Breastfeeding & contraception?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35687
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Topic: Breastfeeding & contraception?
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Subject: Breastfeeding & contraception?
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 2:06pm
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What contraceptives are safe while breastfeeding?
What did you use once baby arrived? I am cautious about going back on the pill because it completely kills my libido. The mini-pill had me bleeding on and off for the entire time I took it so that's not an option. Seeing my doctor next week but thought I'd do some research first  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 2:27pm
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I'm on the minipill. I bled on and off for the first 3 months but then it settled down and I've not had AF since.
You can use depo or iud while BF. The normal pill is not suitable for BF. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 2:35pm
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thanks, will look into depo - if anyone has used it, did it affect your libido or weight? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 3:10pm
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Depo at 6 weeks and couldn't wait for it to wear off. Weight gain = nope, nothing and I think BFing helped keep it at bay. Libido definitely dropped and I was dry as. Ummm I found it affected my moods, I felt so down and angry all the time but as soon as it wore off libido came back and moods improved.
I also bled for 2 weeks straight about a week after the injection. But nothing since. My friend went on it and bled for the whole 3 months. I am now on the mini pill/condoms and have no problems with it, no bleeding or anything which doctor said commonly happens. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 3:17pm
Shoot, that doesn't sound good Nicole!  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: notenufchaos
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 3:50pm
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i have an IUD love it no hormones to worry about if i didnt like it i could get it removed straight away, and it lasts for five years (the type i get anyways) ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 1-25/05/2008 DD 2-2/2/2010 |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 4:12pm
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Yeah with depo you can't undo it if you suddenly don't like it.
Plus if you're planning to have more babies I've been told (but suppose this is like any contraception really) that it can take a few days to a few years to fall pregnant. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 4:17pm
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I hadn't had children when I was on the Depo injection, but I personally wouldn't touch the stuff now with a ten foot barge pole. I was on it for two years I think, and when I decided to come off it took a year and a half for my period to come back at all and when it did it was extremely irregular (and still is). I gained about 20kg or thereabouts, it wasn't sudden but slow and steady - it was more like my cravings and interest in food ramped up until I was eating a *lot*. Took a lot of hard work to get it off too. I tried the mini pill after that, but have issues with remembering to take it, so condoms it is (or abstinence ROFL). ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 4:36pm
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Lmao I have troubles remembering the mini pill too sometimes, luckily our woopsies haven't led to anything!
MIL was on depo and surprised that I was going on it before I got the shot but MW highly recommended it and dp loved the idea of not having to worry and prayed like mad I wouldn't get vaginal dryness. He hated my mood swings though. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 4:55pm
We just used BF and charting I wasn't prepared to put anything into my body while I was BF (actually I never use 'artificial' contraception anyway IYKWIM). If you know your cycle and you BF very often, it works a treat. Not so flash if you have irregular cycles and/or dont BF on demand so much.  -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 5:09pm
My cycle is anything from 12 - 56 days so no luck with that one! I doubt we'd ever be able to get pregnant accidentally but don't want to push my luck. DH will get the snip at some stage but I'd rather hold that off until we are 100% sure we're done ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Emmecat wrote:Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 5:20pm
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I haven't used depo since having kids but was on it for a couple of years when I was younger. I didn't have any major issues in terms of libido or mood swings but I did gain about 15kgs while I was on it which I've never managed to lose (not that I've tried particularly hard mind you. And the 2 years was 19-21 so may just have been lifestyle changes going to uni!!)
In between babies we stuck to condoms for contraception. I hate taking the pill, I'm rubbish at it and of course I couldn't take it while BF anyway. DH and I don't find condoms that much of a hassle, it's easier than worrying about the pill or anything and I suppose we also weren't particularly fussed about a potential oopsy either ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 5:59pm
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Condoms here too... I am thinking about getting and IUD this time though... -------------   
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 6:08pm
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I have an IUD, a plain old copper one. I have not had AF back yet, and no bleeding once it was put in. Great thing is you can get it removed and start trying straight away, and no horrible drugs in your system, or leave it in for the 5 years. It takes about 5-10mins to put in, and well worth it. Go to a family planning clinic rather than a GP as they put them in all the time ------------- 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 September 2010 at 9:38pm
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I would love to have done charting, we BF on demand here BUT dp said no. I know my cycle very well I've always been so regular down to the half hour! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 11 September 2010 at 8:52pm
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Ive found my cycle since having DD irregular, had one (very light 2 day) AF at 2 months, but then nothing!! Been charting since before then (more out of interest than anything, no action here!) and havnt oved yet, was wanting to just BF and chart before having number 2 but kinda need to prevent a bit more than that, esp as AF isnt regular yet.
I have 3 months of the mini pill sitting there, and condoms, but we havnt needed them yet! (one day!) Oh and Azza, have another!! Do it! DO IT!!  ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 11 September 2010 at 9:37pm
Not having sex for the first 6 months after baby is born works well.  And *then * charting cos your cycle will have probably settled down a bit by then....and if not another few months of abstinence is guarenteed to work ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 11 September 2010 at 10:10pm
Hi, I had the copper IUD and it was ok, although in hindsight I don't think I even ovulated while BFing (didn't get AF back till 8 months and then got it every 8-12 days for the next 5months  ) But once DD stopped BFing at 13months my cycle settled down so it was probably more to do with BFing than the IUD. Although my periods were a lot heavier with the IUD in. I'd have 2-3days of spotting, then bleed for 6 days, another day or two of spotting. After getting it taken out in June, my periods were only 3 days and no days of spotting!
