Birth Control and Breast Feeding?

I personally am choosing condoms until my 7 week old is 3 months and I know my milk supply is more stabilized. I'd wait on hormonal birth control until a little later.

Talk to your Dr. One word of caution.. when you do switch to the full pill (or other method) NOTE you can get pregnant while transitioning... learned that one the "fun" way : )

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mirena IUD. I breastfed my older two children past a year with the Mirena in, and I'm currently nursing my own 7 week old with it in. Good luck!

Wow, a full period? Are you sure this is not just additional post-partum bleeding? I always bleed long and have never really cleared out/up until closer to 10 weeks. The doctors have always claimed the same thing - "oh, its a period". I say this response is hogwash. I think I never truly finished postpartum bleeding.

I have never used a hormonal bc after the birth of my children. I worry about exposing them to all the extra hormones at such a young age. (And, yes, I know that in theory things like the POP are suppose to be safe, but I'd rather just avoid it.) We use the cap and cover method for him. I have found that when BFing, I usually make it to about 6 or 7 months before my period kicks in. This results in highs and lows in milk production also so this is another reason I avoid man-made hormones.

I know this is not the answer you wanted, and I hope you get some that are more helpful than this.

Best wishes for you and your little one.
~C.

The Today Sponge? its back. They have a website.
hormone free.

There is an IUD that doesn't use any hormones. Its called Paraguard, its a copper IUD. I have been using that since my 6 wk. check-up after my son was born. So far its been great. I didn't have a period until 7 months after my baby was born, which I think is normal for me, thats what happened after my first. They do say that for the first 6 months or so, your period will be heavier than normal and then it should balance out, which has kind of happened for me. Ask your doctor about it.

I was bleeding all the time on that pill too, and got the Mirena IUD and I love it and NEVER bleed anymore! Some people do not tolerate it well and have many side effects, so read up on it so you can be aware of any changes in your body if that's what you decide on. Kudos for breastfeeding momma! & Congrats!

All I've ever used has been condoms.

Since your body isn't thrilled with the progesterone only pill, I doubt you would love the mirena IUD (it slowly releases progesterone along with creating mild inflammation of the uterus to prevent implantation). I'd say your best bet is condom (more effective with addition of spermicide) or diaphragm with spermicide. Wish there were more non-hormonal contraception methods, but there isn't. Natural Family Planning is extremely difficult during breastfeeding because of inconsistent cervical mucus, but I suppose that is an option as well.

Check with your doctor for the most up-to-date options. I've always taken the mini pill while nursing with no trouble (and, even with setting the time on my phone, I will find I forgot to take it, but no bleeding thankfully). At my last annual when my son was 6 months my doctor said that newer research has shown that the combination pill is safe and shows no clear signs of decreasing milk supply, so maybe that's an option for you. I am preferring the mini pill for myself since I was having crazy and irregular periods on the combination pill last time.

So for me, the mini pill but I set my cell phone alarm for the best time for me. I did have one short round of bleeding at the end of the first month I was on them, but it was only a few days and hasn't happened since. I also switched to a combination pill when my second son was a year old because I didn't care if my milk supply dropped since he was on table food, but he nursed past 13 months with no noticable change in my supply.

I didn't have trouble with it my self but if it's not working for you, talk to your OB - and your husband. My sister has decided that hormonal pills are not for her anymore so they're going the old fashioned Trojan route.

Talk to your OB or Midwife, they can make adjustments. I had that problem with my last baby too. She changed my pill, and things were better. I still had to try to take it close to the same time, but not to the minute! I just took it first thing when I got up (between 6 and 8).

J.

I got a copper IUD

I can't have hormones (triggers cancer in me) so my options were the copper iud, diaphragms or cervical caps + spermacide, or condoms.

I chose the copper IUD (there's a hormone variety that does NOT work the same way; same failures and failure rates as the pill and same hormonal side effect) because:

- Same failure rate as a tubal ligation
- Good for 10 years
- Works the day of insertion (no waiting period)
- Isn't affected by antibiotics
- Doesn't affect fertility (you can take it out and get pregnant the next day, your body doesn't have to reset)
- No thinking required

There are some downsides;
- your period reverts to 'normal'... usually heavier and longer than when on hormonal bc
- first 3 periods are *super* crampy (Hullo Midol!)

For me... the tradeoff is heavenly :):):)

((You only find 2 camps of people with IUDs...LOVE them or HATE them. More people hate the hormonal one -mirena- but more people *have* that one))

I was on the progesterone only pill while breastfeeding and I didn't have that problem. I took it at night before bed but not necessarily at the exact same time. Maybe your doctor and adjust your dose or something. Good luck!!

i used the mirena iud & loved it, it takes awhile for your body to shed the uterine lining after it is inserted (i bled off & on for 3 months) but after that I had no periods the entire time i had it in & then had it removed & got pregnant the next month (I was afraid it would take awhile but it didnt!)

That is the only pill you can take while nursing. I'm not sure if you can have an IUD while breastfeeding, but it might be worth looking into. Otherwise, looks like condoms may be your best bet.