I think birth control has decresed my breast milk. I am very sad about it what can I do?

Question

I just went to the doctor for my six week postpardom check up and started bith control. I have been taking it for about 2 weeks and feel that it has dramatically decreased my breast milk supply. Should I stop taking the pill or how can I increase the supply with still having enough after pumping to feed the baby from me instead of the bottle?

Answer 1

Well the first thing to do is to assess whether your supply is really low. Between 2-3 months you generally feel "less full" and leak less. This isn't because you aren't making enough milk, it is because you are no longer making too much milk. Your body is becoming better at regulating supply and demand. Also many growth spurts happen before 6 weeks, afterwhich they may slow which means your baby needs less milk.

This explains milk supply:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html

This will help you assess if your supply is really low. Remember the only real way to know what goes in is to see what comes out (well that and weighing baby before and after each feeding). Also adequate weight gain is the usual measure of supply. Most doctors will let you drop in for a quick weight check every week if you are concerned. You won't need an appointment the nurse will do it:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

There are links to the other pages regarding increasing your supply on the page above.

You can also, of course, stop taking the birth control pill. There are other options, though admittedly they all kind of suck. (So does the pill with it's effect on milk and on mom in general). Depending on your level of desire not to have kids you may want to look into: Lactational Amenorrhea Method
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactational_Amenorrhea_Method

Which worked well for me the first 6 months. However there are rules which must be followed and LAM will not work if you are not a SAHM. Another good option is a non-hormonal IUD. Though that can cause increased menstral bleeded, which is generally increased after birth so for some women it is not an option.

Ah I see you are pumping, so probably not a SAHM, well still may be good to know for some other time in your life.

Take Care.

And the pumping links, though I am sure you would have found them ;-)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

Answer 2

I just had twin boys 3 months ago. I was on the mini pill while breastfeeding. What the OB won't tell you is that in some people even the mini pill can decrease your supply. I consulted with a lactation consultant. She suggested a pill called More Milk Plus. I took if 4 times a day for one week, and increased my milk supply from 2oz on one side to 8oz. I pumped during this time so I could actually monitor my production. I was pumping every 2 hours, so this was a huge increase.
Good luck!!

Answer 3

Did you tell your OB that you were nursing? They should have prescribed a pill known as the mini-pill.
I would call your OB, ask about switching to a pill that is safe to take will breastfeeding and one that won't reduce your milk. I wouldn't stop taking the pill because you won't be protected against pregnancy.
You can increase your supply by adding a few pumping sessions in between nursing. Your milk supply is based on supply and demand; if pump or nurse more frequently then your supply should increase but that is only if you aren't fighting against the pill.
Try eating some Oatmeal as that always gave me a nice burst of milk.

Answer 4

Birth control will definitely decrease production. I would go off the pill, there are other options however. You can take the progestin only pill or use some other form of birth control.
I went through this problem with my 14 month old twins. I took Reglan (it is a harmless drug used for all kinds of ailments, including heartburn, inflamation...) It helped me tremendously. If nothing else, you could see a lactation consultant. They are very helpful.
First and foremost, you need to drink A LOT of water. It helps! Try eating foods high in fat content. I know after having a baby it is time to think about losing weight, but eating high fat foods (ie. ice cream, full fat dairy products) while breast feeding actually helps production and also helps baby to gain weight too.
Also, lots of HOT HOT showers will increase production. You should try to feed the baby from you instead of the pump as often as possile. You will produce more with the baby.
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Okay, been there needing more milk that is. Massage your breast before during and after feeding and pumping, more oatmeal in your diet, and there is a tea taste like black licorice, or a pill that you can take. Get it at the GNC. I got all this info from the breastfeeding clinic that I visit when in need of help. Also if you are pumping be sure you are getting much need skin to skin contact with the baby. Pill is safe if the doctor new you were breastfeeding.

Answer 6

What kind of Birth control are you on? The only ones you can use when you are breastfeeding are the mini pill, depo shot or an iud, if you are on anything other than one of them then you should switch right away, the harmones in regular birth control will definantly dry up your milk suply, if you are on one of the ones that are ok for breast feeding then it may be something else causeing the decrease in milk production, but you need to talk to the babies and your doctor to find out what the problem is and how to fix it.
Also, make sure you are drinking lots of water.

Answer 7

being pregnant under no circumstances produce breast milk. birth control pills can produce that even though it is a needed area result and also you should work out the physician that counseled the pills in the recent day. which ability immediately or day after today. because you also could have a pituitary adenoma (prolactinoma), a benign tumor that produce the hormone it is stimulating the breast milk. you should bypass to the physician now, because prolactinoma is a serious ailment that maychronic to infertility if no longer dealt with. also if the pills are to blame your physician will inform you what to do.

Answer 8

after the birth of my 1st child, my doctor tried to get me back on the pill. i simply refused. we chose the more inconvenient method of condoms until i stopped nursing.

in a series, population reports, Robert Buchanan wrote, "nearly all studies report that combined oral contraceptives appeared to decrease the volume of milk produced or to shorten the duration of lactation in some women....some women using orals have produced milk containing decreased protein, fat, lactose, calcium, and phosphorus"

as far as increasing your supply is concerned: the more the baby nurses, the more milk there will be. nursing triggers milk production. simple as that. be patient it is worth the struggle to provide the very best for your child. some women find that pumping does not stimulate the reflex in the same way that your child does. i suggest increasing your supply strictly one-on-one if possible and then resume pumping once you are satisfied with your abundance. Good Luck! relish this time, it is one of the best chapters in a mother/child relationship : )

Answer 9

Birth control pills will dry your milk up. You are not suppose to breastfeed while taking the pill. There is a specfic tye of birth control pill that is just for breastfeeding mothers but I wouldn't trust it. If you are breastfeeding correctly then you will not have a period and therefore cannot become pregnant. Talk to your doctor.

Answer 10

Are you taking regular birth control pills or "minipills"?

I had good luck with minipills, and I nursed each child for more than a year.

You can also talk to a lactation consultant about fenugreek, which works for a lot of women.

But consider, too, that your baby may just be experiencing a growth spurt. He's growing like mad, so he's eating like crazy, and it's the constant eating that stimulates your body to make more.