Had my six week checkup with my OB yesterday and we were discussing my birth control options. I'm EBF so we don't know when my period is going to come back. He was suggesting mirena, but I'm worried about how it will affect my fertility after it comes out. I'm also worried about the progesterone coming through my milk. Anyone with any experience have anything to share?
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I am using progesterone only because my OB said it would not affect my milk and harm baby. My supply is still the same! I do get irregular periods though...
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I am personally very against IUDs because if the way they work. I am Personally against abortion, meaning from time of conception, and an IUD irritates uterus lining which means technically you could get pregnant every month but it will die since it can't implant. But that is obviously my personal opinion of it.
I also didn't want to risk losing the ability to breastfeed because of the hormones, so I eliminated any birth control option using hormones.Sadly that left next to nothing. So we're going the good ol condom route, which isn't my ideal birth control method but the only thing I can think of that's completely safe for breastfeeding.
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I've been using the progesterone mini pill for the past 3 months- I really like it! We want to start trying for #2 late this year, so I didn't want to commit to an IUD for such a short time. I'm EBF too, so I wanted a safe option for that- I've had no change in milk supply. I used to feel really crappy on my other pill before TTC, so I was really happy to get off of the hormones. On this pill I've felt great and have not had any weight gain as I did before. I did have a couple days of light bleeding when I first started, but nothing since.
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I was on the Mirena in between baby #1 and baby #2. Personally, I loved it! Mirena uses a much lower dose of hormones than most other birth control options because it is directly administered instead of having to go all the way through your digestive tract, like the regular pill. Because of this, most women have few to no side effects that are found with traditional hormonal options. Although I didn't breastfeed on it, my understanding is that the Mirena is pretty unlikely to affect your supply as well, because the hormone doses are so low and locally administered. I'm not sure about the issues of conception, but from my own experience, I saw absolutely no effect on my fertility. I had it in for about 10.5 months and got pregnant one month after having it removed. Maybe talk to your doctor more about your concerns, though, since everyone has a different experience.
Personally, I really liked the Mirena. We'll use condoms for a while, since we plan on TTC for #3 with a year or so, but I'll probably go back on the Mirena after that. I had a great experience with it!
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I am EBF as well and I started on the "mini-pill" (progestin-only) after my six week check-up. It hasn't affected my supply at all.
I'm planning to go on Mirena in the next couple months. If we decide to start TTC again, it won't be for a couple years, so I wanted a good longterm birth control option. From what I've read and what my ob/gyn told me, it has very few side effects and you are able to start TTC as soon as it comes out. As @Honeybee said, it's a very low dose of hormones and it's administered locally. In fact, the ob/gyn said the main "negative" side effect is that many women eventually stop getting a period while they are on it.
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@pointybird: My period completely went away about 6 months into it, which also meant my period cramps and PMS went away! It was totally awesome!
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@Honeybee: That's what I'm hoping for! I originally went on the pill because it helped SO much with cramping, etc. But I was terrible about remembering to take it every day, so I'm hoping Mirena is the answer to all my problems!
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I didn't use any birth control. Got my period back at 7 months pp despite EBF. Got pregnant with #2 12 months PP! My LOs will be 21 months apart!
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@chopsuey119: that was almost our plan- but I was too worried about the chance of giving birth twice in the same year, I'd like to take most of 2012 off!
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@lemondrop: Have you gotten your period back? I was really surprised I got mine back since my mom didn't get hers until she weaned..! Imagine my surprise when I got a BFP while still nursing my LO.
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My plan is condoms and/or spermicide. Not ready to go back on pills and definitely not interested in an IUD
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I had Mirena for exactly 6 months before I had it removed. I personally hated it. My periods would typically last 2-3 weeks each cycle. I'd just about get done with a small break and start all over again. My OB said to give it 6 months and that was all I could take before I had it removed.
I also had issues with acne and mood swings. I've been without it now for about 6 weeks and life is much better.
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Um, pulling out? Yeah I hope we don't get pregnant again before he gets snipped...
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Oh, but I should add that we didn't get pregnant with #2 until we started trying again, so pulling out worked that time around. Not that I recommend it.
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I have Mirena (got it almost 4 months pp) and it has not affected my supply and LO is exclusively breastfed. We don't plan to try for #2 until LO is 2.5 years old...and I didn't want to worry about accidentally forgetting to take the pill.
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I got mirena. I haven't had issues with my supply. But I have been bleeding more so far. But overall I like it so far.
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Thanks everyone for your feedback!! My OB is very pro mirena, I'm just super hesitant of anything that interrupts nature like making your periods stop altogether. He also said it could take up to 1 year for my cycles to regulate after it comes out. Makes me lean toward condoms for now..... Urge, this sucks!
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Mirena, love not having to take a pill and calling in a refill every month. Also like no period or having to think about birth control for 5yrs!
No problems for me. I've never had problems on birth control pills though.
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@chopsuey119: no period yet at 4 months pp, but I know plenty of people who have gotten pregnant while nursing. We figure whenever #2 happens we are ready, but I'd like to give Cam most of his first year without me throwing up all the time, so I'll probably use the pills for 3 more months just in case!
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I had Mirena before getting pregnant and will be getting it again asap after LO is born. I had mirena in for several years and my periods went away completely which frankly, was awesome. My periods returned like clockwork as soon as I got it taken it, and it had no effect on fertility. There's nothing to remember to take, or do. You just live your life like normal, but don't have to worry about getting pregnant until you are ready. My OB personally also uses Mirena and said it's fine to have in while breast feeding because it doesn't have estrogen in it.
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I took the minipill starting at about 6 weeks postpartum. I just switched to Seasonique since I'm not breastfeeding anymore.
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