Breastfeeding and Birth Control
When you’re talking about breastfeeding and birth control, two areas of concern come up: Using breastfeeding as a natural birth control method and other (synthetic) birth control methods and their safety while breastfeeding. We’ll discuss both of those issues here.
Breastfeeding as a birth control method
If you don’t want to become pregnant soon after giving birth, you can rely on breastfeeding delay your fertility for at least six months if the following requirements are met:
- Baby is breastfeeding on demand
- No supplemental bottles of formula, juice or water
- No pacifiers
- No solid foods
(To that list some would add that mom is napping once a day with baby.)
Researchers have calculated that breastfeeding prevents more pregnancies worldwide than all other birth control methods, combined!
Some mothers will find that their periods to do not return for the entire time they are nursing. Others will have periods several months after their baby’s birth but these will be anovulatory – a period without ovulation. So, mom is still not able to conceive.
If you don’t want to rely on breastfeeding’s natural birth control effect, then you need to know:
What birth control methods are safe while nursing?
Generally speaking, the barrier methods of contraception (condoms, female condoms, cervical cap, diaphragm, sponge etc) and natural family planning are the safest birth control methods when you’re breastfeeding.
The low dose hormonal birth control pills (the “mini” pill), Depo Provera and devices (such as the IUD and “ring”) are also safe. Doctors typically do not like to prescribe the high dose birth control pill to a nursing mother because of possible safety issues to the baby.
Be prepared for a potential drop in milk supply after using hormonal birth control. Doctors are often ignorant of this effect. Since hormonal birth control tricks your body into believing it’s pregnant (so you won’t ovulate), and pregnant women find that their milk supply drops, it makes sense.
It may be best to use a barrier method of birth control until your baby is eating solid foods and therefore is a little less dependent on your milk for their nutritional needs.
You can talk to a La Leche League leader (or search their website) or lactation consultant for more information about the specific issues involved with birth control while breastfeeding.
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