Birth control & BF

HorseLover11 · October 2014

I go in for my 6 week appt today and have not done my research on what birth control methods are safe while BF (aside from the obvious use of condoms or abstaining which i don't want to do). What are you ladies doing? I was on the pill for 10+ years and never had a problem and never tried anything else so it's all very foreign to me at this point. Thanks for sharing your insight!!

CUBBIESMAMA3 · October 2014

Nexplanon. Its a progesterone only stick that goes in your arm, and it lasts for three years. You don't need to worry about pills or anything like that, which is what I love. (I don't have the best memory sometimes.) I used it last time after DS and had no issues with BFing. I BF DS for almost a year, until he weaned himself.

I can't guarantee this part, but an upside was that I had two periods in three years. DH and I also are pretty active when it comes to sex, and we never had to worry if I had forgotten my pill or not for the day. It was nice. It was so good, that we got it again with this one, and this is the only kind of BC that I want to use from now on.

Everyusernameistaken · October 2014

I think the copper IUD is safe for BF as it's hormone free?
We used condoms between babies but now we're done having kids so we're just waiting for h's vasectomy appointment!

Ahlome08 · October 2014

DH and I are just going back to using condoms. I have a terrible memory, so pills aren't much of an option and I don't want anything inside of me (arm/vagina). This way it's non hormonal and it's hard to forget because neither of us want a baby so soon.

mana8503 · October 2014

My appt is today too. I'm going with the iud

Here's the link from kellymom

https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/birthcontrol/

whitney4126 · October 2014

I also used oral contraceptives for over 10 years without any trouble, but my brain has not functioned the same since I got pregnant so I don't trust myself to take it at the same time every day. I'm getting an IUD put in next week. Doctor says since it's progesterone only it shouldn't impact supply. I like that I can have it removed if there is a problem.

purplestarz · October 2014

I was the same as you....used the pill for 10 years with no issues. So, I am taking the mini pill now. It's been a couple of weeks, and no issues yet.

doglover31 · October 2014

My OB recommended the mini pill or Mirena. He said I would have to take the mini pill at the same time everyday, if I couldn't be sure I could do that then I might as well not take it. We are not wanting to have another so I wasn't comfortable with that option. So I opted for the IUD. I go in next week for it. Lo like its good for 5 years, and when the 5 years is up we can think about if we want another LO.

ashaw512 · October 2014

Sorry to hijack, I'm in the same situation and my PP appt is today too. Has anyone tried NuvaRing and bf? I used it before so I know how it works. It will be the NuvaRing or the mini pill for me.

ashaw512 · October 2014

kaitlinr87 said:

ashaw512 said:

Sorry to hijack, I'm in the same situation and my PP appt is today too. Has anyone tried NuvaRing and bf? I used it before so I know how it works. It will be the NuvaRing or the mini pill for me.

@ashaw512 I haven't tried NuvaRing, but in the kellymom link that @mana8503 posted, it is under combination contraceptives which is more likely to affect milk supply than the mini pill would.

I read it, I've done all the research and read lots of reviews, it's different for everyone I know, I would just like to have more a little more advice before I go to my appt this afternoon. Of course I'll talk to my OB about it too.

The thing is I'll have to switch birth control bc if I'm one the same one for to long I get all crampy randomly and my period will try to come earlier, which lets me know my body is starting to reject it. It usually starts after about 3 months. I can always switch back after, say I start with the pill then switch to NuvaRing then I can switch back to the pill. I've never been able to be one form over three months.

KATILLAC1 · October 2014

Dh and I have decided to use condoms. I have tried every form of pill, patch, shot and implanon and all of them effect my mood and completely destroy my sex drive. The only one I haven't tried is the IUD but they freak me out. I know too many people who have had complications with them.

Bonnesetter27 · October 2014

We will use condoms until I am done BFing. Not knowing if it will affect my supply worries me and it really isn't worth it. It's only a year-ish. Then I will decide if we are done or want more kids and decide on BC based on that.

mdexter11 · October 2014

Anything with estrogen may affect your supply. That's why the mini pill is the pill of choice since it only contains progesterone. The Nuvaring has a form of estrogen.

str13 · October 2014

I got mirena, it's progesterone only, I'm FF however so no help there. I needed it to be progesterone only because of clotting issues, so this should help. He did tell me that I may only have a few periods for the first few months before they stop. So win?? I'm not very reliable taking my BC every day...so.. Lol this is probably a good pick for me!

SingleMom31 · October 2014

@str13‌ How has Mirena been? I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to get at my appt next week.

amom2four · October 2014

Good thread. I need to figure this one out too.

I did mini pill after dd2 until about 6 mos and then once bf was extremely well established, I switched to a normal pill. I didn't notice any supply issues.

I also had mirena several years ago and my body started to reject it. The docs tell you it releases so little hormone it won't affect you, that's not always true. It made me feel crazy after about 6mos. I didn't realize it but I went bsc to the point I removed it myself at about 1 year. I also had been having horrible cramping and labor type intense pains. I found out my body was rejecting it and causing all kinds of issues. Looking back I had issues from the second it was put in and I think the dr that put it in didn't do it right. I had an infection and was on strong antibiotics for several weeks. So I'm scared of an iud but think my doctor will this time around if I go that way since she's an actual OB/GYN.

SaraPEwell · October 2014

I used Paraguard, the copper IUD before this pregnancy, and plan to use it again. I have an appointment in two weeks to have it inserted. I have hormone induced migraines, so anything with hormones is out for me. I love that I don't have to think about it at all.

HorseLover11 · October 2014

My midwife highly recommended the mirena and to get it in 6 weeks. I'll do more research and she also recommended having your dh use olive oil or something similar down there and massaging the scar tissue to make sex less painful.

pshaortao · October 2014

I too was on the pills for years. I don't trust myself to take it at the same time everyday. I will be getting the IUD (5yrs) since my OB said it should not interfere with my supply. My sister has it and has not had a problem with it. My OB did want to wait until at least 8 weeks pp so I'm going back the same day as my LO's 2 months check up.