Birth Control Options While Bfeeding

I have the Mirena, It is ok so far.. (TMI) I have been bleeding since I got it 4 weeks ago, after the birth of my son in September. I am not giving it a thumbs up or down yet because I havent had it in long enough. But before you get it just keep in mind that the Mirena does have side effects.

I did an estrogen-free mini BP pill. I wasn't sick, had no problem losing weight (I was in my jeans 5 days later and ended up 14 lighter than before I got pregnant- weird!) and it's hard to tell if it affected my sex drive since sex is that last thing I wanted after giving birth. =)

I just had my second baby in May and got a Mirena IUD put in at my 8-week check-up. I am bfeeding, and also wanted an option that would allow me to bfeed and not have to worry about taking the mini pill at the same time each day (I tried that after my first pregnancy and gave up after a couple of months!)

I wanted to go with the Paraguard IUD originally since it doesn't have any hormones, but I tend to have really heavy periods and my midwife told me I would not be happy, as it can make your periods longer and heavier. I have friends with both options and polled them as well as did a lot of research before I made my decision.

I have not had a hard time losing the baby weight nor have I been sick. My sex drive has also been normal. The Mirena has been awesome! I did get my period last month, but it lasted about a day and was really light compared to what it normally is. I have been really happy with my decision!

Good luck deciding what is best for you!

I am on 'the pill' - Camila, which is safe for breastfeeding. I guess the IUD really hurts to put in, and you have to wait until you have a period (?) or something to put it in. Anyway, I'm happy with Camila pills for now.

I'm not sure about an IUD, but I take a progesterone only pill. I think they call it the mini pill. I haven't had any problems with it.

Abbey,

I used the mini pill after my first three and had a good experience, but didn't like to have to remember to take it every day. Because the hormone level is so low, forgetting once or taking it several hours late can be enough to make it ineffective.

I used an IUD after baby #4 and really like it. Unless something better comes along, I intend to use it until menopause. I would recommend having it put in at your six week check up or shortly thereafter. It hurts going in, and after giving birth...well, you know...nothing hurts in comparison. You don't want to have it put in too soon after delivery before your uterus has time to shrink because it may not stay in place, but Dr's orders are usually "no sex for 6 weeks" anyway, so it doesn't matter. It didn't effect my weight, appetite or sex drive.

I would NOT recommend using a condom. I got pregnant TWICE while using a condom. I was trying to be off the pill for a full three months before getting pregnant to make sure there weren't any pill hormones left in my body and I got pregnant right after going off the pill both times. The next time, I just quit taking the pill and tried to get pregnant immediately. My OB's ultrasound tech said that condoms are only about 60% effective and he called people who used them "parents."

Good luck,
S.

I used the mini pill while I was pumping. I know for the pill, I think that is the only one you can use. I haven't used and don't know anyone who has used an IUD. I know one person who uses the ring and she has had no problems with it and likes it better than the pill. Not sure if you can use that if you are breastfeeding.

I didn't have a problem with weight lose or sex drive. The sleepless nights had more of an impact on the sex drive!!

I went on depo shot, you may have some spotting. But I've been fine with it.

I have the Mirena IUD and I love it. I am almost certian that in 3 years when I have to revisit I will probably just get it again. It hurt quite a bit to get it inserted, but because I did it within a few months of my daughter being born I was able to remind myself how much more giving birth hurt! :) I didn't have to wait for my period to return either, the doctor did a pg test just to double check that I wasn't pregnant again and then I was good to go. I also never get my period, I had some weird spotting bleeding at first but I've had it for over a year now and haven't had my period at all (which is awesome by the way). Also - the nurse practitioner at my doctors office told me that the IUD is actually more effective than getting your tubes tied!

i got the mirena about a year after having my son. its been fantastic. my period was crazy for a month or 2, i would have 2 days of it for like 4 weeks straight. LOL. it was wierd. but everything is normal, now i dont really have a period at all, and i had no other negative side effects.. i know my doctor told me it is perfectly safe while nursing cuz it doesnt even really give your hormones through your whole body, just your uterus, so it shouldnt affect breastfeeding.

anyway, good luck with your decision!

I got a mirena IUD after my son was born and I LOVED it. I did have spotting for a while, but it wasn't a big deal. I lost my pregnancy weight easily and I was able to nurse for 13 months.
Also, when I had it removed, I got pregnant right away. (It took me over a year after going off the pill). Not sure if that's something you want, but it was a definite bonus for me.
I have two close friends who got pregnant while using the mini-pill, so I would advise against that!
Good luck!

ESTROGEN FREE!! I wouldn't suggest using the ring while nursing, the estrogen depleted my milk supply. Your OB should warn you after the baby that estrogen depletes your milk. My neighbor had an IUD after her first child and it got lost and had to be removed but she told me she would still recommend it to anyone and she just had a new one put in in August after her having second child. She said she loves it. I wouldn't suggest getting Depo-Provera (the shot). I know three people on it and they've gained 50+ pounds in three months. Good luck!!

My doctor told me last week that for breastfeeding, the only options were the mini pill, IUD, or getting an implant (Implanon, updated version of Norplant).

Here is a comprehensive list of birth control options from the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control/BI99999/PA...

Before I got pregnant, I had Mirena, and I loved it. I had it in for 3.5 years. It was definitely uncomfortable to have it inserted, but way better than giving birth! I just ached for a day, and Tylenol helped with that.

Right after I had it inserted, I had spotting for approximately 8 weeks, but then my periods slowly got farther and farther apart until they were only occurring once every 12 weeks. Three of my friends have had the Mirena inserted, and none of them have had any problems with it. My favorite part was that the progestin was only released locally, into the uterus, and wasn't a systemic (body wide) drug.

