Breastfeeding & Birth Control

Honestly I think the best birth control while breastfeeding is a condom . Barrier methods don't affect your breast milk the way a pill or a shot can. The mini pill is safe but beware if you weigh more than 150 lbs it is less effective and if you don't take it at the same time every day it loses effectiveness

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I breastfed my son until he was 13 months old and my husband and I were not too keen on using any hormonal BC methods while BF so we used "natural methods" such as rhythm method (tracking your cycle so you know when you are ovulating and abstaining during that time) and pull-out method (self-explanatory). BF typically makes a woman less fertile but don't count on it. I have known woman who have gotten pregnant while BF so you do want to use something. There are also sponges, spermicides, and hubbie can always wear a condom. We did not get pregnant while I was BF so the natural method approach worked for us. Good Luck!

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1. The copper IUD has no hormones and lasts 10 years, very effective
2. Mirena-progesterone releasing, local effect - extremely effective, lasts 5 years.
3. Depo provera you know already. the bone loss is temporary.
4. Minipill - Micronor. if you are not good with pills, forget about this, need to be extremely disciplined with time.
5. barrier methods - male and female condoms.
6. Implanon - 1 rod in arm lasts 3 years, unscheduled bleeding extremely, extremely effective. has progesterone

6. permanent - ESSURE and Bilateral tubal ligation

All hormonal methods can give you untimely bleeding, no bleeding at all or clot formation in brain, lungs, and/or legs.

C. Magloire

I considered my bc options after my 2nd was born and chose not to expose her to any hormones that would pass into the breastmilk so it's condoms till she's weaned! That was my biggest concern. I hated the idea that any hormones would pass thru the breastmilk to her. It's a short time to use other options beside hormonal bc.

condoms...they won't interfere with your milk supply.

Definitely AVOID the oral contraceptives. They will dry up your supply for sure.
I went that route, after my son started biting with his mouthful of teeth (at 6 months) and it dried me up in under 30 days. Hopefully some of these other ladies will have some "DO" advice for you...

I used the "mini pil" until baby was 6 months old and then condoms. I don't LIKE condoms but hey...
I didn't want to bf w/ the 'regular' pill...
I don't like the idea of mirena and hormones...that's just me...

typically the barrier methond, it is usually best to stay away from any hormone type birth control until breatfeeding is over.

I went with Mirena. Depo did give me the worst possible side effects and honestly, why would you shoot yourself full of hormones? Mind you, Mirena does contain hormones but in much smaller doses and once the initial pain and discomfort subsides, it is the best birth control method I have ever seen. I had it put in when my daughter was 3 months but it could've been sooner. I don't know if your insurance will cover it or not, and I know it can be pretty expensive (500 for me) but if you look at the fact that it's good for 5 years...it's well worth it!

I took a pill specifically for breasfeeding mothers, referred to as the mini-pill. It acts as protection in conjunction with breasfeeding, and has 97% success. However, it isn't as effective if you quit breasfeeding and you have to switch to another pill. I only had a couple weeks of pills left when I quit breasfeeding my second child, so I assumed I would be okay during those two weeks until I got on the regular pill. But it was during that window that I got pregnant with child #3, so if you quit breastfeeding you should switch immediately. But while I was breasfeeding the other two, I had no problem. I set an alarm clock to remind me to take it each day. After #3 I got the Meridia IUD. I had no problem nursing her until 12 months.

Hi M.,

I would urge you to strongly consider a hormonal IUD like Mirena. The hormones are released locally so they do not affect your milk supply and are totally safe. Another option when you're breastfeeding is the mini-pill, which is the progsterone-only (no estrogen) oral contraceptive, but the failure rates are high - you have to be super vigilant to take it exactly on time every day or risk getting pregnant. So I would recommend Mirena. Only problem is, some insurance companies won't cover it. I had to pay out of pocket - $600 - but it does last 5 years.
Good luck!

I used mini pill while breastfeeding and it lowered my milk supply. I stopped using it, using condoms until my husband gets the vasectomy and an ok from the doctor.
Good luck.