What *birth control* do you use while BF?

[CariS]

OK... I may be asking this 'too late'. We were...um how can I say politely... we were irresponsible two weeks ago and I swear I feel funny. Also our cat is acting *very* differently towards me. I'm sure I"m being silly....

I should mention - I have a 2.5 yo and a 6 mo and we weren't planning on a third child.

All that said - I don't know what's safe to do/to take. What about that IUD thing that lasts for 5 years or whatever. I was thinking that cuz I don't think it has anything to do with hormones. I don't want to take the pill. Ugh. What do you do!?!?!

Thank you!

[mrs_mandolini]

Anything with no hormones is ok.. condoms, diaphragm, the copper IUD.

[alegna]

:

But I do the same thing I've always done. A modified NFP. I don't chart and I don't temp but I know my own symptoms.

-Angela

[luv my lil pearl]

I do the Mirena IUD....the one that lasts 5 years. It does have hormones in it, though. I have to say that I haven't had side effects at all - apparently it is like taking 2 progesterone only pills per week. I used to take the POPs every day and had no sex drive whatsoever. All in all, I am very satisfied with the Mirena and it hasn't effected my milk supply at all...HTH!

I should also add that I haven't had a period in 2 years on this IUD.

[Ginger6366]

I also have an IUD. I gave birth almost eight months ago, and we needed BC because I got my flow back 4 months post-partum. You have two choices for IUD's. One is the five year model which has hormones. I chose the ten year model. It is made out of copper, and doesn't use hormones. I am still breastfeeding and didn't want synthetic hormones. I love not having to worry about taking pills, etc, my only complaint is that my flow has been a bit heavier. The DR says that it will be that way for six months. So far its been three. Hope that helps.

[Draupadi]

We are very stupidly not using anything. I've been nervous though because I've been feeling downright queasy the past few days.
I was told by my midwife that barrier methods (non-hormonal) was best for bfing moms.

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by alegna

:

But I do the same thing I've always done. A modified NFP. I don't chart and I don't temp but I know my own symptoms.

-Angela

I was wondering how you do NFP when breastfeeding. I was doing that for about a year before I got pregnant. Do I do the same thing - temperature thing, does it work the same if I am not ovulating. My period has not return. Just trying to find somrthing natural while nursing

[Grace Beaster]

Noriday: the Mini Pill

My baby was six weeks old on Friday, and I went to the clinic to see about contraception, thinking I would try a diaphragm. I ended up walking out with my first contraceptive pills - Noriday: the mini pill - in 18 years. I have used natural family planning around the births of my eight year old and newborn, and long avoided the practise of taking presciptives. Now I find myself seeking some information on them. I must admit, the freedom the pill gives is a certain drawcard for me - and one I haven't had the chance to enjoy throughout my adult life. But I am also breastfeeding, so every decision I make affects not only me. Of course, the nurse at the clinic told me there was not a thing to worry about - I believed her for as long as it took her to write out the prescription. Now, I find I'm kinda surprised at myself! Incidentally, halfway through my first week on the pill, I see no ill effects on baby or me.

[quirkylayne]

We used barrier methods.

Some women have a problems with hormones during breastfeeding, some don't. The longer you wait to start the hormones the better (less affect on milk).

[Mrs-Mama]

I am using a diaphragm. LOVE having no hormones (was on the pill before getting pg). It's much better than condoms IMO, but it does give you a increased chance of UTIs...a chance I'm willing to take.

[Electra375]

Any pill has risk of pregnancy. I started the regular old pill when ds2 was 12 months old, he and his sister are 23 months apart...

I haven't used "birth control" since. My dd and ds3 are 34 months apart.

My cycles come back early, this time at 5 months PP.

I use the methods described in the Take Charge of Your Fertility book, she goes over bfing and charting. Yeah, it's a little work, but it becomes second nature and it's free -- free of cost and free of side effects (other than pregnancy usually when you choose, if you are good about following the rules).

Something one should know and I know it's not in the patient literature b/c a friend of mine showed it to me is how the IUD really works. I was really quite irked that the brochure, even in the fine print did not give the exact method of how it worked. It may not bother everyone, but everyone should know exactly how it works before making the decision to use it. The basics of the IUD are it prevents implantation of a fertilized egg, it does not prevent ovulation or the release of an egg, nor does it prevent the egg from meeting the sperm. The hormone IUD might do a better job of preventing ovulation and quite possibly building up the mucous layer into the uterus inhibiting sperm, but it like the pill is not 100% effective in that specific job, so the IUD has the back up of preventing implantation.

Always read everything you can before making a decision about birth control options and how they work and how they affect the body's natural chemistry.

There is also a new permanent birth control called Essure, it is non-reversible like a tubal ligation.

[gretelmom]

Originally Posted by WilliamsMama

We are very stupidly not using anything. I've been nervous though because I've been feeling downright queasy the past few days.
I was told by my midwife that barrier methods (non-hormonal) was best for bfing moms.

I went on that "mini-pill", more because my post partum bleeding wasn't clearning up, but it's the progesterone only pill they give you when BF'ing. Let me tell you, my milk was nearly gone. I would strongly suggest against that pill if you BF, just use condoms. We switched to condoms once a LC finally told me that's why I had such horrible supply (I was even giving DS formula and feeling terrible about it). Then my supply sllllloooowwwwlly went up.

PS the people who bleed post partum also tend to have low supply for some reason, so I didn't notice that much difference at first. So yeah, don't use the pill!

[alaskaberry]

I had the Mirena IUD in. It made my hormones all wonky, constant spotting and irregular periods. I also bled heavily for about a month after I got it in. That sucked. I don't like birth control, but my partner hates using condoms! After I get pg again, he's going to get snipped though, so that'll be nice.

[Aliviasmom]

The 5 year IUD DOES have hormones...the same as Depo.

Because hormones (BCP) was the ONLY thing that dried me up after SIX WEEKS of leaking (and that's putting it lightly) with my son, I REFUSED ANY type of hormone just in case it dried me up.

I have been using the copper IUD since March of 05 (4 mo pp) and have had NO problems.

ETA I nursed for 27 months with NO supply issues AT ALL.

[reducereuserecycle]

pull out (although we havn't had sex since dd was born), but that is what we will do if we aren't ready to get pregnant again

[meggles]

condoms, though rarely because there's not much going on in the bd dept. over here.

i wouldn't use withdrawl unless i was even slightly comfortable with getting pregnant again.

[sun-shine01]

Originally Posted by meggles

condoms, though rarely because there's not much going on in the bd dept. over here.

i wouldn't use withdrawl unless i was even slightly comfortable with getting pregnant again.

: Ditto

[OneWithTwo]

I took the mini pill. I also had the copper IUD.

[Electra375]

Originally Posted by reducereuserecycle

pull out (although we havn't had sex since dd was born), but that is what we will do if we aren't ready to get pregnant again

We don't have relations often enough for my dh to be that good! It's called pre-can I say it here, well, I don't know, so I won't. It leaks out well before the actually moment. And as I understand it, loaded with baby making potential.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

It's called "DF working two jobs during the week and me working one on the weekends."

Pull-out around here if, by chance, we are:

a) alone

b) both awake

c) not exhausted

One of the midwives at the practice I go to recommended using the sponge. I would probably look into it if we were DTD more often. I just wish insurance covered it - mine will cover just about anything not OTC.

If I wasn't BFing, I would consider the pill, but maybe not until I am done with having kids.