birth control while breastfeeding

jessicarae614 · September 2016

hey ladies, just wondering your take on bc while breastfeedinbg

rspalding001 · September 2016

they usually prescribe a low dose pill for you while BF'ing. I did it and had no issues with supply if that is your question.

Shima42 · September 2016

I kinda don't believe in birth control pills anymore. I think they may have given me PCOS and affected my emotions and fertility in later life. I intend to try a copper IUD at first, and latex non-spermicidal condoms if that doesn't work, and the rhythm method if that doesn't work. At any rate, I hear chemical birth control can lessen your supply, and since I have had a breast reduction, I need to avoid any possible impediments to breastfeeding.

Muscatmommyof4 · September 2016

I have always gotten the pill before I left and did fine no complaints at all. This time I will be getting my tubes tied so I don't have to worry!

atcwag · September 2016

I never went back on BC after DS was born nearly 3 years ago. I'm pretty good about tracking my fertile window and we used condoms sometimes. I won't risk anything tanking my milk supply and I really don't like how I feel on BC anyway. I can't see myself returning.

camcbeth · September 2016

I waited till 6 weeks after birth and had an IUD put in. I did breastfeed and did so until sometime between 3 and 4 months when I was back at work and trying to pump. My supply did diminish but I didn't contribute it to the birth control. It was more of an issue as a teacher in an elementary setting with no aids and limited breaks because we had recess duty everyday and really only 30 minutes for lunch if there wasn't a meeting (I was not in the best school situation). So if I did have the receptionist or nurse cover my class it was met with irritation. Plus there was another teacher who was pumping at the same times. We had kids a month apart. We were provided a place, it was just too hard to be provided times. Sorry to rant.
This time I do plan on birth control again, but I don't know what to get. I didn't really like the IUD and I'm horrible at remembering to take the pills.

MrsBigTime · September 2016

I think having an IUD placed at my 6 week check led to some serious supply issues - mainly when it came to pumping and going back to work. I was able to work through it, but I had copious milk in the beginning, but after having it placed, I seriously dwindled. I also started my period at about 10 weeks PP, so that didn't help either.

I'm really not sure what we'll do this time, because I did really like my IUD's (had one prior to and after DD), but I'll probably decide to wait a bit longer before having one placed and we'll just use protection in the meantime.

Shima42 · September 2016

@MrsBigTime was it a copper IUD, or a chemical-release model?

MrsBigTime · September 2016

Shima42 said:

@MrsBigTime was it a copper IUD, or a chemical-release model?

Mirena

Shima42 · September 2016

@MrsBigTime so it may be that if a mother chooses a copper IUD instead, her supply won't have the problems that yours experienced.

Muscatmommyof4 · September 2016

To people considering the copper iud be careful I had to have mine removed because it was causing ovarian cysts on a regular basis. After I had it removed my ob told me that it's common along with extremely heavy periods and sever cramps that's why they try to push the mirena first.

BmcD2016 · September 2016

Muscatmommyof4 said:

To people considering the copper iud be careful I had to have mine removed because it was causing ovarian cysts on a regular basis. After I had it removed my ob told me that it's common along with extremely heavy periods and sever cramps that's why they try to push the mirena first.

That's funny, I actually got several cysts from Mirena. One that had to be surgically drained as it was the size of a tennis ball and since I never had a period on mirena, it wouldn't dissolve. Since removal of the IUD a few years ago I've had no more problems.

Muscatmommyof4 · September 2016

@BmcD2016 That doesn't surprise me I switched from the mirena to the copper iud because the mirena made my hormones crazy and I was always in pain. Crazy how it all effects everyone different.. As for you having to get them drained I'm sorry I can't imagine how painful that was!!!

m6agua · September 2016

I plan on using everything I learned from being on the TTGP board and the book TCOYF. I don't think I will ever go back on any kind of birth control. I feel my body is just not meant to have that kind of interference. I will track my cycles and we will use condoms during my FW.

comealongponds · September 2016

BmcD2016 said:

Muscatmommyof4 said:

To people considering the copper iud be careful I had to have mine removed because it was causing ovarian cysts on a regular basis. After I had it removed my ob told me that it's common along with extremely heavy periods and sever cramps that's why they try to push the mirena first.

That's funny, I actually got several cysts from Mirena. One that had to be surgically drained as it was the size of a tennis ball and since I never had a period on mirena, it wouldn't dissolve. Since removal of the IUD a few years ago I've had no more problems.

