Yes, indeed you will likely start your menses while breastfeeding, but you will ovulate (and may become pregnant) before your first period after the birth of your child. A barrier method of birth control is recommended for nursing mothers (such as condoms). If your doctor has put you on the pill, and you are comfortable with this choice and use it according to instructions, then it is very unlikely that you will become pregnant. Yet you may experience spotting, and you will continue to have a period on the designated days of your pill cycle (the placebo days). If you are experiencing spotting mid-cycle, it is a good idea to contact your physician about it. It may be necessary to change your prescription. Congratulations for continued breastfeeding! Good luck!
Illysa
Lucky mom of two girls, ages 10 and 15
I breastfed for about 13 months (I have twins) During that time I did not use birthcontol. My husband instead used a condom. A small price to pay for not adding something into my body. I started my period when the boys were about 9 months old. It came back very strong and painfull. but then eased off. Good Luck
It varies , but yes You can start your period while you are breastfeeding.
I wdon't think I would take the pill though because those hormones will go into your babies milk and you could cause some crazy emotions with all those different hormones running through your body.
I was on the mini pill while breastfeeding. You should take it around the same time everyday and, if memory serves me, you take it every single night (there is no week long break for a period). After 8 months, I quit taking this pill because I had never had a period and this bothered me. As soon as I stopped taking it, I got my period and resorted to using other forms of birth control. So, you may never have a period while you are on this type of pill, but don't let that fool you into thinking you can't get pregnant.
Hi Delma-
You sound like you're in my shoes. My son is 3 mos. old (he's my second) and I'm breastfeeding exclusively. My doctor also offered me the pill and I happily accepted. He said the same thing about taking it every night at the same time. I set one of the alarms on my cell phone to go off every day at 9:00pm and it works (I have a past history of being very bad at taking the pill around the same time). I actually even read the info pack that comes with the pills and it says that it's best to take it within 3 hours of the same time every day (read yours, it may say something different).
My pills do not have any placebo pills (the doctor advised me of this in the beginning) so I have to take them straight through the whole month. It's kinda strange to me...that last week in the pill pack, I'm experiencing slight menstrual cramping and feeling like i'm having my period, yet no blood (fine by me!). I have intermittently had some spotting, but, both my doctor and the info pack w/ the pills advised me that is normal.
With my 4 year old, I nursed her but she also got some bottles. I did not start birth control after having her and my period returned when she was about 4 mos old.
I would think that your milk will be fine on the birth control. I would think that it's more related to how often (and for how long) your baby nurses than the medicine (though I'm sure that could probably impact the milk slightly since the pill has hormones in it).
I'm sure your doctor's office wouldn't mind talking to you in the least about any/all of this. Just ask the nurse and she will clear up any questions you have. You pay for your doctor's opinion/information since he prescribed the medicine to you.
Good luck and congrats on the baby!
~Linda
Hi, I have a 7 month old and am breastfeeding, I have gotten my periods, although it did take a while after I delivered to have start my cycle again. But I remember when I had my second child I did not have them for awile, so everyone is different. As far as the taking the pill, the doctor will prescribe something that is safe for you to take while you are nursing but I would refer to your doctors office for questions about that, I am sure they could set your mind at ease and they would not mind aswereing any questions you have
A little about me:
I am a stay home mom and have four wonderful boys, ages are 13,6,5, and 7 months...
I would call the doc. To my understanding, every woman is different. I have a 13 wk old and I am breastfeeding. I have yet to start my cycle but the doc said that every woman is different and I should not be alarmed. I am not sure how the pill changes things since I have not gotten back on it.
I have a 4 month old and when I started back on birth control after my 6 week check up I was always forgetting to take it. One thing that helped me was to set a daily alarm on my cell phone and set it with a special ring. When I hear it go off I just grab my wallet (that's where I keep them so they are always with me) and take it.
It's worked so far.
Good Luck.
Hi Delma-
I'm in the exact same boat as you. I just started taking the mini pill a couple of weeks ago, and I'm not sure yet if I'm going to have a period or not. My son is 4 months, and I haven't had a period yet, but I've been breastfeeding full time. What I've done to help me take the pill everyday at the same time is set an alarm on my cell phone everyday at 9:00 am. It has really helped me remember to take it at the same time. I did have a little spotting, but I haven't gotten to the "period" pills yet.
