T.A. asks from Idaho Falls, ID on February 11, 2008
Birth Control While Breastfeeding - Idaho Falls,ID
I am a first time mom of a 5 week old breastfeeding baby in need of birth control. I was diagnosed with endometriosis at 15 and have had trouble ever since although I conceived quickly!! Condoms won't work as we both lack self control. Thoughts?
So What Happened?™
Went to my follow up appointment with the intention of getting the Mirena iud. My doctor told me that it was the same as getting the Depo Provera shot and recommended that I get the copper IUD while I'm breastfeeding. He also pointed out that since I'm breastfeeding, I shouldn't be having periods so my endometriosis shouldn't act up. When done breastfeeding, I can look into other options with the iud should a problem arise. The staff at his office also informed me that Mirena cost around $800 and most insurances won't pay for it. SO I got the copper iud which ended up only costing me $100 and so far so good, but that was just yesterday.
More Answers
T.S. answers from Salt Lake City on February 11, 2008
I breast feed and got an IUC (mirena). It is awesome!! No remembering, no interuptions and my husband is happy man. Lasts up to five years.
S.L. answers from Boise on February 15, 2008
I see that you've already decided, but I want to warn anyone else who reads this that the mini-pill can interfere with your milk. I didn't notice it myself, except DS seemed very fussy. And my son has always been big, so the pediatrician said not to worry that he hadn't grown very much since his last appointment (he was somewhere between 4-6 months). Hah! I stopped taking the mini-pill and almost instantly DS started sleeping longer, stopped fussing, and grew out of his clothes within a week. Poor thing had been starving!
So don't believe them when they say it won't interfere!
J.C. answers from Casper on February 11, 2008
Have you thought about an IUD? I am 3 months post-partum and nursing and scheduled for an IUD later this month. My doctor tells me that it won't affect my milk and I won't have to remember a pill. I tried the mini-pill once and I was continuely spotting with it. My husband and I also don't have the self-control for condoms, we have at least 3 children of our 6 that were concieved while "using" condoms as our form of BC. But this is something that you need to discuss with your doctor at your 6 week check. Congrats and good luck.
L.L. answers from Provo on February 11, 2008
I agree with the mini-pill idea. I took the mini-pill from when I got married up until I wanted to concieve and had no negative side effects. I started the mini-pill back up when my son was about 5 or 6 weeks old and my milk was not affected at all.
The way I fixed the problem of taking the pill at exactly the same time every day is I set my cell phone alarm to ring every day at exactly the same time, so I would remember. I'm kind of a scatterbrained person and this solution has worked very well for me. Go for the mini-pill!
P.S . sometimes Doctors or midwives will discourage you from taking the mini-pill, but I think as long as you take the pill on time, there shouldn't be a problem. Good luck!
S.S. answers from Casper on February 12, 2008
Whatever you decide, do something. I nursed my daughter and was really bad about remembering to take my pill too, so we put it in God's hands, whoops. We had trouble conceiving our first baby, so we weren't worried about getting pregnant easily. But almost as soon as we put her on solid food at 6 months, we conceived our little boy. They will only be 14 months apart, which is going to be just fine, but it's just all faster than we had planned and a little overwhelming. So I'm definetly talking to the Dr. about other options after this baby is born. I did wean my daughter at 9 months because I was so run down from nursing and being pregnant at the same time.
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