Question about breastfeeding and trying not to get pregnant, any advice?

Question

I have always used birth control pills with my husband for years and I didn't get pregnant until we planned my recent pregnancy. I have never relied on condoms for birth control.

After our baby is born I plan to breastfeed, and I do not want to take birth control pills because we plan to have our children 2 to 2.5 years apart. I want nothing to affect my milk or fertility.

I am worried that condoms may fail and I will get pregnant too soon after the baby is born. What advice do you have for a breastfeeding mom trying to avoid another pregnancy? Did you plan to breastfeed and not go on the pill? How did it work out for you?

Abstinence for 2 to 2.5 years? I am married and have been for quite some time, I don't think my husband and I would want to avoid sex for years. Thanks for your advice though! :/

Answer 1

Talk to your doctor about the Mirena IUD..........I have it and love it. It is good for 5 years but you can have it taken out when ever you want to get pregnant.

Good luck with your choice.

Answer 2

You are so right not to take the pill while breastfeeding. How long do you plan to breastfeed? My first child nursed for 6 months. The others were only able to nurse for 2 and 3 months before I lost my milk. My advice is not have sex until you are through breastfeeding and then continue to wait until after you have your first normal period. The reason I say this.... I didn't have periods as long as I was breastfeeding, which is common. I know this sounds hard, but you will need to make a decision as to whether you want to take your chances with a condom, which by the way is 95% fool proof. Or, practice abstinence, which is 100% fool proof. Good luck to you and hubby. And, BTW... Congratulations on the addition to you little family.

ADDITION:
I have read some of the answers on here and you have had plenty of warning against depending on breastfeeding as a solution to not getting pregnant. This is absolutely TRUE. Take their advice on this. I can tell you from experience that this idea of birth control is a total myth. My first two children are 15 months apart because I thought I couldn't get pregnant while breastfeeding and was double sure I couldn't since I was not having my periods while breastfeeding. HA... was I surprised when I went to the Dr. for my 6 month check up. I just had to put my 2 cents worth in and back up everyone who has given you this advice.

Answer 3

I used a diaphragm while I was nursing, then went on the pill for a little while before having my second child. I got pregnant fairly easily (I was pregnant within 6 months of quitting the pill) and my kids were born 2-1/2 years apart.

If I were you I would discuss it with my doctor and ask him what all the options are. Ob/gyn doctors deal with this all the time and they know all the options.

Breastfeeding alone is not effective birth control. While it may reduce the likelihood a little bit plenty of women get pregnant while they are still nursing. To increase your odds you'll want to use some sort of birth control. We found the diaphragm less problematic than condoms, but it's really a choice to be made between yourselves with your doctor's advice.

Answer 4

You cannot rely solely on breastfeeding to act as an effective contraceptive, condoms are fine, but accidents do happen.
Inbetween pregnancies, whilst still breastfeeding I was always advised to go on the mini pill, it is an effective contraceptive, doesn't affect your breastfeeding, and is easy enough to stop taking when your baby gets to about a year old so you can start trying for another baby.
Having said that, the one time I did take the mini pill, as soon as I stopped breastfeeding I fell pregnant (still taking religiously every morning!)
If you have a look at mymonthlycycles.com, you will be able to see when your most fertile times are, and simply avoid those times, using condoms the rest of the time, you should be pretty safe.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Well good for you for breastfeeding! I am currently on the fence about when to have a second child, so congrats on being able to make up your mind on that too.

As you know hormonal birth control isn't great when nursing. However, depending on how much you do not want to get pregnant sooner than planned the following methods are safe and effective, particularly if you combine more than one.

Lactational Amenorrhea Method - ONLY works if you are a SAHM who doesn't pump. There are other rules, check it out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactational_Amenorrhea_Method

It is about 98% effective for the first 6 months BUT ONLY IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES. (So sick of people saying it didn't work when really they just assumed that any breastfeeding was good enough).



Withdrawal; 80-90% effective (and some studies shown 96% effectiveness generally among non-teens) again. If you follow the rules.
http://www.peelregion.ca/health/hsexual/htmfiles/bcwdrawl.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coitus_interruptus#Effectiveness

Fertility Awareness:
The effectiveness depends on how regular you are and what way(s) you use to predict ovulation. Not necessarily the best on its own but it increases the effectiveness of withdrawal.




Other methods that use spermicides (including spermicide, foam, cervical caps and diaphrams) generally have to be inserted about 15 min before sex. Which isn't very easy when you are a parent. Also cervical caps/diaphrams are less effective after you have a baby.

IUDs (non hormonal ones) which are harder to find these days may be an option though they tend to increase menstral bleeding, as does having a baby. Also they scare me. But it is an option and really I have no basis for my fear.

That's about it. Condoms I am sure you are aware of.

One more thing, though I have NO information about whether it really works. Neem as a male birth control pill:
http://www.sisterzeus.com/neem.html

Answer 6

Dont depend on breastfeeding to prevent pregnancy.

I understand you dont want to chance the pill. I tried it for 3 months after my first adn hated it also had milk problems with him. I'd advise condoms or spemicidal gels or insert (inserts were our choice)
Condoms are a nusiance, and nonoxyl or other type gels/inserts are slippery and kinda wierd. However, they are temporary and you dont need 100% protection.

Why do I advise them, two of my children a little over a year apart. That after I had two work 4 years for each of the first two! Breastfeeding isn't much of a prevention,I also had another friend in the same situation hers are only 53 wks apart.

Answer 7

There are some safe birth control pills to use while breastfeeding. I did not take them, but my sister did. I got an IUD. This can be removed before you want to concieve, becuase it has no hormones, you don't have to wait to get pregnant. I have blood clot issues and I am allergic to latex, so I couldn't use much of anything. After my youngest was born I decided I needed my tubes tied. Like you I didn't want to worry about a pregnancy when it was not planned. Most women do not menstrate durring breastfeeding, which is a bonus! But you can still get pregnant. Talk with your doctor, and see what he/she has to offer.

Answer 8

Hmmm...that's a dilemma all right...
Breastfeeding may make your menses irregular, so you can't really use rhythm method. Please DO NOT believe the myth that you cannot get pregnant while breastfeeding, because my years as a WIC nutritionist proved otherwise.

There are numerous barrier methods of BC, but each has it's drawbacks. My best suggestion is to experiment with different kinds of sensual and sexual touching but to avoid intercourse until you are ready to be pregnant again. If your husband feels the same way you do about spacing, he should be willing to cooperate with you on this. You may choose to look at it as a special time of getting to know each other better than ever.

Answer 9

I got my first period w/ #1 at 7 months and didn't have another one as a breastfeeding mommy. I have two that are 16 months apart and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's difficult at first for mommy, but it's really great for them and it makes it easier for you as they get older and have a playmate. If she is sleeping through the night, it's a good indication that you may begin ovulating soon. Obviously a good indication is if you are having your period.

Answer 10

When you can't get pregnant, and things look good from the outside, it can be extremely frustrating.
The first thing to consider is how long have you been trying. About 80% of couples will get pregnant after six months of trying, and about 90% will be pregnant after 12 months of trying to get pregnant. Anyway this is a great methid to get pregnant fast https://tr.im/a276e

Answer 11

I was breastfeeding AND on the pill when I got pregnant. My dauhgter was 12 months.
Breastfeeding is not reliable as a form of contraception after 6months or the introduction of solids.
Maybe you could get a coil fitted or use a timing or pull out method,
Nothing is foolproof though.