Mini-pill / Menstruation / Milk supply..??

[cosmic]

hmmm... well I started on the mini-pill a bit over a month ago and within a couple of weeks my period started even though I am breastfeeding my 3mth old baby around the clock (and I mean around the clock!!).

Then I discovered she's not gaining weight and it seems my milk supply has dropped dramatically! :(

I've stopped taking the mini-pill now (after bleeding for almost 2 weeks straight :banghead: ) but I'm wondering did anyone else experience anything like this?

ie. Did the mini-pill bring on your period? And did your period affect your milk supply?

[InSaneOne]

i wasn't on the mini pill but i had a depovera injection. i had it when bubs was 4 months. i bled for nearly 2 months straight (just enough to need to use a thick panty liner) and my milk supply was fine but the quality of the milk dropped. i had lots of foremilk but very little hindmilk - i was no longer filling her up. i stopped bf at 6 months and switched to fromula and she was a different baby. i do believe it was the birth control. if you can i would just use condoms until you stop breastfeeding.

[Rainbowbrite]

I've been on the mini-pill since MJ was about 2 months old, been feeding 24/7 up till about 2 months ago & been bleeding every 2 weeks from the start :banghead: I now hear its a common side effect. Havent had supply problems though so sorry but cant help with that one :hugs:

[Goosie22]

Hi,
Breastfeeders might be interested in L.A.M (http://www.waba.org.my/specialpages/lam/lam.htm). its a non drug way of making breastfeeding work as a contraceptive force naturally. Its promoted as a child spacing tool for 3rd world contries and by the Catholic church for natural family planning methods. If used as suggested along with natural signs of returning fertility it can be very effective.

[MamaSage]

What Goosie said. Many women have terrible issues with the supposedly side effect free mini pill, but at the ned of the day, it is a hormone in your body when it should not be, so of course some women may have some side effects from it. My advice would be to stop taking it and use condoms when you have to. LAM will keep you reasonably safe if you watch your cycle as well, but being on the pill disguises your body's natural signs.

[kerrin]

I got my first period when DD was only 11 weeks old. I started on the mini-pill and like you I instantly noticed a huge drop in supply. One night I had to defrost some expressed milk as DD was that hungry. I stopped taking the pill and fed her a few more times a day to build my supply back up.

Around this time she also got very fussy when she was feeding - I have been told that when you get your period your milk changes taste and a lot of babies refuse it.

[tanni_83]

I was precribed the mini-pill the day i left hossy after having elise. I have been on it her whole life and she is still amost totally breastfed (she doesnt like eating :rolleyes: ) I am yet to get my period back as yet and my milk supply is enough to keep her going still now at 15mths old....so i guess its differnt for everyone.

hth tanni :hugs:

[blueeyes]

Thank you for the information.
I have just got my first period after 7mths of feeding (was in denial that I was ever going to get them agin - just wishful thinking:banghead: ) and dont know what to do. I was given the mini pill by my gyno but so far havent used it. Not a big fan of condoms at all, or anything else for that matter (am unable to have anything with large amounts of hormones as I suffer from major migraines) so I might look at the LAM info. Thanks Goosie.
I'd like to say I could refrain from 'doing it' but thats impractical for us:laughing:
I was unaware of the bleeding side of it - I only bleed for a couple of days and then it is over so I could not cope with the extended bleeding.
Hope it gets better cosmic.

[xkwzit]

Hi Cosmic
I started the mini pill at around 4 months after DDs and did not notice a drop of supply or it bringing on periods. Both times I started menstruating again a few months after starting the mini pill.

HTH

[Miaow]

I started the minipill 6 weeks after having EJ and so far I havent had a real period apart from a real light few days that I wouldnt even consider one about 4months. I havent noticed a drop in milk supply from it

[cosmic]

hmmm... well that is all very interesting. I guess it affects everyone in different ways. Anyway I have stopped taking it now. I did originally think it could be from stress, or it could be just that Annabelle has always been a really short, snacky feeder and maybe she wasn't feeding long enough to keep my supply up. I tend to think my supply has always been on the low side.

But anyhoo.. then it occurred to me that the problem seemed to coincide with starting on the mini-pill/getting my period and I read somewhere (Babylove??) that the mini-pill can affect supply and also the taste I think so I thought I'd come here and see if anyone else had the same problem.

Hopefully the Motilium will start working and I'm back on the Fenugreek as well (can't hurt right?) and maybe soon my baby will start giving me some decent sleep again. :D