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| First Time Moms |
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| Ever since a couple of months after my daughter was born, the only birth control I have taken are progestin only pills (POPs), because she was exclusively breastfed. Over the past couple of months, she has weaned herself, and now has not nursed for a few weeks. I am horrible about taking pills and am interested in changing forms of birth control. I have heard of and read about various forms but was wondering what other people thought of them. We do not plan on getting pregnant again until next summer, so I need something for about a year. My other question is, is it okay to switch birth controls as soon as you stop nursing or is it necessary to wait a certain period, like until your milk dries completely? I plan on calling my gynecologist for an appt soon. I just wanted a bit more information before doing so. |
| Posted by Lauren on 06/12/2008 02:53 PM
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| I tried to breastfeed but I wasn't producing enough But my dr prescribed me a bc pills at my first dr appt from coming home. I really don't think that there is a waiting period, but you might want to be real careful for about a month or 2 after starting new pills for the new pills to take affect but I'm sure you already knew that |
| posted by Amers on 06/12/2008 03:01 PM
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| I think you should look into something like Mirena. It's an IUD for women who have had a child already, but want birth control. I didn't think there were as many repurcussions to the baby because it isn't swallowed. I have heard that you tend to have light bleeding for weeks, but then it usually clears up and you don't get a period after that. It's what my doctor recommended. I haven't done it because I couldn't stand the thought of more light bleeding! It's good for 5 years, but can be removed at any time by the doctor if you want kids. |
| posted by Jen on 06/12/2008 03:27 PM
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| My friend has an implant, she got it after her last baby was born, the baby is 8 mos and I don't think she got it until 6 weeks maybe, she didnt nurse her, but she said there is bleeding with it the first several months, not a lot just where you have to have a liner but I think she said it is good for a year. |
| posted by amy on 06/12/2008 03:27 PM
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| Ask your doctor about the shot. I forget what it is called. It's a birth control shot that you get once every few months. Some women don't even have a period while they are on it. I tried it about seven years ago and I didn't like it myself, but one of my friends tried it and was on it for about two years until she and her husband decided to have a baby. She liked it very much, didn't have any problems and didn't have a period until she stopped getting the injections. I was on the pill until I got pregnant and when I had my boys by c-section I had my tubes tied:) Have a great weekend!! |
| posted by Gina on 06/12/2008 07:01 PM
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| Before my daughter and up until we decided to get pregnant this time I used the Nuva Ring and loved it. It was easy and you don't have to remember a pill, get a shot or implant. It is a flexible ring that you place in your vagina and leave for three weeks then remove for one week and have you period. It may sound hard to do but it really is not and once it is in you don't feel it at all. Also, when you decide to try and get pregnant again it is like the pill and is out of you system fast. I know with the shot and implant it takes longer to get pregnant after stopping. My sister in law used Mirena IUD and she has liked it so far. I guess it depends on if you want something you have to use monthly or long term, just remember with the shot you have to see a doctor every 3 months for the shot, with the implant you have to have it removed by a doctor and with the IUD you also have to have it removed by a doctor. Good luck with deciding. |
| posted by Heather on 06/12/2008 09:37 PM
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I had this conversation with my dr recently. I was on the pill for a few years, but was sick all the time. I finally stopped taking it figuring it was the hormones in the pills. After having my son, I moved and so started seeing a new ob/gyn. At my first appt we talked about bc. She suggested the Mirena IUD first, because it works well, you don't have to remember the pill, and there is not as much of a chance of hormone problems. However, she told me that it would probably not be a great idea if I was planning to try to start getting pregnant within the next year or so. I did do the shot for 3 months about 4 years ago. I hated it. The shot part was fine, but I had a period that lasted 3 months(the entire time I was on the shot). This, of course, does not happen all the time. My mom, in fact, does the shot and has had no problem at all with it. I would recommen diiscussing all your options with your dr and then making the choice that best works for you.
In regards to the waiting till your milk dries up, I'm pretty sure there would be no wait. It would not really make sense to have to wait, since your baby is no longer getting that milk. The only issue with that, I think, would be the possibility of the hormones from something like the pill or anything else that uses hormones, interacting with your boby and preventing the milk from drying up as fast. And that may not be the case at all, so I would recommend asking the dr if other forms of bc will have an effect on your milk drying up. And btw, it can take months for your milk to dry up. It has been a year since I nursed my son and up until about 2 months ago, I still had milk come out(a very small amount and only if I squeezed it out-sorry if tmi). I have heard of women leaking milk for years after having kids though. I know one woman who's youngest is 4 and she still has some milk left, but it only comes out if forced. I did not know that could happen till seeing a breast specialist for a related plugged milk duct(which happened 6 months after I stopped nursing). It's strange the way our bodies work sometimes. |
| posted by Casey on 06/12/2008 10:26 PM
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Since you are planning on getting pregnant in a year and you sound concerned about the hormones I would go natural. My husband and I have been using Natural Family Planning. We used it for 5 years before we decided to get pregnant. My sister, who is a biologist and does not want kids, does it too because if done correctly is 98% effective and there are no hormones, or pills, or foreign objects placed in the body.
two web sites if interested.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/contraceptive/126.html
http://www.bygpub.com/natural/natural-family-planning.htm |
| posted by DB on 06/13/2008 07:41 AM
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| The only thing I can suggest from personal experienc if you are wanting more children soon is do not go on Depo. I was on it for 5 years and when we were ready to try it took 1 1/2 years to get pregnant and get the chemicals out of my system. I am horrible about daily pills too and that is why I went on this at the time. I too am not breastfeeding and doing the POP's and it is hard to remember. |
| posted by Nichole on 06/13/2008 04:07 PM
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| Why not use a diaphragm and spermicide? This way you're not adding synthetic hormones to your system and you're preventing pregnancy. I am a physician, and one of my areas of intense interest is hormones. Have any of you ever looked up the deliterious effects of synthetic estrogen and progestin? They both do a lot of nasty stuff. Additionally, besides the time when you are pregnant and menopausal, you are supposed to have a period monthly. So the IUD's that cause prolonged bleeding and then no periods for a while do not complement the natural rhythms of the female physiology. If anyone is interested, I can give more info on this subject. The pill and female contraception has been around for so long that physicians usually don't blink before prescribing (and I'm not saying you all have bad doctors). Just some food for thought. |
| posted by Allison on 06/23/2008 12:15 AM
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If you read the pamphlet with pills, it does say not to start or stop or switch without consulting your gynecologist...so, I'd continue to take these pills and then make your appointment so that you can begin a new type of b.c. on your next cycle.
I switched to a different kind of blended pill in order to help me a new onset of migraines I had since my son's birth. But, I'm unsure about the nursing question. I hope you have it all sorted out to your liking soon. |
| posted by Kelly on 06/25/2008 02:20 PM
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