metformin and pregnancy.. really confused here.. would appreciate some imput.. thanks in advance

[pcarsey]

Hello everyone,
I'm really confused here, I've recently (within the last 6 months) been diagnosed as being pre-diabetic, my doc put me on metformin (generic for glucophage). Then about a month later I got my tubal reversed, had to wait 6 weeks, 85% chance of conceiving. So.. I quit taking all medications with fear that it would some how affect my baby if and when we got pregnant, one doc suggested i stop while the other never did answer me so I quit anyway. I have been reading on here that some women are taking metformin to help in * I assume* getting pregnant??  Am I reading wrong and did I stop taking my medication for the wrong fears?? I thought it was just for diabetics and not good for you when you were TTC?? Please help. I was taking 500 MG daily.

[Nikki121804]

Metformin is used to control blood sugar and in patients with PCOS.  It helps with insulin resistance and encourages ovulation with the regulation of hormones. Depending on your diagnosis, you can take it up to 3 months after pregnancy or some docs let you use it longer.  It is a category B drug which has been shown to have little effect on a growing fetus.

Hope that helps.

Nikki

[mlb1234]

i am on metformin (15oomg/day)for pcos and trying to concieve.  If you have pcos or diabetes, high insulin levels can adversely affect your cycle and conceiveing.  My re said i should take metformin now and up through the first trimester if i get pregnant.  if you have full blown diabtetes i imagine they would want you on treatment for the whole gestation since it can cause problems in fetus (high birth weight, etc if not controlled) but i would talk to your doctor.

[pcarsey]

Thank you both so much, that all makes very good sense, I will get back on them, as I will be planning an at home water birth, I don't want to have such a big baby! I was on it because diabetes runs heavily in my family, and I had gained 36 lbs in the last year and a half without an explanation as to why, *I eat pretty good, fat free, low sugar and exercise regularly* so my doc put me on metformin and she knew that I was going to have my reversal done soon, I'm sure she would have said something, but when I asked her about whether it would hurt the baby and if I should discontinue use if I got pregnant she didn't answer me. *shrugs* maybe she didn't hear me. Anyways, Thank You both so much!! Now I won't be so paranoid.