What birth control can i take while breastfeeding

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Birth Control. Home Breastfeeding Info Birth Control. Examples include: Contraceptive pill, including combination and progesterone only Contraceptive implants, injections and patches Hormonal IUD coil Vaginal ring Combination contraceptives Combination contraceptives contain both progestin the synthetic version of progesterone and estrogen and come in a number of forms, including: Combined oral contraceptive pill Combination transdermal skin patch Combination contraceptive vaginal ring Contraceptives which contain estrogen have been linked to reduced milk supply and early cessation of breastfeeding even when started after milk supply is well established and baby is older.

Progestin-only contraceptives Progestin — only contraceptives are preferred for breastfeeding if a hormonal method is desired or needed. Milk supply issues You may notice a drop in your milk supply after starting to take hormonal birth control pills particularly those containing estrogen. Effects on baby A small amount of the synthetic hormones in contraceptives will enter your milk, there is no evidence that this is dangerous to your baby.

Lactational Amenorrhea Method LAM The return to fertility is individual for each mother and it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. Is my baby fully or nearly fully breastfed, and breastfeeding frequently both day and night?

Have I had no vaginal bleeding not even spotting since six weeks after my baby was born? References Goulding Alison N. It depends on the type of birth control a woman is using.

Will hormonal birth control harm the baby? Breastfeeding as a form of birth control is one of the oldest contraceptive methods in existence. It can work, but it not the most effective method at preventing pregnancy, and it must be done a certain way. For women who have recently given birth and are nursing, breastfeeding is one of the most fatiguing and stressful periods of motherhood.

It can be challenging to keep track of birth control methods that require significant human intervention. Breastfeeding as birth control can only work if a woman is able to breastfeed her infant exclusively. Even then, it will only work for up to six months. When women exclusively breastfeed their infant, the hormones that are used to produce milk can suppress ovulation. Exclusive breastfeeding means a woman is nursing her infant at least every four hours per day, and at least every six hours at night, and the baby is only drinking breast milk and not formula.

Exclusive breastfeeding and not supplementing with formula is the should prevent ovulation, and therefore, pregnancy. Breastfeeding as a form of birth control is also referred to as the lactational amenorrhea method or LAM. However, with perfect use, LAM only works for up to six months. By six months, babies are starting to eat solid foods and need less breast milk to thrive. Introducing formula will lower the effectiveness rate. Using a breast pump also reduces the effectiveness rate.

If you answer no to all 3, then you can do LAM. Having unprotected sex during this period puts you at high-risk of becoming pregnant while you are still caring for an infant. For it to work, you must feed your baby at least every four hours during the day, every six hours at night, and offer no supplement. This means that your baby eats nothing besides your milk. You probably will not know if you ovulate, so there is the danger of getting pregnant when breastfeeding.

You may want to avoid birth control that contains the hormone estrogen. Estrogen has been linked to lowered milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. That said, there are still plenty of options available for both preventing pregnancy and protecting you against sexually transmitted infections STIs.

Keep reading to learn more. Intrauterine devices IUDs are more than 99 percent effective, making them the most effective birth control on the market. There are two different types of IUDs available, hormonal and non-hormonal. Both are available by prescription only.

Hormonal IUDs contain progestin, which is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. The hormone thickens your cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching your uterus. A healthcare provider inserts a plastic T-shaped device into your uterus to prevent fertilization. Because a foreign object is inserted, your risk of infection is greater. An IUD is not a good choice for women who have multiple sexual partners.

Hormonal IUDs may also make your periods lighter. Some women may stop experiencing periods entirely. Paragard is the only non-hormonal IUD available. Paragard uses a small amount of copper to interfere with sperm movement.

This can prevent egg fertilization and implantation. Paragard provides up to 10 years of protection. However, this IUD may not be for you if you normally have a heavy period or experience strong cramping. Many women who use the copper IUD report longer, heavier periods. Many doctors want to wait until you heal and stop immediate postpartum bleeding in two to six weeks. Otherwise, the IUD may become dislodged if placed too soon and your risk of infection is greater.

Side effects include cramping after insertion, irregular or heavy bleeding, and spotting between periods. These side effects usually ease within the first six months of insertion. If you decide you would like to get pregnant again, you can have your IUD removed and start trying right away.

Learn more about IUDs ». Traditional birth control pills contain a mixture of the hormones estrogen and progestin. Some women may experience a reduced milk supply, and consequently a shorter duration of breastfeeding, when using combination pills. The pill is typically only available by prescription, but may be found over the counter OTC in some states.

You may experience spotting or irregular bleeding while your body adjusts. Like with many other progestin-containing contraceptives, you can start taking the mini-pill between six and eight weeks after you deliver your baby. You may have the best success with this birth control method if you remember to take the pill every day and at the same time each day to keep your hormone levels steady.

While on the mini-pill, you may experience anything from headaches and irregular bleeding to a reduced sex drive and ovarian cysts. If you decide you want to get pregnant again after taking the pill, speak with your doctor. For some women, fertility may return immediately after stopping the pill or it may take a few months to return. Many moms notice their milk supply decreases with any hormonal birth control.

To overcome that, breastfeed more often and pump after feeding for the first few weeks on the mini-pill. If your breastmilk supply continues to drop, call a lactation consultant for advice on increasing your supply again. Learn more about oral contraception ». As the name implies, a barrier method blocks sperm from entering the uterus and fertilizing the egg. There are a variety of options available and all are OTC. The best part?