Best birth control while breast feeding

Making the decision Another pregnancy may be the last thing a woman has on her mind after she has had her baby and is caring for her newborn. Once sexual activity has resumed, couples should think about their birth control options if they want to prevent another pregnancy from occurring. After childbirth, most doctors will recommend that a woman visits her doctor within 6 weeks to ensure that all is well. The doctor will also ask about family planning issues and birth control preferences. Many couples do not wait 6 weeks to re-establish sexual relations, and women are still able to become pregnant even when breast-feeding.

Not all mothers who take contraceptives containing estrogen experience lower milk supply, but many do. It is only recommended to use contraceptives containing estrogen with caution, particularly those mothers who have had challenges with their milk supply. Progestin-only contraceptives Progestin—only contraceptives are preferred for breastfeeding if a hormonal method is desired or needed. However, there are a number of anecdotal reports that some women experience issues with their milk supply when using progestin-only methods of contraception. Because of this you might want to trial the effects of progestin-only pills before trying a method with a long lasting effect — if you find your supply is affected you can simply stop taking the pills.

Find the full coverage here. After a woman gives birth, having another baby might be the last thing on her mind. Some nursing moms believe they can successfully prevent pregnancy simply by continuing to nurse their babies.

Birth Control and Breastfeeding By Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC Most methods of contraception that women use are not considered to be harmful to their breastfed children, but some forms of contraceptives can be very harmful to milk supply. Combination contraceptives Combination contraceptives contain both progesterone and estrogen and come in several different forms:. Not all mothers who take contraceptives containing estrogen will experience a low milk supply, but these unaffected mothers appear to be a very small minority. However, there are many reports most anecdotal but nevertheless worth paying attention to that some women do experience supply problems with these pills, so if you choose this method you still need to proceed with some caution.