I've also heard of more cyst issues with Mirena than a copper IUD. I'll likely go with tracking my cycle of a copper IUD for BC post babies, since we plan on having a third in the not too distant future.

mrsmoose5 · September 2016

atcwag said:

I never went back on BC after DS was born nearly 3 years ago. I'm pretty good about tracking my fertile window and we used condoms sometimes. I won't risk anything tanking my milk supply and I really don't like how I feel on BC anyway. I can't see myself returning.

I feel the same way. I started on the mini pill after DS was born and immediately hated the way I felt and my milk supply went down the drain. I only took it for about a week before stopping and never starting on any sort of BC again. My period returned about 5 months after DS was born and we went on to breastfeed until he was 15 months. My cycle has always been very regular, so I just keep track of my ovulation window.

leighry · September 2016

My future birth control plans are as such: if I have to have a c section, I'll be getting my tubes tied. If I don't, hubs will be getting snipped. I was on the pill for a year when we first started dating and I hated it and I can't see myself going for an IUD with all the problems people have.

shevaCC · September 2016

I'm another one who doesn't do well on BC pills. DH joked that they're 100% effective since they make me such a raging b*tch that he doesn't want to be around me, so we never have sex. I haven't tried an IUD -- I'm worried the hormonal one would affect me the same way and I already have really heavy periods that I don't want to be heavier. I really think DH getting snipped is our best option, but he's not yet on board with that plan.

leighry · September 2016

@shevaCC our husbands sound alike haha. My husband has said he is all for getting snipped and I'm waiting for the time to actually come.. I feel like I'm going to have to tell him we are going to Disney land and pull up outside the office and shove him in like taking a kid to the dentist.

BmcD2016 · September 2016

I agree with both of you ^. But my husband wants to give it a few years to make sure we're done before snipping. I think with this being kid #4 that we are done!

shevaCC · September 2016

@leighry and @BmcD2016, I'm actually open to kid #4 (at least right now I am...) while DH already feels overwhelmed with our 2. So maybe that will be his motivation to actually get the snip? He was...shocked when I got pregnant with #3. Funny for someone who started college on the pre-med track that sex plus no BC possibly equals babies.

hollowway · September 2016

The shape of my uterus prevents me from getting an IUD, so after DD I used the low-dose pill while nursing. Didnt have any issues. This time I'm getting a tubal, two kids is enough for us.

PrettyPalomino · September 2016

m6agua said:

I plan on using everything I learned from being on the TTGP board and the book TCOYF. I don't think I will ever go back on any kind of birth control. I feel my body is just not meant to have that kind of interference. I will track my cycles and we will use condoms during my FW.

Me too, I learned so much in TTC, its refreshing to have balanced hormones! Especially post partum when they are all over the map.

eta: plus we want the next one close in age, so an "oops" would be fine...

MrsBigTime · September 2016

Shima42 said:

@MrsBigTime so it may be that if a mother chooses a copper IUD instead, her supply won't have the problems that yours experienced.

This is totally true, but for some reason the copper IUD's still make me nervous. I'll do my research because i really don't like the idea of tracking my periods (my failure in this regard is how we got DD#1!!) or taking BC pills because I was a crazy hormonal mess the last two times I was on them.

I'm sure my weariness from the copper IUD's is unfounded since all the trouble they had decades ago, but it's still something I'll have to weigh.

rencontrezmoi · September 2016

I went on the minipill at my 6 week checkup, and I think I only stayed on it for about a month. I worked night shift at the time, so taking it at the same time every day was pretty much impossible. We wound up just using condoms. This time, I won't bother with the minipill. We'll just use condoms again, and I plan to try Nuvaring after we're done BFing.

MrsDho11 · September 2016

MrsBigTime said:

Shima42 said:

@MrsBigTime so it may be that if a mother chooses a copper IUD instead, her supply won't have the problems that yours experienced.

This is totally true, but for some reason the copper IUD's still make me nervous. I'll do my research because i really don't like the idea of tracking my periods (my failure in this regard is how we got DD#1!!) or taking BC pills because I was a crazy hormonal mess the last two times I was on them.

I'm sure my weariness from the copper IUD's is unfounded since all the trouble they had decades ago, but it's still something I'll have to weigh.

FWIW, I used the copper IUD and had no problems. Yes, my already heavy bleeding was heavier, and there were bad cramps, but it wasn't anything I couldn't deal with. I'm sure that'll be even more true after going through childbirth and recovery. Also, all the hormonal options make my migraines worse, so the benefits there were well worth it to me.

jsmai · December 2016

I have my 6 week pp appointment coming up and am trying to decide between paraguard and Mirena. I'll be continuing to bf and my periods were never super heavy, prebaby. But I have the same nervousness about copper as others based on the old Dalkon shield version my mom's generation used.

What have you guys chosen, those who have an iud?

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