Birthcontrol and Breastfeeding Posted: 02-28-08 21:48pm
Hey everyone.
I gave birth to my daughter Emma in
November and at my six week post natal
check up, the doctor said he would not
prescribe ANY birth control method until
Emma turned at least 8 months of age
because I breastfeed. My fiance and I have
been sexually active again and have been
using condoms. there are no PPs, or
clinics near me since I live about 30
minutes away from everywhere and I don't
have a car....What should I do for BC? Is
my doctor stupid or does BC (mainly the
pill) affect my milk in any way?
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Verizon-y
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Posted: 02-28-08 22:03pm
Q
Is it safe to take the birth control pill
while breastfeeding?
A
Oral contraceptives containing estrogen
are not recommended for the nursing
mother. And many health care providers are
concerned that all hormone combinations
that suppress ovulation may have short-
and long-term adverse effects on
breastfeeding infants because small
amounts of hormones do appear in
breastmilk. The pills containing estrogen
also can significantly reduce your milk
supply.
I'm surprised your doctor didn't mention
any alternative contraception methods when
you asked for the pill and he said no. I
guess barrier methods would be safest
because they aren't ingested. Condoms,
IUD without hormones, etc.
Last edited by Verizon-y on 02-28-08 22:05pm; edited 1 time in total
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prettygirlygirl
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 213
Posted: 02-28-08 22:04pm
You need to get on the mini pill. It
doesn't have all the same hormones as
regular BC (forgive me, I can't quite
remember but I THINK it's progesterone
only... I'm sure someone will correct me
though) but it's certainly better than
nothing.
Don't let your doctor tell you that you
don't need BC because you're breastfeeding
exclusively. Many a woman has ended up
finding out she's pregnant at the 2 month
well baby check after beleiving that BF
was perfect birth control.
With a baby that small I'd be making BC a
top priority. The regular pill is off
limits, but there's IUD,
Spericide+condoms, the sponge+condoms or
good old abstinence.
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Lilly Ivy
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Posted: 02-29-08 04:46am
Breast Feeding is NOT a birth control
method!!
I'm not exactly sure if BC pills affect
the milk, but I definitely won't be on
them. Condoms work just as well.
Your doctor saying he won't PRESCRIBE any
BC means he doesn't want you on hormones.
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Saragirl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 41 Location: , Canada
Posted: 02-29-08 12:44pm
i know breast feeding isnt a BC method,
thats why i wanted everyone's advice....i
think my doctor is an fool....he didnt
even examine me at ANY checkup i went to
for me or Emma....which is stupid. is
there any major known risk to having an
implant or whatever for birth control?
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Ingi
Moderator
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8907 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
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Posted: 02-29-08 13:01pm
Saragirl
wrote:
i know breast feeding isnt a
BC method, thats why i wanted everyone's
advice....i think my doctor is an
fool....he didnt even examine me at ANY
checkup i went to for me or Emma....which
is stupid. is there any major known risk
to having an implant or whatever for birth
control?
You can take the mini-pill while breast
feeding. Call and make a birth control
appointment with your doctor.
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Verizon-y
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Posted: 02-29-08 13:08pm
Ingi
wrote:
Saragirl
wrote:
i know breast feeding isnt a
BC method, thats why i wanted everyone's
advice....i think my doctor is an
fool....he didnt even examine me at ANY
checkup i went to for me or Emma....which
is stupid. is there any major known risk
to having an implant or whatever for birth
control?
You can take the mini-pill while breast
feeding. Call and make a birth control
appointment with your
doctor.
But her doctor already refused to do this.
Maybe she needs a new one?
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Ingi
Moderator
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8907 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
Thanks: 172
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Posted: 02-29-08 13:33pm
futureshock
wrote:
Ingi
wrote:
Saragirl
wrote:
i know breast feeding isnt a
BC method, thats why i wanted everyone's
advice....i think my doctor is an
fool....he didnt even examine me at ANY
checkup i went to for me or Emma....which
is stupid. is there any major known risk
to having an implant or whatever for birth
control?
You can take the mini-pill while breast
feeding. Call and make a birth control
appointment with your
doctor.
But her doctor already refused to do this.
Maybe she needs a new
one?
As patients, we are responsible for our
own care. I think, if she went in to see
her doctor armed with knowledge, he would
give her the prescription for birth
control.
I'm really unsure why he said he'd wait
until the baby is 8 months old... that
seems like asking for another pregnancy.
If a patient WANTS birth control, they can
get it.
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prettygirlygirl
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 213
Posted: 02-29-08 16:42pm
Wow Saragirl, it sounds like it's time for
another doctor. I'd be sorely tempted to
call your doctor and give him a peice of
my mind if I were you. I mean, what if you
weren't as intelligent and educated as
your are, took his word instead of
questioning and wound up pregnant again?
That would be awful, I wonder how many
other people he's spreading misinformatino
to.
When you sayimplat do you mean the
norplant (that's the one in the arm
right?) or an IUD? Some IUD's are not
hormonal, are easy insert (especially
after you havea child) and carry very
little risk. I beleive the only real risks
are expulsion and a tiny chance of a
perforated uterus and infection.
I'm pretty ignorant about the arm implant,
but if it's hormonal BC it's probably not
great for breastfeeding moms.
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prettygirlygirl
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 213
Posted: 02-29-08 16:46pm
Saragirl, is there any way you can call a
nurse hotline and discuss your options?
Also, have you seen this website?
ratemds.com? It might be handy when
choosing a new doctor. You may also want
to write a little something about your
current doctor.
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Saragirl
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 41 Location: , Canada
Posted: 03-06-08 08:25am
ill check that site out...thanks. im going
crazy i think lol. i think my doctor is
new, but that doesn't excuse his behaviour
i don't think. he should know his patients
come first.
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jessamyn
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Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 4107 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: 03-06-08 10:25am
Definitly check out the "mini pill" its
perscribed to most breastfeeding mothers,
although some mothers do risk the chance
and take regular BC while breastfeeding it
is highly not reccomended. However the
mini pill is! Ask about it as well!
