How to Use Birth Control While Breastfeeding?

Once you feel comfortable in your new role as a breastfeeding mom, you can also look forward to rekindling your romance. By delaying the return of your ovulation cycles, complete 24-hour breastfeeding (no water, juice, formula, solids, or other supplements for the baby) greatly decreases your risk of being pregnant again during the first six months after giving birth.

Safety concerns regarding contraceptives

Using birth control won’t harm either you or your kid while you’re breastfeeding.

Oral contraceptive pills (IUDs), arm inserts, birth control injections, and progestin-only pills are only some of the contraceptives that can be used right away after giving birth.

You shouldn’t use the pill, patch, or ring, any of which contain the hormone estrogen, for the first three weeks following the birth.

You can begin any of these approaches after three weeks have passed.

You should consult online with the best doctor through Marham – find a doctor about birth control alternatives before you give birth, but you’ll have plenty of time to determine which method is best for you after the baby is born. While healing from childbirth, most medical professionals advise new parents to abstain from sexual activity for at least six weeks.

Birth Control Options

Breastfeeding mothers have access to a variety of birth control options, all of which are safe and effective.

1. Birth Control Pills

You may have heard that taking some of these medications can reduce your milk production, making it more challenging to feed your baby. Some hormones may have such an impact, and it’s possible that many do. But obviously, not everyone does.

The two main categories of oral contraceptives are:

  • Mixture of hormones estrogen and progestin
  • Some people solely use progestin, while others use both. The “mini-pill” is a name given by some.

According to some of the best doctors, milk production may decrease if you take estrogen. If you’re breastfeeding, your doctor will likely recommend the mini-pill. There should be no impact on your ability to breastfeed.

Your doctor may wait 5 or 6 weeks before prescribing a combo tablet if they believe it will be more effective than the mini-pill.

It’s best to wait a while after giving birth before using combo tablets because they increase your risk of blood clots. Therefore, it is recommended that all mothers, including those who intend to bottle-feed, wait at least a month before starting.

2. IUDs

Consider an IUD if you wish to delay permanent birth control for a long period of time (intrauterine device). After giving birth or at a follow-up appointment 6 weeks later, your doctor can place it in your uterus. An IUD is convenient because it does not need you to take a pill every day or take any additional steps before having sexual activity.

Available in copper and progestin varieties. Both options are acceptable for breastfeeding mothers. There are no hormones in the copper IUD that could potentially reduce your ability to breastfeed. In contrast, the other has only a small amount of progestin and should not disrupt your cycle.

Your 6-week appointment is a good time to get your IUD put in. Your body may be able to expel the virus if you receive it soon after giving birth.

3. Patches, injections, and implants

Some of these hormonal contraceptive options do not impair milk production, and they last far longer than daily pills.

  • Implants. A tiny stick the size of a match can prevent pregnancy for up to three years. The medical professional inserts it subcutaneously in the upper arm. Since the progestin in this method of contraception is the sole hormone present, it will not prevent you from breastfeeding.
  • Injections. After consulting with your doctor, you may receive birth control injections every three months. Their progestin content is higher than that of implants.
  • Patches. Birth control patches are applied weekly and can be worn on the back, arm, stomach, or butt. Like combination birth control pills, the patch combines the hormones estrogen and progestin. Your doctor may have concerns about you doing so while breastfeeding. If your doctor recommends waiting, you should hold off for six weeks, until your milk production has stabilized.
  • Vaginal ring. It is inserted into the genitourinary tract and left there for three weeks at a time. Both estrogen and progestin are included in this method of contraception. Your doctor may advise against using it for the first six weeks after giving birth if you plan to breastfeed.

4. Nonhormonal Birth Control

Other forms of contraception that don’t rely on hormones are:

  • Condoms that are inserted internally, either into the vagina or the anus, to prevent pregnancy or to shield against STDs.
  • It is a device similar to a cup. It is made of soft silicone that you bend in half and put inside your vagina to cover your cervix after putting spermicide in.
  • A cervical cap is a tiny silicone cup that, once spermicide has been inserted, is placed in the vagina to cover the cervix.
  • Before sexual contact, a birth control sponge that covers your cervix is placed deep inside your vagina and contains spermicide to help prevent conception.

Conclusion

Some methods of contraception can be used immediately upon delivery. Waiting is the safest option for the others. You should consult with the best gynecologist about the options available to you immediately after giving delivery. It’s also a good idea to discuss how long to wait between breastfeeding and starting birth control.

FAQs

1. What hormone helps milk production the most?

With the drop-in estrogen and progesterone after birth, prolactin might increase and milk production can start.

2. How fast do breasts refill?

The greater the quantity of milk your kid consumes from your breasts, the more milk you will produce. Breasts, despite popular belief, are never completely empty. There is no need to wait for your breasts to refill in between feedings because milk is produced constantly before, during, and after nursing sessions.

3. Why do so many women use the oral contraceptive pill?

The pill is an effective, easy-to-use, and safe method of contraception. In addition to helping with acne and menstrual pains, it also makes periods easier to bear and makes them more regular.