Still Nursing 12-Month Old, Birth Control Pill Safe?

My OB told me that ortho-tricyclen, that I was on before I got pregnant, would dry out my milk. I was on the progesterone-only pill for 10 mos with no problems. It's not quite as reliable as other bc pills, but that means it's like 92 instead of 99 percent effective. It does NOT help with PMS, like many other pills do, but that just means you'll have the same periods as if you were on nothing. And from all my research, it is very safe while breastfeeding. GL!

our nursling (2nd child) is 20 months & hubby & i have just used a condom since our first was born. i've enjoyed not having to take anything to jazz around w/ my hormones for just about the last 4 years, so we might just stick to this method - for a little while at least - after breastfeeding is over. (at least until we know for sure we're not planning on any more children...)

HTH!

I'm still nursing as well (DD is 16 months), and don't take any birth control pills. We do some natural family planning and also use condoms at times. I won't take birth control pills again, since I feel like a different person when I'm taking them!

Please, please, please don't take ANY birth control pill while breastfeeding. You're very smart for checking it out first and not just taking a doctor's word for it, GREAT JOB on caring for your baby's health! If it were me, from what I've read, I wouldn't take any pill while breastfeeding. Continue to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. That's what bothers me about vaccinations too, so many people just take their doctor's word for it instead of researching the info themselves and making an INFORMED decision.

I've been using Jolivette (a progestin only pill) because it's what my ob/gyn suggested. I haven't noticed any issues with my dd. From what I read the POP is the only pill that is safe during nursing and won't affect your milk supply. (Pills containing estrogen will dry up your supply.)

Hi D.,

I was taking the estrogen only pill and didn't have any serious side effects from it. However, I have stopped taking the pill for personal reasons BUT my OB has told me that I wouldn't be able to take Ortho until I was down to TWO nursings a day because it can dry out your milk and it sounds as if you're not down to two nursings a day. If you have not had your period, you should not be at risk for getting pregnant. I am one of a few who still gets my regular periods when nursing. It's rare but it happened to me with each baby. But from what I've always been told, if you do not get a period while nursing, then you don't need any BC method. So, maybe you should wait until you actually get a period and when your baby is down to two nursings a day.
Take care!

Yes, you can continue breastfeeding while on bc. Everyone's supply reacts differently, but you can read more about bc and bf safety here: http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html

Don't go on the ortho-tri it is passed through your breast milk and passes the hormones onto your son. You should ask your Dr. for a low dose progestin-only pill and explain you are still breast feeding. Once you transition your son to "regular" milk you can go back to the Ortho-tri.

Congratulations on nursing your baby this long! I'm at 8 months plus and almost lost my milk supply by starting the pill. I quit after a week and my milk slowly increased. We've been using condoms which isn't as great as the pill in some ways, but better in others. Also, I have a good friend who just got pg and is still nursing her 13 month old, so it does happen. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Everybody's bodies are different and YOU CAN get pregnant while breastfeeding!!! That is a wives tale that has ended in many an "accident". Always use some kind of precaution unless you are ok with getting pregnant.
Did you not tell your doctor you were still breastfeeding?? that really surprises me that she would prescribe you the real pill. I never had any problems with the mini pill. But you do have to take it AT THE SAME TIME everyday. It's a lot more sensitive to that than the regular pill. Also the mini pill doesn't do any good once you stop breastfeeding. So if you start to go down to only one feeding a day I would ask your doctor again because the mini pill may not be enough anymore.

With my daughter I used the taking charge of your fertility to keep from getting pregnant. With my son I started on the NuvaRing while I was breastfeeding. It worked great and I remember reading it was safe since it did not have to go through your blood stream. It gives out a direct dose of hormones. It has been a while so you might want to do a little research I don't remember all the facts.

Hi D.. While you're nursing, your body produces a hormone called prolactin that suppresses ovulation. Once you stop nursing, or start nursing less frequently, the level of prolactin in your system decreases. Progesterone-only pills do not interfere significantly with your lactation, however estrogen pills ("normal" hormone birth control pills), even the low-dose ones, do interfere and can have a significant impact on your milk supply. I took a progesterone-only ("mini") pill while I nursed, and had no problem (and there's nothing wrong with my daughter). I switched back to regular birth control about two weeks after she stopped nursing, and within two weeks I had no milk left (I was still trying to pump 3-4 times a day). Just FYI, it can take your body up to 6 months after you stop nursing and pumping to get rid of all the prolactin; until all that prolactin is either gone of significantly diminished you won't ovulate (per my gynecologist).