If you are your baby's only source of nutrition, you will not start your period until your baby is about 6 months. Did you tell you doctor you were still breastfeeding? Most birth control pills drasticaly reduce your milk. There is one birth control pill that may or may not reduce your milk. The problem is, once its gone, its gone. That may be the one your doctor gave you, b/c you must take it at the same time every day. It only has one hormone, whereas the others have 2. Another option to pills would be an IUD. You can have an IUD inserted and not decrease your milk.
Yes, you can have a period while nursing. Every women is different. With my daughter, I didn't start my cycles until she 13 months.
When you start your period depends on how frequently you are bf-ing. I didn't start until my son was 18 months old - he's an avid nurser. But I've heard women say they started much sooner. I would call your doctor, though, just to put you at ease. That's what they're there for! :)
Krisdee,
Mama to Milo (2.75 years old)
I have been breastfeeding for 10 months. This is my first child. When she turned 6 months, I started my period, unexpectedly. I continued to breastfeed and noticed no downside. I chose not to take birth control, but once I began my period, my husband and I started using condoms. My doctor highly recommended a form of birth control for breastfeeders but I didn't feel comfortable taking it. I have heard from older women that early forms of birth control can "dry up" breast milk. I don't know this to be true. I've been told that you wouldn't get your period while breastfeeding and I've also been told that you wouldn't become pregnant while breastfeeding. Both of these are inaccurate. Good luck. One more thing: my first period after pregnancy was not easy. Worst PMS I've ever had.
Hi Delma,
Every woman is different, some women get start periods and some don't. My doctor also said that 97% of women do not get pregnant while breast feeding. After my first baby I didn't get a perioid at all while I was breast feeding, I did get pregnant. With my second I had a regular cycle and with my third I didn't have one until I weaned him. I can't really help with the birthcontol part of the question (I don't use it. call me crazy; I want a lot of kids), but if you are concerned you should talk with your doctor.
Marie K
Dear Delma, I'm a first time Mom too and the best reference book I could have ever read and still reading is "The Nursing Mother's Companion" 20th Anniversary Edition by: kathleen Huggins. i have nursed my son for 5 1/2 mo. so far and my goal is 1 year. I just started my period and I recall reading that between 6 to 12 months is when you start (Of course everyones different.) I also recall reading that the pill will dry up your milk. It makes sense since taking something that changes your hormones is unnatural. I hope this helps...as for me, there's nothing more important than nursing my son and maintaining healthy milk. Stay with it, it's so worth it!!!!
A little about me: I'm a proud 43 years young...Step-Mom of three beautiful daughers (20, 13 & 13), our 1st child together a son. God is good.
I breastfeed my daughters and with both of my girls my cycle came back when they were 6mos old. Exactly 6mos old. As far as Birth Control, I have no clue, because I'm still not on the pill or any other method.
Good luck to you.
1) period while breast feeding?
Sure- you can start while breastfeeding. My first two were bottle fed but my third was breastfed and I started when she was 11 months old and my fourth was 12 months old when I started. But every woman is different- some women exclusively breastfeed and start after only a couple of months.
2) can the pill dry up milk?
Yes- I have heard women who took the 'safe' pill dry up, but I don't know how common that is. I've never taken the pill because it has an abortive factor and I don't agree with abortion. Actually, like some of the women here, I don't use any method of BC. I love kids and look at them all as a gift from God- why would I tell him I don't want His blessings?
3) spotting- am I starting my period?
Possible, but not necessarily. when did you stop bleeding post partum? Sometimes the body still has a bit to eliminate without going through a full blown period. Does this mean you could get pregnant? yes, you could. You might be ovulating already.
4) should I call the DR?
Well, you should always call the dr if you are worried, but I don't think you need to be worried. There IS a possibility the spotting could be an implantation of an embryo (you could be pregnant.) It could also be an early miscarriage (I had one at 9 weeks but that was very painful with a lot of bleeding, a very early miscarriage could be more like you describe as many women aren't aware they are having one. This is extremely possible while taking the pill. My sister lost a baby at 12 weeks because she had been taking the pill during pregnancy.
sarah, mom to four girls
Hi Delma,
I'm on the same pill I think. It's got only one hormone in it, versus two like normal because of the breastfeeding. The doctor told me to take it within the same 20 minutes or so every day or there would be spotting. It's effectiveness is also more heavily dependant on taking it at the same time compared to pills you take when not breastfeeding...so make sure to take it at the same time!!
Good luck,
Sandra
Your period will come back even when you breastfeed. I never took the pill though. Worried about what I consumed while feeding my baby. Even drinking milk or spicy food upset she was nursing.
I nursed all three of my babies.
I did begin my cycle while still nursing.
Your milk production is based on supply and
depmand. If you nurse you will make milk.