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Breastfeeding
Rachel623
member
Birth Control Options
Rachel623
member
I have a baby who will be four weeks old tomorrow. I EBF and am hoping to until at least six months. I go back to work when she is a little over four months old so I'm hoping it works out.
I have my first post delivery OB appointment on Tuesday and want to decide what type of birth control to go on so that I can plan it out with my doctor. At this point, DH and I do not want to start trying for another baby for about a year and a half to two years.
What have you all used? Any recommendations?
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Re: Birth Control Options
Stick to estrogen free ---- abstinence, condoms, progesterone only (mini) pill, Mirena IUD (up to 5 yrs), paraguard IUD (up to 10 yrs, tend to bleed heavier but given lactational amenorrhea maybe not, no data), or Nexplanon (up to 3 years, irregular bleeding but no data +lactational menorrhea).
I've never personally done anything but combo pills before DD1 and mini pills between DD1 and 2 as I knew we wanted kids close but I have put in many Mirenas and people really like these though there is always the outlier generally for spotting (they are not lactating). I think I have taken out more Implanons/Nexplanons than I have put in because people really don't like irregular bleeding, but like I've said, there is no data for the bleeding patters in lactating women. GL.
I used the mini pill from 6wks postpartum until 6.5mos postpartum. I was having a hard time with compliance and freaked out about getting pregnant, though I never did have a period on it. So I switched to Mirena after the first of the year when it was free through my insurance, and I love it. I think I got my first period a week after getting it, then two more periods, and none since. Spotting and cramping for a couple of days after insertion, but nothing too bothersome.
I love it.
Married Bio * BFP Charts
Mothers who EBF, don't use pacifiers, and sleep in proximity to their babies have a 98% change of complete infertility for the first 6 months of their baby's life. That's a higher rate than condoms, so we didn't do anything other than that in the first 6 months.
And that's how 2 of my friends have kids 12 and 13 months apart! :
Did your friends use pacifiers? Have their babies sleep in a nursery? Go back to work before 6 months and therefore pump, instead of breastfeed, every 3 hours?
If they didn't practice the method ("ecological breastfeeding" as it's called), then it's not a failure in the method. Either way, it's definitely possible you have a friend or two who's part of the 2% of women who conceive anyway, just like I have a friend who conceived while on birth control.