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With DS1 I went on it around 6 weeks and stayed on it while nursing -- until around 4.5 months. We still P&P though as it is not the most effective form of birth control, even when nursing. I spotted the first week while on it.

With DS2 I started it at 6w post partum and it caused me to have a period a week later, then 3 weeks later. So I gave up and ditched it and we P&P. But I still ended up pregnant at 9 months post partum on a CD5 (yes, you read that correctly) failure to pull out.

I think after this next baby is born, I'll get Mirena until my husband is ready for a vasectomy.

@snowjewelz: It's supposedly effective IF taken at the same time every day and IF your baby nurses X amount. I forgot that I went on the mini pill this summer for 3 months while we were preventing following our loss (I didn't want to take true hormonal BCP since my hormones were all over the place). I bled like 14 days out of each month....so, I'm definitely NOT a fan of the mini pill. I think there can be a fair amount of spotting on Mirena initially though.

I was on it postpartum with both children, starting around 6 weeks. The first time I had no problems, my period came back at 9 months. I stayed on it the whole time between pregnancies, because it was working fine, and I would be okay if I got pregnant. I got pregnant the first month after going of off it.

After my second child, I got my period back at 6 months, and after that it was frequent/irregular. I went off the minipill and used condoms until I weaned. Since then I have gotten back on a regular pill, and I have had problems with breakthrough bleeding, which I never had before. So, maybe my body just likes to bleed now? I have regular cycles while not on birth control though.

I was on it while nursing both kids and liked it just fine. No issues and didn't get my period back until around ~9 months with LO1 (after stopping taking the mini pill) and 11 months with LO2 (also after stopping taking the mini pill). Worked great!

@snowjewelz: I stopped at 6 months after Xander because I wanted to get pregnant again. I didn't end up getting my period until 9.5 months though and didn't get pregnant until we had weaned down to once a day. After Logan, I stopped because I wanted to go on the Mirena. I continued to nurse him for about another month until he self-weaned.

Also, the first time I was on the mini pill, I was told that it was only effective while I was primarily nursing and wouldn't be as effective once my LO was eating more solids. But the second time I was on the mini pill, no one told me that, and the information pamphlet seemed to imply that as long as you took it consistently at the same time, it would be just as effective as other pills, regardless of nursing or not.

@snowjewelz: Yeah, I'd definitely double-check and maybe read your pamphlet to see what it says! Maybe different brands have different effectiveness or something. No clue!

Prior to DS, I was on the mini-pill for about 1.5 years without any pregnancy scares -- did not use p&p simultaneously. This was before I had a child so I was not nursing or anything. I was militant about taking it at the same time of day, every day - just set a cell phone alarm for a time I knew I'd be home, before I went to bed. I went off of it to TTC and had no issues. I didn't use it in between kids -- got a Mirena instead -- but I wouldn't hesitate to use it in the future if needed. I did, however, really like my Mirena too and had no negative side effects, so I may just not be particularly sensitive to the side effects of various forms of birth control.

I went on it after my first child and it made my supply tank so badly that I stopped taking it. I didn't even risk it after my second child. I am in the minority though with this, so for most women it doesn't affect their supply at all.

I've been on it about 9 years since the regular pill was making my bp spike. No issues here. I get my period regularly but will occasionally skip a month (very rare) but a side effect of the pill.
Only thing I've noticed is that if I forget a pill or two, I may have a little spotting for a day or so.