tho I usually don't bother since the hhcg crowd doesn't want to hear about it, but I had a BAD reaction to hhcg--I know it is homeopathic and supposedly has no real hcg in it, but I had softening and lengthening of my ligaments while I was on it--which led to several severe joint problems. I am having surgery this wednesday for a rotator cuff problem that I believe was created by the hhcg. 26 years ago when I was pregnant I had the same problem and couldn't walk due to the lengthening of my ligaments. I am sure its a ymmv problem, but I guess I really really wouldn't risk this if I was breastfeeding. It's one thing to do it to your own body and another to do it to your child's. Just my input for whatever it is worth.

07-18-2011, 03:44 PM	#41
Lbibclc Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Missouri Posts: 428 Gallery: Lbibclc Stats: 231.8/132 54/5-6 WOE: Primal/HHCG Start Date: August 2009	I talked to the neonatologist i mentioned. Her concerns were that you might get dehydrated because of the diuretic effect of the HHCG and that you might have to take a supplement or increase your calories to get enough nutrients. I explained to her that you planned on increasing your calories. I just wouldn't try to lose too quickly, take a multivitamin, increase your fluid and calories and see what happens.

07-19-2011, 06:07 AM	#44
Trishagrrl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 986 Gallery: Trishagrrl	Had a pretty good day yesterday. I got hungry, actually not really hungry just the munchies in the evening. I had a big bowl of strawberries and that helped I was down 4.6 this morning. So good to lose a bunch of that water weight. I felt like I had sausage fingers yesterday!

07-19-2011, 06:31 AM	#45
dazygyrl Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4,533 Gallery: dazygyrl	oh, what a great loss! feels good to get that fluid off, huh? i'm having a "poofy" day too. hoping to see a whoosh of fluid, too. have a great day!

07-19-2011, 07:41 AM	#46
Trishagrrl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 986 Gallery: Trishagrrl	Thanks dazygyrl! It sure does feel good. Can't wait to get the load weight off and see some real weight loss :-). Hopefully by tomorrow the load weight will be gone. Hope you see your woosh!

07-19-2011, 10:51 AM	#47
jnaakins Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: WA state Posts: 617 Gallery: jnaakins Stats: 206/155/145 WOE: hhcg Start Date: 7-18-2011	Just checking in on you, thats awesome you lost so much today!! By tomorrow Im sure all your load weight will be gone.

07-19-2011, 04:41 PM	#49
Lbibclc Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Missouri Posts: 428 Gallery: Lbibclc Stats: 231.8/132 54/5-6 WOE: Primal/HHCG Start Date: August 2009	Try Infantrisk.org for his new website. You can also search Toxnet, a government site that I use.

07-19-2011, 06:41 PM	#52
Lbibclc Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Missouri Posts: 428 Gallery: Lbibclc Stats: 231.8/132 54/5-6 WOE: Primal/HHCG Start Date: August 2009	Right so you know it won't affect the babies throuh the breast milk. That's all we know I guess.

07-20-2011, 06:03 AM	#53
KelliC Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 319 Gallery: KelliC Stats: 160/138.6/135 WOE: hhcg/P4 Start Date: April 2011	good luck! I'm no expert, but logically I wouldn't see much difficulty. I know many women who nursed through pregnancies with no trouble with supply(and nursed exclusively--no supplements) There is a ton more hcg in a pregnant woman's body than on homeopathic drops so if these women didn't release harmful toxins into their breastmilk or did not have enough nutrition in their breastmilk, I wouldn't think you'd have a problem either. Especially since you already plan on pretty much doubling your caloric intake and drinking water like a crazy woman You also seem really in tune with knowing your supply and being able to check your babies wet/dirty diapers and weight gain to make sure they are thriving

07-21-2011, 05:45 AM	#57
Trishagrrl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 986 Gallery: Trishagrrl	1.6 pound loss today

07-21-2011, 06:20 AM	#58
paulabob Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 6,545 Gallery: paulabob Stats: 204/124.6/110 49%/27.4%/20% 5'2" WOE: Atkins/hHcg/Optimal whatever works Start Date: restart March '10	Awesome Trisha!

07-21-2011, 06:27 AM	#59
dazygyrl Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4,533 Gallery: dazygyrl	congrats! supply ok?