Breast Feeding and Birth Control

I breastfed my oldest daughter for 5 months and my youngest for 18 months. The doctor and I discussed options and I decided to go with Depo provera. Its the shot you get once every 3 months. It worked wonderfully. The only thing I didn't like was the 25 lb weight gain (I have talked to other moms who also used it and 20-25 lbs seemed to be average). It was nice though to not have to worry about popping a pill everyday.
My girls are now 7 and 4 and perfectly healthy.

An alternative to hormonal birth control which can have many undesirable side affects is charting or natural family planning. This is what we use. There are some books you can check out such as "taking control of your fertility" etc. We have an NFP instructor locally that we use since I started breastfeeding. It's an option to consider. A lot of OB's might not suggest it because they make money off of the birth control - and they can't make money off of you doing NFP. But if you really want to avoid hormonal birth control, it's definately something to at least look into.
Good luck to you!!!

The IUD is something you cannot have put in until your child is eight weeks old (it's not for the child's sake but for your body's). Your body needs that time to heal from the delivery. I personally went and had the IUD put in almost a month ago, it's actually pretty nice, the worst side effect I found was the very mild cramping the first week it was in.

My doctor recommended that I go on the "mini-pill". It has no estrogen, but is effective, and my son is very healthy to this date.

Hi L.,

Congrads on breastfeeding your child. My name is H. and I am a board certified lactation consultant. Here are the reqular recommendations about birth control and breastfeeding.

First and formost. It is recommended to wait until your 6 week checkup before using birth control. You really want to establish a good milk supply before adding hormones into the body.

Non-hormonal methods....NOn hormonal methods are recommended as a first choice for breastfeeding mothers because they have no impact on milk supply and there are no concerns about the effects on the breastfeeding baby. These methods either have no effect on breastfeeding or promote optimal. THIS IS CONSIDERED LACTATIONAL AMENORRHEA. THIS IS ONLY RECOMMENDED IF YOU ARE EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEEDING and YOUR INFANT IS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD,and SUBSTITUTE NO FORMULA, NO PACIFIERS, NO FOOD AND YOUR period has not returned.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING........
Involves learning to recognize the signs of ovulation and obstain from intercourse during fertile times. When used CORRECTLY, NFP is highly effective.

Those are natural ways to decrease the risk of pregnancy.

BARRIER METHODS: SUCH AS CONDOMS, DIAPHRAMS AND SPERMACIDES....Are inexpensive, generally available, and can be used alone or as a suppliment to other methods. Unlubricated condomes used w/out spermacide can be irratating to the vagina due to the dryness caused by low estrogen levels during the early months of breastfeeding.

NON HORMAONAL INTRUTERINE DEVICES (IUD's) are higly effective in preventing pregnancy and breastfeeding women have less pain and bleeding on the IUD insertion and lower removal rates. Studies indicate no increased risk of uterine perforation during brestfeeding.

Sterilization and a full or partial hystorectomy does not effect milk production.

PROGESTERIN-ONLY METHODS..... Research indicates they either have no effect on the volume and composition of milk or cause slightly improe milk supply and greater duration of breastfeeding.

1. THE MINI-PILL, recommended to be taken at about the same time each day.
2. PROGESTIN - IUD'S, which work like a non hormonal-iud and also release a small amounts of progestin into the mother's system over time.
3. PROGESTIN-RELEASING VAGINAL RINGS... offering time released doses of hormone.
4. INJECTABLES (DEPO-PROVERA) each injection prevents pregnancy for 3 months.
5. IMPLANTS (NORPLANT) an implant inserted under a women's skin to prevent pregnancy up to five years.

METHODS CONTAINING ESTROGEN....... Hormonal contraceptives containing estrogen are not the best choice for breastfeeding mothers because they have the greatest effect on the milk supply. However, breastfeeding can still continue if they are used. If chosen, it is recommended that methods containing estrogen not be started until after the baby is atleast 6 months old and consuming other foods.

Although small amounts of estrogen do pass into mothers milk, there is no indication of any long term effects on breastfed children. Estrogen and progestin are considered compatible w/ breastfeeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Two methods containing estrogen include.....
1. combined oral contraceptive pill, and combined injection.

You may want to bring a copy of this to your OBGYN. This information was quoted from....La Leche League International "The Breastfeeding Answer book, pocket guide edition", pgs 37-39. This is a great way to become educated and discuss with your doctor would be the best option for you!

Feel free to email me a personal message if you have other wuestions or concerns. Good Luck! I hope this helps!

H. B.

when i went for my six week checkup i got ont he depo provera shot and i breastfed, the doctor said i can take that and breast feed my daughter is 3 now and she is fine.

I breastfed my daughter and at my six week checkup the OB put me on the mini-pill...a week later my milk was drying up. The pediatrician said that the pill was the cause.

With my son I decided against any form of hormonal birth control. My husband and I use condoms and yeah it can be a hassle at times but to me it's worth it. I was able to breastfeed my son for his entire first year...he never once had formula or any other supplement and that is an accomplishment I am proud of.

Not to mention you will lose the baby weight faster if you are not on a hormonal birth control. I lost 45 pounds after my son was born within the first year.

Hello L.,there is a type of birth control that is safe.I forget the name of it but its a patch.I believe its ortho something.Also,if you are exclusively nursing you probably not menostrating so, you wont get pregnant.I had a bad experience with the shot.I was constantly on my period!I know a few people that happened to.Its best to just stick to asking your OB.GOOD LUCK!

I'm taking a class in human sexuality right now and one of our assignments last week was to determine what form of birth control would be best based on our current lifestyle. Check out this website:

http://www.arhp.org/patienteducation/interactivetools/cho...

I'm breastfeeding too and have had the IUD put in. It was fine for me. AND a couple of my friends were the same way. If you get the Mirena is has progestrone that doesn't mess with your production and you shouldn't feel it too much---You just have to check it every month (slef examination). Plus, you might want to schedule a follow up a month later to voice any concerns and have it checked up on. You can do your research online too =)