Birth Control While Breastfeeding

Hi S.-

I don't want to scare you, but I got pregnant breastfeeding and taking micronor. I took my pills very faithfully, wasn't on any antibiotics (which can reduce the effect of birth control pills) and my husband and I joked we only did the deed once that whole year! My boys ended up fifteen months apart, I had been on the pill a little over two months when we conceived. He is a great kid and was the best gift we ever received but it was pretty shocking and tough to breastfeed and be pregnant. The boys are eleven and ten now and are great friends, seven years later we planned for and had our daughter. I know that certain birth control pills can reduce milk supply and traces can be found in breastmilk but I wanted to share my experience with you. The micronor did not effect my milk supply and I probably have really strong hormones. I have alwasy been very regular and have used the natural family planning method combined with fertility awareness and condoms since the birth control pill failure. The fertility awareness and NFP have been great for us to prevent pregnancy and for planned conception. The method isn't for everyone and can be challenging while nursing but you might look into if you are interested. If you would like more info feel free to contact me. Good luck with whatever you decide and congratulations on your beautiful family.

1 mom found this helpful

I conceived my second son while breast feeding my first one. They are only 11 mos apart. I don't believe in taking anything while nursing. Side effects can show up many years later. Best to just be careful and use topical ways of birth control. Dad needs to learn to be patient and mature. Marriage AFTER the kids come takes change and maturity. AFter my second son, Dad got a vasectomy so I had no worries.
Dr's are quick to give people meds in America. 20 years from now you don't want to hear "Micronor blamed for male infertility in breast fed infants!" That's how our system works. Be aware and Be careful what you choose.
Good Luck.

1 mom found this helpful

Some birth control pills will reduce your milk supply. I was concerned about that, too, so I ended up getting a diaphragm. I've heard from friends that the IUD is good, too. Then there are always good old-fashioned condoms...

Everything you eat and drink passes through to your milk, but when it comes to "the pill" and other medicines, it is in such miniscule amounts that it does not affect your baby (unless you're talking about something like Lithium). I took Micronor starting at 6 weeks after each of my two children was born. I had issues both with a dwindling milk supply (not immediately, but after having been on it for a while) and irregular periods - I would skip a period, have light breakthrough bleeding, and also have what appeared to be full-blown periods a mere two weeks apart. I'd had irregular periods in college too and that's why I initially went on the pill, so I think I just have hormonal issues. My OB switched me from Micronor the first time to the regular pill, but my milk supply dwindled even more so I finally stopped taking the pill altogether and we used condoms instead. For whatever reason, I didn't have the same issues after my daughter was born - just the low milk supply, but I had prepared for that and had pumped more early on so I had more of a supply stored up and I also already knew and had started implementing methods for boosting supply - pump between nursing, nurse/pump for longer periods of time, pump both sides at once, take Fenugreek, drink plenty of water, also caffeine amazingly is supposed to boost supply.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

Hi S.,

The birthcontrol will leak into your breast milk and "they" don't have conclusive enough information about long term effects to make me comfortable.
I know it is not that much fun but you might just go with condoms for the first year.

N.

I started Micronor when my son was 8 months, and it decreased my milk supply enough that I needed to stop taking it. Have you thought about using condoms or something non-hormonal until you are done w/ breastfeeding?
Good Luck,
A.

Look into getting an IUD. After years of being on the pill, I finally did and I love it. I wish I'd gotten it sooner!
I grew up in the 70's and there were so many "horror stories" about IUDs, but really, they are so well made and safe now, and best of all: NO hormones.
Check into it :)

Hello,

Have you considered an IUD, I have had mine since my daughter was just weeks old, I too breast fed and was concerned with it. My daughter is now 6 and I just had mine replaced (every 5 years) It is great, no side effects, no weight gain, and I can take it out if I want to have another. I have very light periods if any at all and there are some cramping but nothing like before. I swear by it and have referred my friends. Ask your doctor, there is no pills or hormones. Hope that helps.

L.

Hi S.,

I took Micronor and it was totally fine. I didn't have any issues~

Best of luck with choosing-

M.

Hi S.,
I took Nor-QD (similar to the pill you describe) from about 6 weeks post partum and stopped when my daughter was 18 months old and stopped breast feeding. You do have to take the pill at the same time each day. I would take it when I got ready for bed, after my daughter was down for her longest sleep period. That way, there was maximum time for the pill to metabolize before she breastfed. Yes, your baby will get some hormones, but as I understand it, it is a miniscule amount.
I had problems after she was 14 months and my period came back (late). I would have a period every 14 days or so with lots of break through bleeding. It was a bummer.
If I were in your shoes and sure I didn't want any more kids, I'd get the IUD!
Good luck. I wish there were better options!
A.

Hi S.,
I've been on Nor-QD and it has had no effects on my little one (I'm still nursing her at 22-months). I had heard that the main concern on the pill was that it can effect your milk supply because of the high estrogen. The Nor-QD is low estrogen so I haven't had any problems with milk supply. The main thing with these "mini-pills" is that because they aren't as strong, you have to make sure to take them regularly at the same time each day so that they are effective.

