Mirena and Breastfeeding - Smyrna,GA

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html

Says progesterine-only (no estrogen) is the preferred method of birth control while breastfeeding. (Mirena is progesterin-only, it says)

I agree with some of the other moms; I exclusively breastfed my first two babies and am currently breastfeeding a third. Babies go through a lot of growth spurts and may want to eat that frequently. Their stomachs are very tiny.

If you're concerned about the antibiotic, though, and don't need it, then don't take it. I don't like taking medicine that I don't need.

I have a IUD but I'm not sure how it would effect breast feeding, but my guess would be its the antibiotics (I'm no doctor). Also, be careful taking those and breastfeeding. My daughter is 3 1/2 and recently had to get 2 teeth pulled. The dentist said it was because she had antibiotics when she was a baby (for a fever) and that weakened the enamel in her teeth when they grew in. I would hate for your baby to have the same tooth problem from some breast milk antibiotics (yours has no teeth yet, but I am definately cautious about antibiotics now). Maybe you should call your doctor or look online? Good luck!

I had the mirena place a few years ago and was able to breastfeed just fine afterward. It has been a wonderful form of birth control. The part that I find weird is the antibiotics. Why would you need those? Maybe that is making the baby fussy. Good Luck.

He's prob having a growth spurt. I have a Mirena IUD that is about ready to come out. I didn't have any problems with mine and breastfeeding, but both of mine did have varying eating times.

Antibiotics are powerful and sometimes dangerous drugs. You should NEVER take them as a precaution. Try taking a lot of acidophilus to diminish the high yeast in your milk...
that should help, though it will take a little while.

I had a Mirena IUD when my daughter was around nine weeks old as well. I do not remember having any direct issues with the IUD and my milk supply. I think it is either the antibiotics (which my doctor never prescribed or even mentioned to me) or just a coincidence that your baby boy is having a growth spurt at the same time. My daughter definitely went thru different stages with the amount she wanted to breastfeed. Remember to hang in there this to shall pass. Congrats on your new baby.

It is probably just natural up tick in nursing that she would've done anyway and you just happened to have the Mirena done around the same time. The antibiotics can cause diarrhea and they do pass through the milk in small quantities so they could be causing her fussiness. Whatever you do KEEP NURSING! I applaud your efforts to prevent another pregnancy if you don't want to get pregnant right away, a lot of women today don't give it a second thought that they CAN get pregnant while breastfeeding or don't care if or when they get pregnant so they don't take any precautions. You should be applauded for you efforts both in using birth control and breastfeeding.

Another idea is that the taste of your milk changed a little bit and he's trying to get use to it. Mine would always get fussy a few days before my period started when I breastfed, and I think that was part of the reason. You could bring up your concern to your doctor and your babie's doctor and see if they have any ideas. If you think your supply has decreased, I've heard that pumping some can help increase your supply. Good luck, and keep up the good work!

I agree with Rebecca's feedback. I breastfeed my two boys until they were one and my Doctor strongly discouraged me from taking anything clearly down to Tylenol while breastfeeding. Make sure your Doctor knows this.
But going about the extra eating, both of my boys went through growth spurts and it was time I was crying for a pacifier with them. I eventually had to pump milk to keep them going.

Antibiotics will definately "dry-up" everything -- your skin, your urine, your milk. Double or triple your liquid intake to satisfy your newly-increased needs -- the more fluid you take in the less your milk will taste differently to your infant.

Second layer -- perhaps this also a major growth spurt -- my children both had major increases in nursing duration and frequency, until around 12-15 weeks.

Third layer -- nothing against IUDs, but Mirena has cited breastfeeding complications and some elements pass along to the baby's blood, including steriods.

"...isolated post-marketing cases of decreased milk production... Small amounts of progestins pass into the breast milk of nursing mothers, resulting in detectable steroid levels in infant plasma." http://www.drugs.com/pro/mirena.html

Good luck with this trying time!

Mirena can cause supply problems in some people. Mirena says not to use it in breastfeeding moms but it is commonly accepted practice to use it anyway. Most women do not have any issues, particularly if they had no supply diffilculties previously.

It is very early to think the Mirena is the culprit so I would consider other things. Maybe your baby is having a growth spurt. Check out the website www.kellymom.com for some supply boosting info. You could also consider seeing a lactation consultant to get a better evaluation.

I doubt if the antibiotics would cause an issue although I will say that giving antibiotics with an IUD insertion is an extremely outdated practice.

Good luck- in all likelihood it is a coincidence that your little guy is extra fussy/hungry after your Mirena insertion.

I would like to believe your doctor knew you were breastfeeding and that your milk would be effected by the antibiotic alone. I'm not a doctor, however it seems odd that you were not addressed with the effects of either the antibiotic or the IUD when it comes to your breastmilk. You need to have a heart to heart with your doctor and ask those questions immediately. I breasfed 2 of my children and it is a sacrifice to keep your child from being affected by what you ingest - since they get the results of what you do.

Good Luck