Since I saw my doc, I'm now on the mini pill (I'd get the IUD again, but we're planning another pregnancy in 6 months). Since my son (9 months) always goes to bed at approximately the same time every night, I just take it when he goes to bed (or if he goes to bed early, I set a kitchen timer to go off when it is time). I'm not sure if it's an affect of the pill, but since I started taking it, it has helped my almost non-existent libido immensely!! (I'm VERY happy about that, and hubby is too!)

Good luck with your research and decision!

*Chassidy

Hi,
I had a Mirena put in when my son was about 12 weeks old. I love it! I got my periods a couple times in the first year after having it put in but now I get it maybe once a year and it's VERY light. I have gained a little weight but don't want to say it's because of the IUD. Could be lack of exercise and/or not always the healthiest of diets. I needed an option without all the hormones as the pill was causing migraines for me. The IUD and Nuvaring were my 2 options as the hormones all stay in your uterus. I chose the IUD as it required no thinking or remembering once it was in. The Nuvaring required changing once a month. I have never regretted my decision and have had it for over 3 years. I have a friend who used Nuvaring and got pregnant on it as it somehow dried out, cracked, and released all hormones at once instead of timed-release. Her pharmacist said his wife had hers crack several times as well, reducing the protection. Good luck with your decision!

I used the NuvaRing while breastfeeding (I wasnt warned that it could reduce your milk supply). I fought and fought to get my milk supply up not understanding that it was my birth control (or at least I think) I know there are those that havent had problems with their milk supply with Nuvaring but I definitely did. I personally would suggest it if you plan on breastfeeding.

I have a Mirena (more for period control than birth control) it hurt like hell going in, but if anything my milk supply INCREASED (Isaac was 7 months old when I had it put in) and my periods went from 8+ days of HEAVY bleeding to almost nothing!

At my six-week postpartum checkup, I got an IUD and would do it again. No monthly costs associated with it and nothing to remember to take or do!

I used to use the pill and the ring pre-baby, and no problems with either. The IUD is my favorite of the three, simply for ease of use. It didn't make me sick or anything, but I did spot for the first couple of months after I got it. My periods are much, much lighter now. Plus it's cheaper. My insurance wouldn't cover it, but it wasn't too bad - around $200. The ring was $35/month on my prescription plan so this IUD has already paid for itself.

And I breastfed for almost a year and had no hormonal interactions as a result of the IUD, either.

Congratulations on the baby, and good luck!

My son was born a year ago, and I breastfed him for several months. I got a diaphram (used w/spermicide), I still use it, and I love it! No hormones and nothing foreign in my body permanently. Diaphrams are "old school" and unfortunately nobody thinks about them anymore. They are inexpensive: mine was around $75 after insurance paid for part of it, and provided I don't tear it, it will last for 2 years. They are also a good choice ecologically, as there's no waste like with a condom or pill wrappers. (You do have waste from the spermicide tube, but a tube can last for months and months.)

An IUD was my second choice, but the thought of something permanently in my body freaked me out too much. When I was researching birth control I learned that IUDs were the most popular method worldwide, so maybe it will work for you. Good luck!

Abbey-
I had a Mirena IUD (or IUC as they are also called) inserted after my daughter was born. I had a really bad experience with mine, and would not recommend it to my worst enemy. I started having my period for about 18 days at a time; the constant bleeding led to a persistent case of vulvitis; my belly was swollen, tender, and I had frequent cramps; I was generally miserable, fatigued,and the progesterone wreaked havoc with my hormones. To make a long story short, after giving the Mirena an 8 month go, I had it removed, and was astonished by what happened. I have never bled that much in my life! It was like an incredibly heavy period--like it was built up and then the flood gates opened up; I lost about 10 lbs. in a week and dropped about two pant sizes--I hadn't realized how bloated my belly had become--and after about a week or so, started to feel like myself again. For some people it works great, but other people like me just can't handle having a foreign object implanted into their body. I had no sex drive to speak of because I felt so miserable. Good luck with your decision.

I had Mirena put in 8 weeks after my second daughter was born. I really loved it for the first few months. I spotted for a couple weeks after it was oput in, after than NO PERIODS!!! That was great!! However, after having it in for about 6 months I started noticing weird things going on with my body; severe moodswings, acne, low sex drive, random and uncontrolable binge eating and headaches, slow weight gain/inability to lose weight. It was so easy to pass everything off as due to changes in our lives (2 babies in 18months, work, college, etc) Finally I started wondering if it was due to the IUD. I googles Mirena side effects and found a lot of websites where tons of other women were experiencing the same things as me. I had it taken out a couple months ago. I've noticed that I'm less moody, my skin is clearing up, less headaches. I'm starting to feel like my old self again.
It was a really hard decisions for me because the pros were really great. You may not have the same experience with it. I have 4 other friends with Mirena and they all love it! Every body is different.
Your only other choice beside IUD's is the mini pill. They do not want to give you traditional BC pills because they contain estrogen. If you go on the mini pill you have to be sure you take it at the same time every single day or it loses alot of its effectivness.
good luck!

Whatever you do, just do not choose the Depo shot. This shot affects your personality, period, and pregnancy.

I had the IUD that was for 5 years and I will tell you the truth that happened to me.... I almost lost my husband. I had no sex drive at all and I kept thinking it was normal and I would bleed for a couple of days or for a month at a time. I would always bleed or spot ... Also when I had it taken out I was a normal person again. Went back to wanting sex and my personality was better. I would say read your body if you get it. My sister loves it and never has had a problem with it. So just be careful.