The mini pill while nursing???

Suzanne - posted on 08/07/2009

I tried the mini-pill after my 6 week checkup but had to stop taking it about a month after I started. I excluslvely breastfeed my daughter but noticed a big difference in my moods as well as my milk supply. Every women is different though. And it is true, you must take it every day at the same time for effectiveness. It is not as effective as the "regular" pill

Wendy - posted on 08/06/2009

when my now 1 year old was just born i did go on the mini pill & breastfed exclusively....i didnt have any problems...i didnt think i had a huge milk supply either but mainly bc as soon as i got any milk, my some ate it all up. plus he is my second child so i knew that even though i didnt feel full, i knew that there was always milk for him. good luck w it.....ps. then when i stopped nursing i went back to the reg pill

Becky - posted on 08/06/2009

I went on the mini pill 4 weeks after I had my son and it didn't seem to make any difference in my milk supply. The mini pill just has progesterone and that is not the hormone that affects milk supply. It's the estrogen that does. My MD tried to talk me into going back on my normal birth control at 8 weeks, said my milk supply should be well established but I didn't want to risk it. So far the mini pill seems to be effective, i have even missed a day or two here and there and am not prego yet. Do you have a lactation consultant that you could see? Usually the hospital you deliver at does. They should be able to weigh your baby before and after a feed and get a good idea of how much he/she is eating at each feed. If you are worried about your supply, though, you can always start drinking the mother's milk tea a couple times a day. Also, your doctor can prescribe Reglan if you are still having problems.

Lisa - posted on 08/06/2009

Thank you ladies for your feedback, it is really helpful...

Michelle - posted on 08/06/2009

I am on Jollivette.... it has not effected my milk supply ... i tried the Nuvaring for like 1 week and I totally made my milk supply go down. My doctor told me that It may not effect me ... but it did! Try Jollivette ... it might work for you!

Lauren - posted on 08/06/2009

I took it and noticed no change. All I ever heard is you have to be very carefull about taking it at the same time everyday - for effectiveness.

Erica - posted on 08/06/2009

I've been on the mini pill since my 6wk appt and my supply has held steady (it didn't drop because of it, and I was measuring every oz my baby drank by weighing before and after). My ds is now almost 6 months old and was breastfed exclusively (except for the 2nd week when we had problems) until he started solids a few weeks ago. I also take Fenugreek 3 times a day. I started that during my 2nd week due to a problem from claritin and have kept it up ever since.



To help increase my supply after my drying up spell, I pumped after every nursing session (often only .25 oz) for ~15-20mins. Then I would give my baby the pumped milk as a supplement after I nursed the next time. It slowly increased to reasonable amounts and then I went back to just nursing (except for the pumping I do after the morning and evening sessions, I use that milk to mix with food and to keep up my supply).

Jocelyn - posted on 08/06/2009

every woman is different and i think you are probably going to have to just try it, and if it affects you, stop taking it.
i started it at my 6 week checkup, and i was also exclusively bfing. i had no problems with it at all, and bfed my son until he was 21 months (while on the mini pill the whole time).
best wishes!

Oana - posted on 08/06/2009

Hi Lisa,

I was on the mini-pill for 3 months and I've noticed a decrease in my milk supply. I am not 100% sure it's all because of the pill, since so many factors can affect the milk supply.

Here's what I've done to help increase the milk supply:

- Fenugreek - have increased number of capsules from 9 to 12 per day (4 every 8 hours; note you should not take more than 8 grams of fenugreek per day)

- Shatavari - I've started taking this, 6 capsules per day (2 every 8 hours)

- Traditional Medicines - Mother's Helper nursing tea - have started drinking 1 litre per day (4 tea bags)

- Mini-pill - have stoped taking it

- Power pumping (10 min each breast for one hour)

- Pumping more frequently - every 2-3 hours



If you have the patience, you can read through my thread

http://apps.facebook.com/circleofmoms/th...



Good luck and remember that breastfeeding takes time and effort, but you can do it!