Mini Pill

I had good luck with the mini pill while breastfeeding. I had a good milk supply and went off of it when I wanted to get pregnant again 14 months post partum and was pregnant right away. I was also still breastfeeding too.

I have been taking this pill since February and I have had no problems with it at all. I was advised by my OB to use an alternate form of protection for the first month, which is what I did. All in all, I have no complaints about it at all.
~J.~

Beware of the mini pill! I was nursing and on it and ended up pregnant. When I asked my ob about how could it happen, they were very lackadasical (sp?) about it and said oh yeah it isn't all that effective. That was 5 years ago so things may have changed but ask questions and read all info with it.

Good luck
C.

JB:
Congrats on your little girl! All the more reason NOT to take any pills at all. I think you can hear these other testimonials about 1. it does not protect you and 2. the most important reason is not passing your precious daughter synthetic hormones. ANYTHING you eat, drink, or put on your body goes into your bloodstream and eventually into breastmilk. I assume you are careful with what you eat, take vitamins, etc. so that your baby is healthy because she is relying on you for all her nutrition while her body, brain and organs are still developing. Much research is out about the side effects of synthetic hormones, not only for you but for your baby as well. She will have these for the rest of her life and unlike vitamins, they aren't "flushed" out of our system. Just like everyone has said, READ THE LABEL. There is a reason why the pill comes with a large piece of paper with very tiny print on it because they are required to let everyone know all the side effects. Does anyone ever really read it and take the time to see what harm it causes? Just look at the information in the packet and really read it. There are other methods that won't risk your health and especially the future health of your daughter. Remember, you are not only doing this for you, but for her as well. Best of luck to you.

I took it and as long as you are exclusively breast feeding, my doc says you are already protected and the pill is the "cherry on the ice cream"

If you are bfing around the clock, you don't have to worry too much about it. BUT for those few-in-one-hundred who breastfeed and do ovulate within the first couple months, to be safe, just use a condom for the first month. It takes one cycle of pills to be affective. Shouldn't be too hard...how many times are you really going to want to have sex with a 7-11 week old? lol...good luck!

I was on the mini pill when I was nursing. Just be very very dilligent about taking your pill at the EXACT same time EVERY day. The mini pill is not nearly as forgiving as the regular pill if you take it late, or miss a dose. Set an alarm clock or something to help you remember. I was told to use an alternate form of birth control for the first month. I was switched to OrthoTricylineLo (sp) after 4 months. I am so bad about taking it at the same time. You may want to consider that pill. I never had any problems with my milk production or anything after I switched pills.

Hi there! I honestly do not know much about the mini-pill, but i have a 4 month old daughter whom i breastfeed, and my doctor prescribed Lo-estrin b.c. pills because of the minimal amount of hormones in them...which is good, because when you are nursing, you do not want alot of "extra" hormones passing thru your milk and into your baby. They do suggest you take Lo-estrin at the same time every day, but it is forgiving if you take it a few hours off of your "normal" time. I've had no problems with it, and seem to do well being on it (No adverse side affects). It is a low estrogen pill, as the name suggests. Ask your doctor about it as an alternative pill that perhaps you can switch to, since you are breastfeeding. Good luck!

Forget what the doctor's say - do NOT take the mini-pill if you want to continue breastfeeding. A new study just released warns that the mini-pill can lower your milk supply. The docs still say it's ok but I've personally worked with dozens of women who all noticed a significant decrease within 1-2 weeks of starting the mini-pill.

I have been on it since 6 weeks post partum and my son is now 11 months. I am just finishing up my last ones and then starting a real pill since my son just stopped breastfeeding. It starts to protect you from pregnancy in 2 days I believe, read the info that comes with it, it explains it quite in depth :) I had no problems, just maybe 2 days of bleeding when I first started. I just got my first period a month ago so that was nice too! No problems or side effects noted that other people have mentioned. Just make sure to take it at the same time every day, I am not always good at that but I'm ok with it if I "accidentally" got prego again.

I know at least 2 other women who got pregnant while taking the mini pill. Be careful and ask a lot of questions.

I tried the mini pill when I was breastfeeding my son and because you have to take it at exactly the same time every day, I never felt truly protected. I could barely remember to eat a meal during the day, let alone take my birth control pill. And breastfeeding is not a form of birth control, for sure. Because continuing to breastfeed was more important to me, we just used condoms until I was done. My husband wasn't a huge fan, but knowing we wouldn't get pregnant again was a big plus. It's up to you, but the mini pill is not as trustworthy as the regular one. Good luck!

I started on the mini-pill and hated it. I never got a period during the 4 months I was on it. After I stopped pumping and feeding breast milk, I went on the regular pill and it fixed the issue.

As you can see from other responses, many people still got pregnant while breastfeeding. While it isn't all that common, it still happens and the "you won't get pregnant if you're breastfeeding" is clearly not true for everyone. If you're really concerned about not getting pregnant you can also combine the use of the mini-pill with either rhythm, withdrawal, spermicide or condoms.

It will start protecting you from pregnancy right away. But lots of women I talked to have had problems with their milk supply when they go on the pill.

If you're exclusively breastfeeding you might look into the Lactational Ammenorreah Method (LAM) of birth control - it's very effective (approx 98%) for at least the first 6 months. "Taking Charge of your Fertility" by Toni Weschler is a good how-to reference on this one. Breastfeeding IS protective (98%) against pregnancy if you follow the following rules:
1. Breastfeed on demand
2. You haven't gotten your period back yet
3. You're 6 months or less postpartum
4. Baby is not getting any food source other than breast milk (ie formula or solids)

Once any of these four rules no longer applies you need to use back-up protection.

Also, if you're not wanting to get pregnant for at least a year, you might consider a copper IUD instead of hormonal birth control.

But, if you're happy with how things are going, stick with the pill. For what it's worth, I breastfed my son on demand (except for when I was working - then I pumped until he was 13 months old) and I didn't get my period back until nearly 16 months postpartum (and actually I didn't get it back - I just got pregnant - which was great). Everyone's different, though.

Hi, just a side effect note, I lost my hair in clumps. I thought I was losing it as it was a significant hair loss. However, then I had a doctor friend tell me that it was a side effect of the mini pill. I thought once you started cycling with the pills it was protective.
T.

i TOO WOULD BE very cautious! I know several women who were on the mini pill and breastfeeding and got pregnant! Plus, just because you are breastfeeding DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN'T GET PREGNANT! I was breastfeeding my son and daughter for 13 months each and got my period after 2 months! Just be careful! Congratulation to you!

Hi J B,
I am a nurse at an OB/Gyne office. The mini pill will protect you in about 2 weeks. You MUST be very dilligent and remember to take it every day and at the exact same time. With 'regular' birth control pills you have a 12 hour window in which you can take the pill and still be protected - not so with the mini pill. If you miss one or take it even a few hours late I would recommend using a backup method of birth control and expect some spotting. Hope that helps! COngrats on the new baby!
T.