Birth Control and Nursing

I am going through the same thing right now and my midwife (through the ob/gyn office) told me that the low-dose pill I am on now, Camilla, was not as effective when only nursing 2-3 times a day. Her recommendation was that when I am down to nursing 3 times or less that I switch to the regular pill. She did say that it would reduce my supply some, but that would also help with the soreness. In my book that will be a huge blessing because I was very engorged when my milk first came in. I realize that supply might be an issue for others though. Hope that helps!

Hello! This is very interesting! I am taking the mini pill, too. Nursing an 8 week old. The doctor did not tell me that I would need to change anything if I stop nursing. we had a long discussion about my options, too. My cycles returned to normal 3 months after my first baby was born (nursed her, too) so now I am worried because of everyone's responses. If I were you, and approaching weaning, I would either use a back up method or change pills. I don't think the mini pill is supposed to be less effective if you aren't nursing, but to be sure, I'd use something else unless you are okay with the possibility of another bambino. Good luck!

Jen- My beautiful baby boy was concieved while nursing and on the pill- actually the night my husband and I decided NOt to have any more kids ( This weekend- IriSh Festival weekend) USe condoms while weaning and famil planning strategies and then get on a regular does pill asap or else you may be blessed with another baby before you are ready.

I was on a low dose of BC when I was nursing as well, but my doctor told me to use a back up method of BC the entire time, until I went on a stronger pill. I wouldn't trust nursing for a method of BC.

You have received some great advice so far. Nursing is NOT effictive for preventing another baby. I got pregnant with #1 while on birthcontrol pills, and #2 with condoms. Sooo, if you are not ready for another baby, use Multiple forms of BC :) My sister HONESTLY breastfed #1 until #2 was born and #2 until #3 was born ect all the way to #9. Best of luck and take the pill at the exact same time every day!

Nursing has nothing to do with the pills effectiveness. The "lose dose" or mini pill as it is more often called is progestin only. Not progestin and estrogen like most other pills. That is why it is "safe" for nursing (although a good number of women still lose their milk). You can switch to a different pill after you have weaned completely. Nursing is never a good form of birth control. I have heard of far too many people getting pregnant while nursing. Once your baby starts sleeping through the night nursing is way less effective (that is why I got pregnant with #3 when #2 was 5.5months old and I was on a barrier method too). No form of BC is 100% effective not even sterilization. The only thing you can do is what you are supposed to and hope for the best.

Note: with the mini pill it is even more important that you take it the same time everyday. If you miss or are off a regular basis you can and may get pregnant.

M.

Nursing more or less deosn't alter the effectiveness of the pill and no pill works 'in conjunction with nursing.' If someone told you that, they were totally wrong. Many people used to believe that nursing was a form of birth control, but we know better now. Nursing increases your prolactin levels (hormones that produce breast milk) which can keep you from ovulating. However it doesn't work th at was for all women. The mini pill doesn't have any estrogen in it, so it doesn't affect your milk supply as much as a regular pill. You have to take the mini pill at the exact SAME time every SINGLE day for it to be effective. I could never do that. I was put on OrthoTriCyclineLo (sp?) which has more estrogen than a mini pill,but not as much as a regular pill. It never affected my milk supply and it's safe for the baby.

I'm not sure where you got your information, but nursing has nothing to do with how effective the pill is. Nursing, alone, can suppress ovulation, but not always and not 100%. You are on a low-dose because 1) you don't want to pass estrogen and extra progesterone on to your baby and 2) estrogen effects milk supply. So, the mini-pill is a progesterone-only pill with a low dose of the progesterone. The pill is as effective whether you nurse or not, however, it's not as effective as regular pills because you have to take it at the same time each day and many women's schedules don't really work so well. So, keep taking the pill until she's weaned and then talk to your doc about other options.
Hope that helps:)

It will still work, but you might want to consider switching to a regular pill. Not only is it more effective, but it might help you not be so engorged while weaning. Most normal birth control pills will at least slightly reduce your milk supply. It doesn't at all hurt the baby though if you are taking a regular pill and nursing. I started a regular pill when my daughter was a year old. I was still nursing her and nursed her for another year and a half after that.

Hormones are finicky..they are different for each mom. Since you plan on weaning, I would just switch over pills at your next cycle because they are safe when nursing, just tends to decrease your supply, which might be a desirable effect for you. C., IBCLC

Nursing is an unreliable and unpredictable form of birth control. Some women don't start ovulating until well after they've weaned and others (myself included) begin ovulating right away regardless of exclusively breastfeeding an infant. There is no number of sessions that can determine this. Are you on a mini-pill or a low-dose pill, there's a difference. The mini-pill, I believe, is a progesterone only pill that thickens the cervical mucus to prevent pregnancy. A low-dose pill is a regular form of birth control (a combination of hormones) that has become popular recently - I think because they determined that lower doses of the birth control hormones were all that was necessary. If you do not want to take a chance on becoming pregnant use condoms, or some other form of barrier birth control until you wean. Talk to your doctor, but I know for me, going on a regular hormonal birth control pill almost completely dried up my milk supply.

I can't answer this scientifically, only from my own experience. I did get pregnant while on the low-dose. I was at the end of weaning. Down to 1 short feeding and apparently that wasn't enough to protect me. I ended up with a miscarriage (I don't believe the miscarriage was related to the pill). So, my advise is to use a backup form of control until you can move to a different solution.
Bravo to you for nursing so long!! (I made it 13 months with my son and 11 months with my daughter)

I've been on the same pill since my daughter was born 4 years ago: Trinessa, and it works perfectly well. I nursed her and my son on this pill. Yours should be a progesterone only pill, since you are nursing, and you should be able to take it forever.

To my knowledge weening shouldn't make your birth control less effective. Antibiotics will interfere with birth control but weening should not. Please clarify your last question as I am confused. How many nursing sessions are required......

I am a Mom of four 18, 17, 8 and 3. I nursed the two younger ones until they were a little over 12 months. I also am college educated and a small business owner.

Hi J.,
I would reccomend using another form of birth control. I was on the same pill and when I began giving up feedings I ended
up pregnant. I am not sure when the pill becomes ineffective, but I would still use a back up method to be on the safe side. My daughters are 18 months apart! :)
M.