Birth Control Pill and Nursing

Sorry, but do NOT listen to the person who told you not to take birth control while nursing. Unless you're willing to use a condom every time you have every possibility of getting pregnant. If that's what you want, cool.. but if not then I wouldn't listen to that one. From what I have heard breastfeeding is only a viable form of birth control under certain conditions and for the first 6 months.

I have been told that a combo pill isn't great for nursing but there's so many out there that maybe there's a combo pill out there that wouldn't hinder it. I have heard that nuvaring has hindered supply (a friend has tried it). I had Mirena while I was breastfeeding and it worked just fine. You could also try the non-hormonal IUD called ParaGard or possibly Implanon (arm implant) but I'm not sure if that can mess with supply or not. Mirena is 5yr protection, ParaGard is 10 yrs (I think) and Implanon is 3 yrs.

I'm not sure about other options, but if you talk to your doc about it they'll probably be able to make some great suggestions!

I second the Mirena!!! No more periods and my milk supply seemed to INCREASE.....

DO NOT TAKE BIRTH CONTROL WHILE BREASTFEEDNG!! i did and my milk supply was GONE! i was sooooo mad cause i wasnt ready to stop yet. I stopped the birthcontrol right away and my milk was still low. I had to switch to formula shortly after cause my milk wouldnt come back and pretty much dried up no matter how much nursing and pumping i did.

I used NuvaRing with my first daughter and my milk supply diminished really fast. I also felt really crappy using it, just kinda down and whatever sexual desire I did have before was completely gone.. this time around I am using a copper IUD and really love it.. the only thing I have disliked is that my period is actually longer but that was the case for most of bc I would use.. I usually have 3-4 day period and with bc it would last a week.. but that may be something to think about.. I wanted to be hormone free with this one. it was a little uncomfortable to begin with (the first few days) and I sometimes spot when I'm ovulating but otherwise I have had no problems with it really like not having to think of a pill everyday.

I have worked with OBs that say if your milk supply is well-established the combination pills shouldn't be a problem. Have you thought about an IUD? I know it wouldn't address acne struggles, but the progestin in the mirena shouldn't increase acne b/c it's mostly local effects in the uterus. Another little secret is that most combination birth control pills will help decrease acne (w/ a few exceptions as it depends on the type of progestin in the particular pill), it's just that some drug companies actually pay to have that particular effect studied/patented for their brand. Talk with your provider to see what they've seen work. Good Luck! :)

I am taking the progesterone only pill and nursing. I don't know about the combo pill. I did get the Mirena IUD when Luke was 6 weeks old and sadly it fell out! My insurance only pays for one "surgical contraceptive" every 5 years so if I wanted to try it again it would cost 800.00! Yikes. I really wished the IUD would have worked...it was great for the whole month I had it! If your insurance pays for part of an IUD I would totally try it!