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Expert Q&A
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| By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn. | ||
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I am confused about birth control methods. I am breastfeeding my 10-week-old. The "mini pill" has been offered. I am concerned about my breast milk drying up and hormones in my milk. Will they affect my baby? Please advise. Is LAM OK until she is 6 months? I am feeding her every 3 hours. HELP!
You aren't alone in being confused about birth control methods while breastfeeding! LAM (Lactational Amenorrhea Method) can be up to 98 percent effective for the first 6 months, as long as the following are true:
- Your menses have not returned (no vaginal bleeding after the 56th day after birth), AND
- You are not supplementing regularly nor going longer than 4 hours between feedings during the day or longer than 6 hours between feedings at night, AND
- Your baby is younger than 6 months old.
As soon as any of these changes, your risk of becoming pregnant increases.
As for the mini-pill, these are usually progestin-only pills (they do not contain estrogen). These are generally considered safe once your milk supply is well established (usually by 6 weeks). La Leche League International's Breastfeeding Answer Book contains this comment:
"Progestin-only methods of contraception are considered compatible with breastfeeding, but are the second choice for nursing mothers because small amounts of the hormones pass into the mother's milk, and there may be slight changes in the composition of the milk and the mother's milk supply." (p.363)
Barrier methods would be another option for you to consider as well.
Related Expert Q&A
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- Will the "mini-pill" affect my milk supply or my baby? Is LAM OK to use until my baby is 6 months old?
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