I had a baby 7 weeks ago. I have been breastfeeding since he was born and would like to continue to breastfeed until he is 6 months old. My midwife said the estrogen in birth control pills can affect my milk supply. I also do not want a birth control that will cause weight gain...any suggestions?
2006-12-28 04:02:09 · 30 answers · asked by Mochamom 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I wanted to add that I have not had sex since having the baby. I only asked the question because my midwife suggested that I choose a birth control at my 6 week post partum visit and I was not prepared to choose one. I have been breastfeeding the whole time and would like to say that I did receive my period...for those who say that it takes longer when your breastfeeding everyone is different. I received my period 7 weeks after having my baby.
2006-12-28 10:59:21 · update #1
You sholdn't be having sex when your baby is just 7 weeks old. Shouldn't you be waiting a bit longer? Therefore you shouldn't need birth control right now.
:-)~
2006-12-28 04:05:20 · answer #1 · answered by always_up2001 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
I use the Depo Provera Injection as my form of birth control. I only need to get an injection once every 3 months in the rear end. I like the Depo shot because I do not have to worry about remembering to take a pill every day or whether or not the IUD or diaphram has slipped. To the person that said she shouldn't be having sex since her baby is only 7 weeks old, the recommended time to wait after giving birth is six weeks, so really she can have all the sex she wants.
2006-12-28 19:27:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked my OB this same question. He suggested the IUD. They insert it into your uterus at a regular office visit. (it is about the size of a quarter) He said they are about $600 and that the cost is usually covered by insurance. Sometimes it stops your period completely and is suggested to women with heavy and painful periods. It is the most effictive birth control out there (even over surgery). You can breastfeed with it and leave it in for up to 5 years. When you are ready to conceive again simply go back to your OB and he will take it out. You can conceive as if youve never been on birth control or anything. Im sure there are people that have had negative effects with the iud, but ive heard of very few horror stories. There will always be SOMEONE that wont recommend something. I will opt for the IUD.
2006-12-28 07:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how much you don't want to get pregnant.
Lea's shield, diaphrams, and cervical caps are great methods of birth control, however they are less effective once you have had a baby. These are used in combination with spermicide. You can also use spermicide on it's own, or the sponge which also acts as a barrier in addition to the spermicide.
There are also projesterone only birth control pills which are not thought to decrease supply. However they must be taken at the same time each day and are not as effective as regular birth control pills.
There are always condoms.
I, personally, am using the withdrawal method. It is 80-90% effective (if you follow the rules, see the link below). We are planning to have other children so it isn't the end of the world if this method fails. We have used this method before and it works fairly well. Personally I kind of hate missing out on the last 30 seconds of sex, but it doesn't require any advanced planning or locating of birth control devices. *lol*
http://www.peelregion.ca/health/hsexual/htmfiles/bcwdrawl.htm#3
2006-12-28 04:12:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The "mini-pill" will not affect your milk supply or cause weight gain... the one I use is a generic brand called Camille. BUT you have to take it at the same time every day - if you take it late, it counts as a missed pill, and you have to use an "alternate form" of birth control (like a condom) for a week.
As soon as you are breastfeeding only 2 times a day, you need to switch back to a regular pill, as the mini-pill does not provide as much protection.
2006-12-28 04:37:43 · answer #5 · answered by baby_savvy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Condoms are best. The mini pill works well, but you really need your milk to be well established and it could decrease your milk. The people who say that breastfeeding is birth control are WRONG. A lot of the time you will not ovulate when you are nursing, but you CAN. I know several people who have become pregnant while breastfeeding so DO NOT depend on that to prevent pregnancy.
2006-12-28 04:11:23 · answer #6 · answered by kat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, as long as you are cleared by your doctor, I think you can sex whenever you feel comfortable having it. Breastfeeding will delay the return of your fertility, but people have widely varying experiences with this, so it is not a completely reliable method for preventing pregnancy. If you are set on not having another baby and you have concerns about taking hormones (the pill), you could learn any of the natural family planning methods like symptothermal or Billings or Creighton, etc., though it can be difficult to learn these methods while nursing. You could also use barrier methods or avoid vaginal sex.
2006-12-28 04:12:05 · answer #7 · answered by Mary S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My doctor said that the best birth control right now is condoms, however, I believe there is a mini pill you can get. I don't know what it's called, but it has a low dose of estrogen so it shouldn't affect your milk supply too much.
I believe some people get the Mirena IUD and that doesn't affect the supply much either.
I think your best bet right now is condoms if you don't want to affect your supply while you're nursing.
Good luck.
2006-12-28 04:05:36 · answer #8 · answered by braks_gurl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't want another baby right away, you can try an iud. awesome birth control, and it won't affect your supply. check out mirena.com for more info. It's good for five years, but you can take it out anytime, if you dont like it or want to have another baby.
There are progesterone only pills for breastfeeding moms. Did your midwife not tell you this?
I don't know about the patch or the nuva ring, but by all means, ask. I know the depo shot can decrease supply.
2006-12-28 04:17:42 · answer #9 · answered by trivial 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My firend was given a progesterone birth control pill, that is just for breast feeding mothers. The bad thing about it is that it made her get her period back, and it's been very irregular. Also it's not as effective as the estrogen pills. I suggest using alternative methods of birth control, such as condoms. I didn't get my period back for 12 months and enjoyed the lack of a period.
2006-12-28 04:09:40 · answer #10 · answered by Melissa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are pills your doctor can perscribe to you. They have to be safe for breastfeeding. I was on something called Errin. I didnt gain weight. BY the Way... your weight will fluxuate anyway... YOU JUST HAD A BABY!
2006-12-28 04:26:51 · answer #11 · answered by Brown Eyed Girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