Birth Control???

I had an IUD put in about 4 weeks ago, and I like it. It's the non-hormonal kind, so it doesn't interfere w/ what little milk I have. It can be an abortifacient, so if you have ethical issues w/ that the mini-pill might be more to your tastes.

seems that the minipill is a popular one...but something to be cautious of...it was brought up in a LLL meeting that some peds have discouraged mama's to use it while nursing a boy...something about the female hormones in it possibly passing through the milk?? makes sense but is also scary....
what about condoms?? i hate them because i hate the smell but am beginning to think they are the only thing that won't interfere with nursing....
good luck!

Don't forget diaphragms, cervical caps, sponges and the Lea's Shield as non-hormonal options. The FDA has recently re-approved the Today sponge and it will be hitting shelves in the U.S. this summer. Today and Protectaid sponges are also available online from Canadian-based pharmacies. (Or, since you live in Minnesota, you might have a better chance at picking some up in person.)

I didn't have a PE but I also got blood clots from BC pills. Never again. Never. I was young, not a smoker, healthy, thin.

It looks like I am getting the Mirena IUD. I really never had to worry about birthcontrol because I am supposed to be infertile. :LOL

The hormones in the minipill shouldn't affect the baby directly, but may reduce milk supply. See http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html for more info on hormonal methods of birth control while nursing.

The LAM method is 99% effect for the first 6 months postpartum. Which, if I'm doing my math correctly, it looks like you got... "Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing" by Sheila Kippley is an excellent resource on the subject. Not trying to be snide, but NFP is a little more complicated when trying to avoid than when trying to conceive, yk?

I had a huge problem with the pill and my Dh is allergic to the spermicide and the condoms. We were sort of in a tight space. I looked into the natural spacing with breast feeding, but it is really only effective for the first 6 months and if you are nursing on demand without any pacifiers. I am trying out the cycle beads, which make you more aware of your cycle and when you ovulate. Another natural method is the Billings Ovulation Method. I think most of these are only effective if you have your period. My friend uses the basal thermometer method. Just some other ideas. I too am a bit squeemish about the IUD. I have know people who were unable to conceive after it was removed.

Quote:
What is the brand name of this IUD? Where can I find out more about non-hormonal IUD's???

Crapola, I can't remeber the name of it, only that the box was MASSIVE! I live in Canada, what w/ our free health care and all. I paid 55$ CAN (what is that, 3$ american? lol) for it, and it's good for 3 years. If you are an American, I've gotten the feeling that your drs. like to increase the costs of care if they can, and might not be so forthcoming about the cheaper IUD... I'll check to see what the name was. Anywho, I'm liking it a lot.
ETA: I think it was a Para-Guard.

Thanks for this timely post! My 6 week appointment is tomorrow and I haven't given BC any thought at all!
Suzy

Quote:

the mini-pill is also abortifacient, and the regular pill, and depo shot...

I'm getting the Mirena IUD in a few weeks. It does contain hormones but they are very small amounts and will not affect breastfeeding. I'm actually very senstive to hormones so I try to stay away from hormonal b.c. methods but my doctor has assured me that the amounts are so small in the Mirena that they shouldn't effect me. I have really difficult periods so the copper one was a poor option for me (they can make periods heavier).

My doctor did tell me that a lot of docs, including him, are sometimes down on IUDs not because of how well they work (he thinks they are the best BC choice out there) but because of the ridiculous amount of money that pharmaceutical companies make off of them - he said the IUD probably costs a couple bucks to make but they charge like $500.00 for them. Also a lot of insurance companies in the US do not cover the cost so make sure yours does.

we are tta for another year (still nursing my 2 y/o all the time), so i'm getting the paragard iud put in this month. the website is http://www.paragard.com