Birth Control

Although I realize that hormonal methods of birth control may be convenient for some mothers, they are not my first choice for breastfeeding mothers. While some mothers have no milk supply fluctuations when using hormonal birth control methods, other mothers may experience serious changes in their breastmilk supplies. For this reason, I would suggest checking with your doctor or midwife to explore options for birth control. Although oral medications can be stopped if they are causing negative reactions such as lowered milk supply, it can take time to build supply back it is has been lowered. For mothers who are working outside the home, and who may not be breastfeeding as frequently as they once were, this can be a challenge that is not particular welcome.

My main advice is to consider all the options for birth control, and then to choose what fits most easily into your lifestyle, with the help of your care provider. When considering birth control when breastfeeding, choosing non-hormonal methods of birth control would be my first choice, as it has the least affect of disturbing or decreasing supply of breastmilk, or of impacting breastfeeding.

For more information on medications and breastfeeding, check out the book, Medications in Mothers' Milk by Thomas Hale PhD, RPh. It is available on the web and in bookstores, through La Leche League and here at Mothering. It is a wonderful and inexpensive reference to medications and breastfeeding, and is up to date and well-referenced by this knowledgeable expert, Dr. Thomas Hale.