Birth control after pregnancy

[seamonster]

I'm looking for input and suggestions on birth control after pregnancy.

I'm very open to using NFP but how easy is it to chart accurately while breastfeeding?

What other options will I have while I breastfeed? I am planning on BFing for at least 6 months, but ideally would not like to get pregnant for about 14 months after I have my son.

 

[Robinsegg]

I took a low-dose progesterone-only pill. I mainly use it to regulate my cycle, as it is rather sporadic otherwise. But it worked fine, and doc. said it was perfectly safe.
Rachel

 

[Evangelina]

NFP +diaphragm, maybe?

 

[Athene]

I think NFP depends upon you having regular periods, while you're breastfeeding you may not get periods at all, it's best to use something like condoms or a diaphragm until your periods have started and then start charting temps etc for NFP. That's what DH and I are doing - my periods have only just come back and Grace is 5 months old - so we've been using condoms, and after my next period I'm going to start charting my temperature etc.

You could the book 'taking charge of your own fertility' it's got loads of great info in it.

 

[Linnis]

I'm having this problem. I really wanted to use NFP but how can one chart if they don't have periods? So right now we're thinking a barrier method either a diaphragm or cervical cap.

Then again I REALLY don't want to be pregnant again until Ethan's 2-3 at least if I can help it...which makes me think maybe a low-dose pill wouldn't be a bad choice.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

We used the mini pill after our daughter was born and it worked well. My periods didn't return until she was 14 months old and it had no affect on my supply (exclusively breastfed until 6.5 months then weaned at 25 months). This time we are using condoms as we are ethically opposed to hormonal birth control. We'd like to use NFP once my periods return.

 

[seamonster]

I've never heard of the mini pill before...what's it called?

 

[seamonster]

You could the book 'taking charge of your own fertility' it's got loads of great info in it.

I should read that. My mom has a copy I might have to borrow when I see her at Christmas

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I've never heard of the mini pill before...what's it called?

The one I used was called Micronor.

 

[seamonster]

Thanks...I will have to ask my midwife about that. I didn't realize there was a BCP you could take while breastfeeding.

I'm glad I still have 3+ months to decide. I just don't know what I wanna do

For those who have diaphrams....are they difficult to get used to using?

 

[RoseofLima]

Please check out the Billings Method website--you do not need to be having periods to chart. Really, really. The only thing to really watch for is to abstain according to the rules (it's three days) after a day of uncertainty about your fertility.

I have loved Billings Method...this current pregnancy was a result of forgetting that an antihistamine could alter my fertility signs and that we ought to abstian...

But I have really liked how easy it is, and reliable.

http://www.woomb.org/

 

[RoseofLima]

For those concerned with the abortafacient aspect of the pill--it is far more of a concern with low dose pills because there are greater incidence of breakthrough ovulation.

 

[seamonster]

RoseofLima...how is the Billings method different from Natural Family Planning? Is it more reliable?

 

[Robinsegg]

I was under the impression that a low-dose progesterone-only pill combined with full-time nursing did not have the effect of more break-through ovulation. Am I mistaken?

Rachel

 

[RoseofLima]

RoseofLima...how is the Billings method different from Natural Family Planning? Is it more reliable?

No- it is NFP--it's just one particular method of NFP. It is based on the decades of research by Drs. Billings in regards to the fertile mucous and it's relation to pregnancy. It does not require temperature taking, or internal observations. A woman identifies her basic infertile pattern (which might be dryness or might be a thincker mucous) and then bases changes in her fertility on deviations from what her 'norm' is. I have known many women with very irregular cycles who has successfully used Billings method to both achieve and postpone pregnancy.

I really like it post partum- becuase there is no way I'd be able to consistently take my temperature, I have also found it easy to use- there are only a handful of simple rules to follow in regards to abstinence. And freakishly- my aetheist husband is fully supportive of us using it....

 

[RoseofLima]

I was under the impression that a low-dose progesterone-only pill combined with full-time nursing did not have the effect of more break-through ovulation. Am I mistaken?

Rachel

There is really no way to know when break through ovulation occurs, the lower the dose of hormones- the more ovulation will occur and the baby will not be able to implant in the artifically hostile environment of the endometrium. If a woman is having periods- she can be ovulating.

Fertility returns at different times for different people- and for each different child. So the effect of the pill will really depend on when the woman's fertility returns. My fertility has returned anywhere from 4 months postpartum to 15 months postpartum....however I was always able to know that my fertility had returned and was able to identify ovulation- and each time had a period (often a very light one to begin with)within 14 days.

 

[progressivegal]

As far as I know, your options would be:

-IUD (paraguard [copper, no hormones] or mirena [progestrin only])
-Barrier, like codoms, diaphram, cervical cap, etc.
-sponge
-Progestrin only pill
-NFP (charting+temperature+mucus is the safest way, according to those I've talked to, only the people who do all three that I know of have not gotten pregnant)

 

[Savedthroughfaith]

We use NFP, but I'm checking out the Billings method. Thanks, RoseofLima!

 

[gracefaith]

Condomgirl says: You must at least try the condoms she recommends before giving up on them as form of BC. Crown Skinless Skin or Beyond Seven (both available at super clean and woman owned condomdepot.com) or, if you must buy from the grocery store, Trojan's Elexa Ultra Sensitive. Nothing else is worth buying.

As for Billings, I've ALWAYS had to pair it with temp taking (though I don't know how that is affected by bfing) b/c my CM is just not reliable.

 

[RoseofLima]

As for Billings, I've ALWAYS had to pair it with temp taking (though I don't know how that is affected by bfing) b/c my CM is just not reliable.

We were taught by a certified Billings instructor-- and I now have several friends who are Billings instructors, so I think I have an advantage, because I can get real, live help if I need it with my charts or questions.

Billings is a little different from just doing the mucoous-only observations learned through the sympto-thermal method- because it is not an internal observation. Rather it is the presence of fertile mucous on say your toilet tissue after wiping- or at the vulva. The most important factor in Billings is learning to identify your own, unique basic infertile pattern- for some women that means complete dryness, for others it means a presence of a different type of mucous.

Lined up side by side- Billings has the same effectiveness rates as sympto-thermal method. I really think as far as NFP is concerned that it is important for it to be a method which both partners feel equally comfortable iand confident in using.