When to start mini pill

[DobbyForever]

I'm pumping and having to fortify with formula because he is so small. I'm getting conflicting advice. The gyn at the hospital said start the mini pill after three weeks when my supply is established. The internet says six weeks as the hormones can upset babies under six weeks. And then my gyn said I could and should have started it immediately after delivery. I'm not sure who to listen to. I have to wait six weeks to DTD anyway because I tore, but i don't want to start too early or wait too long. So when did you start if you took the mini pill?

 

[IchigoMewMew]

I've just read the leaflet in mine it says to start between 21 and 28 days after birth, or you start later you'll need to use condoms for 7 days. In the breastfeeding section it says it doesn't affect milk production or quality, a small amount does pass into breast milk but didn't cause any issues during a clinical study. I was nearly 3 months PP when I started mine, wasn't prescribed them until after I'd had a failed coil insertion at about 10 weeks

 

[DobbyForever]

Ooooo awesome! Guess I should start soon then hehe

 

[noon_child]

I'm a breastfeeding peer supporter and we are taught that although the mini pill has often been routinely prescribed for new mums it is now thought it may well lower milk supply for some women if taken too early. A hormonal IUD is thought to have much less of an effect, but is harder to stop using if it does effect you.

This is from Kellymom " For most mothers, progestin-only forms of contraception do not cause problems with milk supply if started after the 6th-8th week postpartum and if given at normal doses. 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."

As you are currently experiencing supply issues you may want to hold off on adding any extra difficulties in to the mix BUT it is entirely up to you to weigh up how much you would resent having to use alternative contraception vs how much you don't want to risk milk supply issues. Supply isn't usually established till after 6weeks and something's takes up to 12 weeks, so I'm not sure what the three weeks the gynae was referring to was all about?!?

 

[DobbyForever]

Thanks! I'm not having supply issues, it's just that my milk doesn't have enough calories to meet his needs so when I switched to bm only he stopped gaining weight . So now he gets bm with a teaspoon of formula mixed in. I make about an oz an hour (though I pump every 2-4 pending engorgement/his feeding). Usually I get 4-5oz at 3am then every 2-3 hours after I get 1.5-2.5. Very rarely is there a day I don't have enough milk in rotation to feed him that day unless my 3am pump yields less than 4. Then I'm stressing and try to pump before he gets hungry.

I'm not against formula only as he was on neosure for the first two weeks, but I did highly prefer bm. Is it true they only need to eat bm a few times a day to get the antibodies?

When he goes to daycare, honestly he'll probably be formula at D.C. Then bm at home but that's two months from now.

I do worry about supply long run, and I worry about how much hormone he'll be getting. So I'm trying to balance holding off on the pill versus not getting pregnant again.

IUDs and my body do nooot get along. I had one for a couple months and was miserable and then when I got it out it took almost a year for my body to recover and I struggled ttc after. So no more IUDs for me