Good luck, B.

I didn't have time to read through the rest of your responses, but I wanted to give you this link to kellymom.com and the page specific to nursing and birth control: http://kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html

Kellymom is a wonderful breastfeeding resource, and has almost any medications listed that you could think of taking while nursing.

Hope it helps!
A.

I was on Micronor after having my second child and things went great. I had no problems with milk drying up or anything. The mini pill is the only form of contraception that you can take while breastfeeding that will not interfere with breastmilk.

With my last baby, I began the mini-pill ( think it may have been micronor, too) when my son was six weeks old. I didn't have any trouble with it affecting my milk supply like the regular pill does, and absolutely no side effects on myself or my son. I hope that reassures you! :)

I haven't taken that birth control pill either but what your doctor is saying is correct. My friend, who is a pharmacist, also made sure when I switched to a pill asked me whether or not I was breastfeeding or not and recommended what to and what not to take. You just have to make sure, just like your doctor recommended, to take only progesterone pills only since you don't want it to affect your milk supply. Since that is what she has put you on, you should be fine.

My best friend's Dr. put her on that while she was breastfeeding her first child. Her second was born shortly after :-) I wouldn't recommend it; she got prego 4.5 months after her 1st.

I don't know if you plan on having more children in the near future but if you don't - at least for the next couple of years you can try what I'm on. The Mirana. I'm sure you've seen it advertised on TV. I'm nursing, have been for seven months now and have never had a problem with it. There's no real hormones so there's nothing to go through my breast milk. Good luck!

HI,
I started taking the mini pill at 6 weeks. Baby was fine and there were no ill effects on me - no milk issues, no period... If you are concerned about getting pregnant again, you could always use a back up method (ie: condom) as a precaution.

hi i'm also breastfeeding and my little one is 5 months. i have been taking the drug norethindrone 35mg since my 6 week check up. i also have not had a period since i had my daughter. my dr said this is safe and it will up ur milk supply alittle also good luck

Hi S.,
I was on Micronor after the birth of both of my children. I breastfed my daughter for 13 months and my son for 12 months. They both were supplemented with formula at about 6 months and of course food. Neither child had any issues at the time I was breastfeeding and taking Micronor, nor have they had any major health issues at this point in their lives (ages 8 and 5 respectively). I also had no side effects from this pill myself - it was like any other pill I had been on. The only thing I had to make sure of was that I took it at the EXACT same time every day and that when I was finished breastfeeding I called my OB/GYN to get a regular prescription.

Otherwise you could explore other options like IUD or permanent birth control solutions like vasectomy. If you're not sure you want these more invasive solutions, I'd say Micronor is your best bet short of the "rhythm method." As long as you are healthy, I don't think you have too much too worry about regarding Micronor, but that's just my experience. Good luck.

I was on micronor after all three of my kids and had no issues with milk production nor did it affect the kids.

Have you considered an IUD? It is a little plastic t-shaped thingy (sorry not to be more descriptive) that your ob inserts into your uterus. There is a little discomfort when they put it in but then after that there is nothing!! It is awesome!!! There are two different kinds, one that has a minimal amount of hormones and when that doesn't have any hormnoes. And each of them can be left in for years (5-10 depending on which one you get). I got one after my first daughter was born and loved it. I had it removed when I wanted to get preganat again (which I did -- and I was preganant within weeks of taking it out!!) and then after my second daughter was born I had another IUD put in. for me I opted to go with the no hormone one (the downside to that is slightly heavier periods for the first few months...then back to normal). I have a number of friends who opted for the hormone one and they have been very happy with theirs as well.

I wish you all the best in what ever decision you make.

M.

Kudos to you for questioning this advice. I agree. There are already extra hormones in our drinking water b/c so many women take birth control and pee the extra estrogen and progesterone into the water system. I don't think it's a good idea. If you're done having kids a vasectomy is a terrific and easy way to prevent more. One snip and it's done. If you aren't sure than I've been reading a lot of women praise the new iuds, but they still sound scary to me. Good luck.

i took a mini-pill for a week with my daughter. i didn't notice any problems with my milk supply, but the mood swings were unbelievable. i think i'm just sensitive to the hormones, but after a week i wanted to divorce my husband over pretty much nothing at all. i realized that something was out of whack and stopped the pill and things went back to normal quickly. i'm not against the mini-pill, but you should be aware that this is a possibility (i talked to two other women who had the same reaction).

The only thing that I noticed while taking birth control pills was that in decreased my milk supply. I since had an IUD inserted and don't notice a thing.

I've been on Micronor after each of my three babies, and I've nursed each for a year. I never had any problems or side effects, nor did the babies.

Micronor is the only birth control safe to use while breastfeeding. It is very low dose though, so you must be careful to take it the SAME TIME every day or it is not as effective. Regular birth control pills have a " window" of time every day to take it and they still works fine. You take it every day it without a week " break" for your period each month. Your periods may be a bit sporadic or more like breakthrough bleeding due to this and it is normal. Not sure about how it affects your milk production. Looks like it varies after reading others responses. Just see if it works for you and if not, do something else.