Mini-pill Birth Control Question

i didn't get my period until about 8 weeks after i had both of my children. Then i started using the pill after my period.

I nursed my son until he was 9 mos old, and I didn't get my first period until he was 6 mos old. What did your doc suggest? Just remember, you still have to be extremely careful with the mini-pill. My doc said that you definitely have to take it the same time every single day or you can become pregnant again. Since your not ready for #2 (and I don't blame you) I'd still use a back-up form of birth control.

Hi P.,

Contratulations on your new baby! I started taking the mini-pill five weeks post-partum, per my OB's instructions. Check with your OB about when to start. Baby #2 could show up before your next period if you're not careful!

J. O.
Stratford, CT

When you breatsfeed you don't get your period regularly...if at all. I was on a mild birth control when I breastfed and I still didn't get my period the week I was supposed to. At first I panicked, but then my doctor told me it was completely normal. I would check with your doctor, but my doctor had me start the pill about 2 weeks after I had my daughter...I didn't wait to get my period and then start.

I worked in a reproductive clinic over the summer, here is protocol for starting birth control methods:

If you are doing a quick-start (mid-cycle), which means you do not have your period, you can start the method (pills, shot, ring, patch) at any point but MUST use condoms or abstinence for 7 days as you could have already ovulated. (There are only 8 days out of a month a woman can become pregnant - 2 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and 5 days after ovulation, hence the need to allow the egg to "die").

If you are starting the method within the first 5 days of the start of your period (as L. as you are still bleeding), the method will be effective immediately. The reason being that if you have a 28 day cycle you ovulate 14 days before you bleed. Which then means that you would ovulate again 14 days after you begin bleeding.

I hope this information helps!

Make sure you TAKE THE PILL AT THE SAME TIME every day. I was a little loose with the timing and (even though I was nursing full time)I got pregnant six months after my first son was born (no periods until six months after number two arrived).

beware!! not to sound scary, but i was on the mini pill with my first son and then got my period, i was still breastfeeding so my midwife kept me on the minipill, i would have been fine, but i didn't sinc up period with my pill when i started (my period started in the middle of a pack). i didn't think about it until the second month, now we have a beautiful daughter born 18mos after her brother!

You can start the mini pill at anytime. In a different situation, they would want a woman to wait until they got their period before taking it just to be sure they didn't take it while pregnant. In your situation though, nursing moms who haven't started their period at all yet since their baby's birth, are fine to start taking it whenever they choose. :)

Congratulations on your little one and kudos for nursing.

As for the mini pill, since it is not the same as a regular dual hormone pill, you do not need to wait until your first period to take it. You should begin taking them now, perhapse tomorrow (Sunday is easiest I agree). You will definately want to start taking it at least a month before you begin to have sex again (if possible), and in the meantime, of course use a condom. Just like regular birth controil it can take a few months to become effective so you'll want to be sure you've given it a chance to begin working, and protect yourself in the meantime. Just because you're nursing now doesn't mean your body isn't preparing for it's next cycle already.

Also, since the mini pill is not like standard birth control where there's a week off or a week of placebo pills, there is no need to sync your pills to your cycle. Every pill you take in a mini pill pack has the same hormone levels as the next or the previous. Now if you do decide to wait until you get your period before starting it (use other protection in the meantime) then yes, you'll want to start it within about 5 days of getting your period, just as with standard pills.

Best of luck!

Rolinda

I just had my 4th daughter in April and started the mini-pill 6 weeks after having her. Like you i hadnt gotten a period due to nursing so i just picked a Sunday and started it. I am in the process right now of switching to a different pill, my baby has weaned herself to a bottle and i was getting my period every 2 weeks so i decided it was time to make a change. Good luck with your baby and getting back to work.

I went on the mini pill after my first child, i started it as soon as i stopped bleeding from giving birth, which was my 6 week check up. i nursed so i didnt have a period for a yr.

Hi P.! I also used the mini pill and its normal not to have a period esp. if you're breastfeeding and I used it until well after I stopped nursing but be careful you must use additional birth control with it.My doctor was adamant about that while I was using the mini pill.Also my dr. stated that there really isn't a schedule w/the mini pill as w/reg. bc so don't worry just keep taking them until you are ready to stop nursing or move to the reg. bc. I am a first time MOm also so I totally understand!Good Luck!

I have 2 boys that I nursed...with both, my period came back after 2 months. My OBG said that's typical, but it can be shorter or longer before it returns when you're nursing. I never took the mini-pill, and I don't know anything about it. Good luck!

P.,
I started taking the mini-pill at 6 wks post partum. Since you are breastfeeding, you are probably in lactational amenorreah. Breastfeeding does provide some degree of protection but if you've done the deed and are worried about being pregnant, take a test. According to my OB,if you haven't had a period, there is an extremely slim chance you've even ovulated a viable egg. Aside from that, you may or may not get your period back even after you start the mini pill. Each of the 28 pills contain the exact same amount of hormones. Just be sure to tell your OB as soon as you plan to wean or decrease breastfeeding.

By the way, enjoy not having your period!! I didn't get mine back until almost 5 months post partum.

Hope that helps!!
T.

Hi P.,
I didn't get my period again until my son completely stopped nursing (at 11 months old). I was incredibly regular prior to his conception, so it was a bit of a shock. I did go on the minipill for a few months (from about 5 months postpartum to 9 months postpartum-we had tried an IUD prior which was nothing but trouble) until we decided to try for #2. Your doc. should be able to tell you when to start, but if I remember correctly, I just started on a random Sunday since I wasn't having a period. I guess the important thing to remember is that you can get pregnant even without a period, so if you're not ready yet...!!!

M.

I had asked my doctor the same thing about starting the minipill and she said I could start taking it right away but I was 6 weeks post partum and hadn't had intercourse yet. So there was no worry for me over being pregnant when I started it. I would think that you also might just be able to take a home pregnancy test if you really wanted to be sure. If you are really worried about it I would just call your doctor and check. Wish I could be of more help. Good luck!

i started the mini pill as soon as the doc. wrote the prescription, you might not get your period for awhile so I wouldn't worry about starting on any particular day.
use any other form of protection for 2 weeks to be safe.
i have been taking the mini pill for 15 months and if taken correctly it is just as effective. i also enjoyed not having my period for 1 whole year since my baby was born!!!!