What *birth control* do you use while BF? - Page 2

[readytobedone]

the mini-pill. i was nervous about supply issues, but i've been on it over a month and everything is fine.

i would do NFP or barrier methods, but frankly, i trust the pill more, and i need to make absolutely sure i don't get pg. i'm not even sure we want more ever, but certainly not for at least 2-3 years due to my really complicated c/s.

[Electra375]

Originally Posted by readytobedone

the mini-pill. i was nervous about supply issues, but i've been on it over a month and everything is fine.

i would do NFP or barrier methods, but frankly, i trust the pill more, and i need to make absolutely sure i don't get pg. i'm not even sure we want more ever, but certainly not for at least 2-3 years due to my really complicated c/s.

I had a really complicated c/s with difficult healing on top of that and did not go on the pill until ds was a little over 1 yr old. We used condoms and a form of NFP until that point. My 2nd c/s I went on the pill after he was 1 yr old and was pregnant in 2 months!!! ON THE PILL!!!

I will leave my trust to my own body now. I have effectively used TCOYF after my 3rd child was born and she and her brother are 34 months apart.

If you want to have effective BC for 2 to 3 years I would have to suggest something other than the pill, it is highly unreliable and I was most careful to take it at the same time every day.

[readytobedone]

Originally Posted by Electra375

I will leave my trust to my own body now. I have effectively used TCOYF after my 3rd child was born and she and her brother are 34 months apart.

If you want to have effective BC for 2 to 3 years I would have to suggest something other than the pill, it is highly unreliable and I was most careful to take it at the same time every day.

i should've phrased my post differently. i think NFP can work exceptionally well, but since i have never done it, i can't trust myself to learn it while BFing. i tried charting only once, when we were TTC DD, but since i got pg the first cycle, i did not really learn much about my body's signs or get into a rhythm with it.

i guess we could do condoms as a back-up + NFP, but i hate condoms. they seriously make me want to skip sex altogether

i appreciate what you're saying about the mini-pill, but it is statistically very effective (like 95%), even if you did get pg on it.

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by dex_millie

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

Temperature checking is WORTHLESS while breastfeeding. Or at least for me.

-Caitrin

[Electra375]

You really have to read Take Charge of Your Fertility if you want to effectively chart while bfing. I'm fortunate that I start having signs of impending return of af about 2 months before it happens. And while they state you can not ovulate without having a period, I beg to differ b/c I have cramping around the ovary and thick CM that comes and goes for 2 months then af appears. It has happened that way from child #2 on. I was not a functioning person after the c/s and aftermath of having ds1, sad, truly sad. So, I can't tell you what was going on w me then.

Right now I've gotten my af back, but I have not been temp taking or charting. We're strictly using condoms, my dh does not necessarily like it, but he knows my health recovery is foremost.

I had been charting signs and symptoms at 3mo PP and then with the FTT w my ds3 (child #4) and my af returning all at the same time, I'm handling life one crisis at a time right now. Pumping and getting weight back on my baby is foremost, then I'll work in temping and charting again.

I have to admit the hardest part about temp taking w a baby is the timing, since it needs to be done while still in bed resting. And since new moms are up nursing on and off throughout the night, it makes it a bit impossible. Plus since I've been pumping during the night, I'm sleeping in in the am.

I should re-look at the sponge myself, my dh would really appreciate it. I won't do a diaphram b/c I'm prone to UTIs. I won't do the IUD for moral reasons. I won't do BC Pills b/c they are hormonal and ineffective when I've used them. What else is left???

[nichole]

i really like the diaphragm

easy to put in and can do it ahead of time

i havent had any UTIs

no hormones

it is a little less effective than the pill...96% vs 99%. i wonder if that is due to user error at all? i don't really get a period while breastfeeding. when i do we are going to discuss the big V.

[eroslovesagape]

I used a cervical cap; like a diaphram only fitted to your cervix. My midwife fitted me. It worked.