That's probably no help sorry. Not sure what we'll do for contraception after this baby - not really keen on getting the IUD again as didn't enjoy all the bleeding! And can't use condoms as for some reason, since having DD they make me really sore  ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 11 September 2010 at 10:12pm
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depo made me put on weight and turned me into a psycho. i refuse to let someone shove something up my vjj and im way too hopeless for the pill. i also had heaps of problems with TTC after depo too. i have an implant and LOVE it. its subsidised now and costs less than $50 all up for all the prep, implant etc... it lasts up to 5 years but stops working the second it is taken out and you dont need to do anything at all. my first AF was quite heavy but then sweet as and i feel great and have no side effects at all. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. lol ------------- 
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 12 September 2010 at 9:16am
an implant? where can I find out more? I don't think I've ever heard of this before! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 12 September 2010 at 2:35pm
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have a look at this. ring family planning and they will give you an appt to see if this is the best option and if it is then they'll make you a follow up appt to get it put in.
here is a http://www.familyplanning.org.nz/News/LatestNews/tabid/357/EntryId/63/Family-Planning-welcomes-contraceptive-funding.aspx - link that will help -------------
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Posted By: Mum_mum
Date Posted: 12 September 2010 at 2:53pm
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Good to hear the implant is working well Monikah! might look at that for next time.
We have just been doing good ol condoms here. I tried the minipill for 2 weeks but got spotting the whole time, forgot to take it so it just wasnt worth it really. Depo i would NEVER touch again. Took 4 months for me to get pregnant afterwards it wore off so not ages but i was spotting alot and really iregular while it was wearing off and then miscarried. (not saying it was the depo tho there are thoughts that a number of women do miscarry after comin off depo) Anyway AF is so frinkin irregular at the moment (have had one and now on day 50 waiting for the next )------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
Angel baby - May 2008
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 12 September 2010 at 3:03pm
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My plan is the implant. I like that it can be easily removed and the effects immediately disappear if you have any complications or change your mind. And it's now fully subsidised (or will be very soon) so that's all good. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: snugglebug
Date Posted: 12 September 2010 at 5:45pm
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I haven't had my baby yet so Im not the best to comment in that way but once I do it will be condoms all the way nothing else.
Reason being because I was on the pill for 6 years and when I came off it, it took me about 6 months to get a period and another year and a half to become regular, and even then 'regular' was a 40 day cycle and so it took a long time to get pregnant. I had a normal cycle before that so I do think that the pill had some hand in it, and Ive been tested for everything and didn't have fertility problems causing the long cycle. So yeah if Id known the pill was going to stuff me up like that I'd never have taken it and I want more babies so I'm just going to go down the condoms road. ------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Iceland
Date Posted: 21 September 2010 at 1:37pm
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hi,
yep. also keen to hear about the implant...sound great. I had depo for about year and 3 months and while i was breastfeeding it was fine, no periods but occasional headache but not too bad. once i stopped brestfeeding i guess the change of hormanal levels player role and i was bleeding like 3 weeks each months and put on weight. i couldnt wait for the 3 months for the depo to wear off and it was a realief to be off it. I think that hard part with depo is if it doesnt work for you, then you have to bear the side effects for 3 months. |
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 21 September 2010 at 1:41pm
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I've looked at the options and think I'll be going with an IUD.
Now just to decide between Mirena and copper-T. Discussing with GP on thurs. I like the no hormones idea of the copper-T but am anaemic and bleed heavily so may not be a good choice for me. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 21 September 2010 at 2:30pm
excellent idea. i was just going to post my views on Depo.. i would strongly recommend against it. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 21 September 2010 at 5:59pm
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i have finally clicked that depo made me gain 5kg in 3 months and i've had my mirena IUD since may 31st and have gained about 5kg since then.
so if progesterone (mini pills) makes you gain weight then a mirena may not be an option. as much as i love the lack of AF(i usually get one lasting 11days every 28days and super heavy) and since may i've got my 2nd AF now and its day 3 and i havent even needed a pad, a liner is suffice. and finally my iron levels are "normal" after years of being low even while on the pill - with AF's as i described.(but they were shortened from the usual 15days off contraception)
so i will stick with the IUD and crack onto loosing weight seeing as i just weighed myself and i've cracked 100kg 
But dont let me put you off one, not everyone gains weight with an IUD *sorry thats a novel* |
Posted By: troutpout
Date Posted: 21 September 2010 at 9:28pm
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I went with the copper IUD and love it so far, though AF hasn't come back yet.
I think its great as hormone free, so when we want to try for number 2 it can be taken out and i'll be fertile straight away with no waiting round for hormones to settle. I had the implant back when I lived in the UK and HATED it. I spotted almost all the time, was never sure when I'd have a proper period it was awful. But to be fair, I was in the minority. Heaps of my friends have it and get along really well. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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