Help Breastfeeding and contraception

[Issey]

Hi,
I am hoping someone can give me some advice as my doctor put me on the minipill but I just keep forgetting to take it the same time each day so I am terrified of falling pregnant when I have a 9week old:eek: . I asked her about the Depot Provera/Ralovera injection and the doctor wouldn't give it to me:( . I am thinking of seeing another doctor at a women's health centre to get it. It says in the govt health book it is okay to have it with breastfeeding but small amounts are excreted into breast milk, has anyone had it and breastfed? I just don't want to get pregnant and am not sure of the likelhood of it happening when breastfeeding. Any advice would be appreciated.

[drewid]

Hi there

I have no idea about the injection thingy, but I would suggest seeing someone to get the low-down on it and finding out whether it is right for you or not.

If you can't remember to take the pill everyday, just be sure to use condoms! Two if you have to! You can never be too careful...

[Goosie22]

You should be able to access the Depo provera if you want it. However you asked about the likelyhood of becoming pregnant while breastfeeding, Below are some links that outline a form of natural family planning/contraceptive called L.A.M. It is very very effective if you are exclusivley Breastfeeding and have not had your period return. I have used this method myself.

http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/lam.html#anchor763089

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html

[lovemybub]

Breastfeeding is generally a pretty good contraceptive if you are exclusively breastfeeding, but it's not 100% safe.

I, too, am on the mini pill, just to be safe, as my DD goes longer than 4 hours without a feed at night. My Obstetrician said that once you have gaps of more than 4 hours between any feeds the effectiveness of breastfeeding as a contraceptive diminishes.

Not sure about the injection thiny - needles aren't my thing :eek:

If you are exclusively breastfeeding you would be unlucky to fall pregnant, but I would use a condom to be on the safe side.

[jarrahsmumma]

You may not be able to have Depo or implanon while BF as they may contain the same hormones ad the full pill. You would have to chase it up... It would more than likely effect your supply.

[Goosie22]

Depo-Provera is not given to pregnant women. If an unexpected pregnancy occurs 1 to 2 months after a Depo-Provera injection, the baby is more likely to have a low birth weight or other health problems; birth defects are possible if you use the drug during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Children born to women who were taking Depo-Provera show no signs of poor health or development. Because Depo-Provera does not prevent the breasts from producing milk, it can be used by women who are breastfeeding. However, to minimize the amount of Depo-Provera that is passed to the infant during the first weeks of life, the drug is not given until 6 weeks after childbirth. Studies show Depo-Provera is not harmful to the infant then or later in life.

Quote is taken from this link
http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/dep1126.htm

IMO there are much better contraceptive available, but if you have had success with Depo and are happy to have it again there absouletly no reason why you shouldn't be able to have it.

[misskittyfantastico]

I was on the Depo injections and then implanon before I was pregnant as I suffer from high blood pressure and cant take the pill safely. I've been on the mini-pill since DDs birth (she's BF) and also forget to take it so am having the implanon reinserted soon. My ob/gyn said that depo/implanon and the mini-pill have the homone in them and are all safe to take while breastfeeding.:)

[RachWA]

After my DS I went on the mini-pill it worked but did cause me to have a period every 2 weeks. Dr said it is strong enough to stop pregnancy but not always strong enough to control cycle. It is also hard to know that this wasn't caused by BF (until 9 months) and I wouldn't have been ovulating again anyway. (Better to be safe).

I chose not to go get impalon or depo as dr advised it reduce fertility for longer time then the pill and we knew we wanted to start again when DS was one. I am thinking about contraception again now and considering impalon on depo as not even sure we will have another baby. (Once decided husband is getting the snip).

Also put of impalon and depo as a few friends have mentioned a sudden loss of libido (hard enough after baby as it is) and spotting througout cycle.

[mum24]

Implanon ( rod inserted into your arm ) is the same as the mini-pill and the beauty is it lasts for three years so you don't have to " remember " to take it every day. I've done the research - had to because 1: I "smell " semen and I'm pregnant even when breastfeeding and 2: cannot take the full pill as the ingredients are to high and I've had a letts and cone biopsy. Implanon is also fine to have whilst breastfeeding.