xp: 'mini pill' question

ABarker · February 2009

I went to my 6 week pp office visit and my OB gave me an rx for the minipill (Nora-BE, norethindrone)... and I was reading the leaflet from the pharmacy which says "This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effect on nursing infant." and then when I googled the main ingredient, I got "Norethindrone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use if you are breast-feeding a baby."

Ummm, what? Does anyone know what this means? What is said undesirable effect? And why is it understood to be safe for bf'ing mom's, when the leaflet for the drug clearly says otherwise?

azuremama · February 2009

I don't know for sure, but I think it's that the dose is small enough in the minipill that it shouldn't affect the baby. You should call your OB if you have questions.

Here's what Kellymom.com says:

Milk supply: As noted above, hormonal birth control pills (particularly those containing estrogen) have the potential to decrease milk supply, sometimes dramatically.

Effects on baby: There have been no adverse reports of side effects to the baby. Both progestin and estrogen are approved by the AAP for use by nursing moms. Children whose mothers used hormonal birth control while nursing have been followed as late as 17 years of age. The exception to this is the very young baby - less than 6 weeks old. There may be some concern about the baby's immature liver being able to metabolize the hormones passed through the milk well enough.

Any hormonal birth control may cause fussiness in the baby (not reported in the literature but often anecdotally by mothers). This may be due to the hormones causing a minimal decrease in the protein/nitrogen/lactose content of the milk. Some mothers have reported marked improvement in their baby's degree of fussiness once they come off hormonal birth control.

rolltidebaby · February 2009

this is not related to breastfeeding, but i just wanted to warn you to still be extra cautious on the minipill!!! my friend just got pregnant even though she ttook the same pill at the exact same time every day. she found out she was 10 weeks preg (had never gotten her period and EBF) when her DD was 10 months old!!