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[hollytheteacher]

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[hollytheteacher]

I realize my last post wasn't really a questions...I guess i'm just looking for some support or been there done thats or other ideas???

Should I work on dh tonight and convince we should ttc a year sooner than planned? lol.

[TiredX2]

Is birth control that doesn't effect your milk supply not an option?

I don't understand how your doctor can know it will dry your milk up within 3 months?

[SpunkyMama]

My midwife told me that there are low-dose options that really don't affect milk supply. I don't know the specific name, as I was not interested in bc. Could you look into those?

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

Is birth control that doesn't effect your milk supply not an option?

I don't understand how your doctor can know it will dry your milk up within 3 months?

Well in order to stop me from ovulating I need birth control pills with enough hormones in them to stop and that combination with breastfeeding apparently doesn't work...it suppresses the milk production and she said that generally within three months of being on them most women's milk dries up.

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by SpunkyMama

My midwife told me that there are low-dose options that really don't affect milk supply. I don't know the specific name, as I was not interested in bc. Could you look into those?

I think that is the mini-pill and not an option for me because I need the estrogen and the estrogen is what will suppress the milk...is my understanding anyway...

[PatioGardener]

It is a big risk that your milk will dry up - but not 100% certain. Some women keep producing milk through their pregnancy, and some women keep making milk on the pill - I hope you are one of them!

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

It is a big risk that your milk will dry up - but not 100% certain. Some women keep producing milk through their pregnancy, and some women keep making milk on the pill - I hope you are one of them!

Thanks, the whole thing just makes me queasy...

The thought that my milk might dry up and he still really wants/needs it makes me sad.

If it does dry up and he still happily wants to dry-nurse for a bit or whatever, i'm totally fine with it but still sad he's not going to get that yummy/healthy mama milk.

Another reason why this sucks is that most people don't really understand the big deal...my dr. didn't seem to think it was a big deal she even said "since he's just about done anyway..." *sigh*

[Delicateflower]

Have you considered the mirena?

http://www.endometriosis.org/mirena.html
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by Delicateflower

Have you considered the mirena?

http://www.endometriosis.org/mirena.html
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html

hmm...I might ask my dr. about that...doesn't seem to have quite as a risk of milk decreasing...my only question/concern is that Dh and I def want to TTC summer '10 and i'm wondering if it is worth the cost/insertion/removal for a year when it's good for five years...

[OkiMom]

I have an acquaintance with the same condition that is on birth control for it. I don't know what shes takes but she successfully nursed her baby and started on the pill at 6 weeks. So its not a guarantee that he will wean..

Im sorry you have to deal with this. It really sucks.

[leighann79]

I was on regular birth control pills after having my first and my milk didn't dry up. It didn't when I had the Mirena after my third either.
I usually have lots of milk though (didn't stop leaking until after 2 years with DD2 ) so that may be something to consider.

[Meredith&Alexander]

I'll second the Mirena. It's more popular in europe for suppressing endo than in the US, but it's definitely worth a try. I only had to pay the office visit copay for it, but that can certainly vary depending on if/what insurance you have.

[moondiapers]

Ok, I have endo.....and I chart. Have you thought of charting so that you can predict when AF is due? Then 3 days before AF you start taking naproxen every morning and every night. This has worked for me since I was 14. Also, when I was on the mini pill (micronor) I did help emensely. It didn't make the dismenoreah go away completely, but it was nothing compared to what it had been.

I'm only making these suggestions as things to possibly try first, before pulling out the big guns?

[moondiapers]

I'm also wondering if taking motillium would help with the milk supply while on BCPs?

[readytobedone]

i haven't read the replies, but i take combination BCPs (loestrin), and they do not affect my supply whatsoever. granted, it is a low estrogen pill--i'm not sure which pill your doc wants you on--but i'm just saying, lots of women can take hormonal BC without losing their supply

lots can't, of course, but just thought i would share a positive story! i hope it all works out for you, mama.

ETA: just wanted to clarify/restate that my pill DOES contain enough estrogen to completely suppress ovulation. i do not ovulate, and most women on low dose estrogen pills have their ovulation suppressed. i would hold out hope you could nurse just fine on a combo pill. your doctor isn't right that it's inevitable to lose your supply.

[HappyHappyMommy]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

hmm...I might ask my dr. about that...doesn't seem to have quite as a risk of milk decreasing...my only question/concern is that Dh and I def want to TTC summer '10 and i'm wondering if it is worth the cost/insertion/removal for a year when it's good for five years...

if you have insurance, you may want to look into whether the insurance would cover it. I had to do some prodding because my insurance generally covers it only once every five years for birth control, but I called and asked if there was exception if it was used to treat a medical condition rather than for birth control...and there was! I mentioned this to my ob's office and they resubmitted it the paperwork (including the diagnosis of endo) and the insurance covered it.

In terms of the insertion and removal, aside from the fact that it was a visit to the doctor's office, I found it very easy and not very painful (certainly a lot less painful than endo!).

Feel free to PM if you'd like to chat more or have questions.

PS Have you used birth control pills in the past to treat your endo? In my experience, they are pretty standard as one of the first suggestions for treatment for endo, but I am one of several folks I know (and from what I've read) for whom they did not help at all. Plus I had lots of yucky side effects. The Mirena's not perfect (and also doesn't work for everyone), but--especially if you don't know if the birth control pill will work for your endo--it might be worth a try before the birth control pills as it doesn't have the same issues with lowering milk supply.