WBW: Birth Control and Breastfeeding

[Maribeth]

This month, we're focusing on World Breastfeeding Week . . .

For breastfeeding moms, when did you start using birth control after delivery and what kind are you using?

Share your thoughts with us and we'll archive for the birth control and breastfeeding cubbies.

Thanks for your feedback!

[ink-stained mom]

My OB put me on Micronor (actually a generic form of it called Jolivette) six weeks after delivery.

Still on it. No problems with supply. I still haven't gotten AF back (which is FINE with me ) but don't know whether it's because of the pills or that DD is still night nursing.

Used it with DS till about 18 months (was AF free for 17), when we started TTC DD.

For those inclined toward hormonal methods, I'd heartily recommend the mini-pill.

[KimberlyAnn]

6 weeks after having ds, I went on the mini-pill. I was on that for about 2 months and got so sick of having AF every 2 weeks that I asked to try something else. I then went on the combination pill. Sometimes it can cause a decrease in supply but I didn't notice a change and ds was always in the 90-95% for weight and height until he was about 6 months old and then started dropping off.
3 weeks after having dd, I went on depo provera. They say to wait until 6 weeks post-partum but at 3 weeks, I was ready for intercourse again. I didn't notice that it affected breastfeeding at all but I had spotting for the first 3 months I was on it which was kind of irritating but after I got my 2nd injection, I stopped. I was on it for 9 months and it took me 6 months after my "wear off" date to get AF back.
My favorite method of birth control is the pill. I don't think it messed me up quite like the depo did. I can remember to take my pill every day also so that's not a big deal to me!

[mommy999]

Yep, mini-pill here too at 6 weeks post partum. No problems. No period yet either.

[Maribeth]

bump for this year's WBW!

[Tami C]

I went on the Nuva Ring at my 6-week checkup. I was on it for about 4 months and was so angry and miserable all the time, I just stopped using it. Within a week of being off it I felt back to normal again. It was like having raging PMS for 4 months straight. I know that I am one of those rare cases, but I hated it. Loved the convenience, hated the side effects.

Since then we just use condoms. Tried and true, no hormonal effects. My cycles came back by the second month after delivery every time I had a baby, so we had to plan for it or we'd be planning another blessed event!

[Melanie]

After ds was born, I received the depo shots with the understanding that they would not affect my supply as much as the pill, but I was wrong. It was devastating to my already weak supply and took months to recover from. With dd, we mostly used NFP as I didn't want to battle the supply issues again.

[ElizabethN]

I have a copper IUD, placed at my 6 week checkup.

[Juju]

After I had Cameron I was on Micronor for a few months, but the research I did indicated that taking it at exactly the same time every day was really crucial, and that you should use a backup form of birth control during your most fertile time of the month anyway. So I figured, what's the point?

[Gemela]

Used NFP. I was told that all BCPs (except for the mini-pill) were passed through breast milk and therefore, discouraged so I didn't use anything except for NFP.