Years later (when I felt confident in this) I used NFP; watching my body signals and keeping track of my cycles on a calendar so we stopped having intercourse several days before ovulation was likely to occur. Might not be reliable while BF since BF can affect your cycles. Anyhow NFP worked for years...until my new DH and I began talking about having a baby girl, visualizing her, planning for her *down the road*- well I think all that energy focused on her made me ovulate early, and Freyja was born :

[Electra375]

Originally Posted by eroslovesagape

Anyhow NFP worked for years...until my new DH and I began talking about having a baby girl, visualizing her, planning for her *down the road*- well I think all that energy focused on her made me ovulate early, and Freyja was born :

My dh and I talk about a baby, say starting to try a few months from that point we speak of it and whamo the next month it seems I'm pregnant! It's happened 2X now and one of those times I was taking the pill!!!

I haven't heard of a Cervical Cap in YEARS, I honestly didn't think they were still around. But I like the idea of a Cervial Cap better than the diaphram (maybe b/c I have had a terrible time with things like Instead and due to that won't even attempt a diva cup).

[shooflymama]

I have the copper (no hormone) Paragard IUD that last a long time (10 years, I think but you'd want to doublecheck). I love it and have had no issues whatsoever.

[kapers88]

I had the ParaGard IUD, which is the copper one that is used for 10 years. I used it for over three years and loved it. I also charted during that time, but not as birth control (just for informational purposes).

[ShadowMoon]

I've been on the Mirena IUD since 8 wks pp. It does have low dose hormones, though I've had no side effects with my milk supply thus far. I've barely had a period since I've had it too...which I guess is common.

[Cloth4Colin]

Weeeeeell, currently it's abstinance. I've had a rough PP time and have not been remotely in the mood...thankfully/hopefully? DH understands.

I thought about the IUD, but when I researched more closely HOW it worked, I realized it was against my beliefs on BC. (As Electra mentioned previously - it allows fertilization.)

I'm not sure what we'll do yet when we do become "more active." I'm not totally against hormones, but would prefer not to use them.

[friendtoall]

Before you start taking the pill, even estrogen only pills, you should research their connection with breast cancer.

[purplemamaaz]

I thought about the IUD, but when I researched more closely HOW it worked, I realized it was against my beliefs on BC. (As Electra mentioned previously - it allows fertilization.)

When I had the Paraguard placed a month ago my doctor assured me that they have done study after study and flushed 3,000 uterus's with IUD's and never found a fertilized egg. I even got a second opinion to be sure.

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by dex_millie

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

I've been doing all the NFP stuff since 1 month PP...charting my temps, too (even though some people say it's absolutely unreliable while BF'ing, I don't agree). I could definately tell that I wasn't O'ing, and even when I got my first "AF" I knew it was anovulatory because I had been charting. (I didn't O until 10.5 months PP, but got my first AF at 4.5 months)

[~PurityLake~]

First of all, I just want to say, make sure you're not pregnant, but I'm sure you already know that.

I was on the mini-pill while breastfeeding my first and still got pregnant with Sophia when Abigail was only 5 months old!

After Sophia was born, since I'm not ready for pregnancy or another child, I wanted to make sure there would be no more surprises. I had the paragard IUD put in. It has caused heavier bleeding during the 2nd and 3rd day of my period, and it takes forever to taper off at the end of my period. Other than that, it's not had any adverse effects on breastfeeding Sophia, which makes me very happy. I am also glad to not be pregnant!

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

we use condoms. i always receommended barrier methods over hormonal methods when possible to clients.

[mrskennedy]

I'm thinking about the copper IUD, only b/c DH is going crazy but won't use condoms. (they're against his beliefs and hormones are against mine.) He wouldn't want me using the IUD either, but it's my body so tough But I haven't decided on it for sure b/c I'm afraid of insertion! I almost passed out when I was stitched PP b/c I felt it... so... :

[Maggirayne]

I read throught this thread. Pretty interesting. We use condoms. I want to use NFP, but right now my AF is a little irregular. I'm at 7 weeks since last AF, so don't know how well that would work. I've got Kippley's The Art of NFP.

Regarding IUD's acting as abortifacients, this video has some interesting info about the pill acting as an abortifacient. I haven't done any research so don't know. Electra 375 brought it up, so I though I'd throw this in for consideration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCU46_lWeE

Here's the source links for the video:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ogID=268470669

[Shell_Ell]

Eco BFing/LAM and now we're using NFP because I had some bleeding about a month ago. My temps are all over the place with nursing a 4 month old, so I'm going mainly off of CM. I'm pretty confident doing this, but of course there's a teensy twinge of "what if" in the back of my head. I guess it's teensy enough that we're okay with whatever happens.