TTMA Combination BC

[madamewaffles]

Hi all, I've got a 5 month old son who EBF and gets pumped milk 2 days a week while I work in-office. I'm weighing options for birth control and I'm getting conflicting information. Prior to TTC and pregnancy I was on a low dose combination BCP and loved it. I'd tried an IUD and mini pill previously but I didn't care for the side effects. I'd like to do the combination pill again, but my research tells me estrogen can mess with my supply, while my OB is also telling me that it won't affect my supply once it's been established ~ 6 months PP. My supply is pretty good, I am pumping exactly what my son eats on days he's taking bottles. I really don't want to mess with success, but I also do better physically on the pill with PCOS. What say ye, Breastfeeding?

[emmyg65]

Try the pill and if you notice a supply dip, you can stop and look into other options.

[vvvvvfee]

my OB said not to take the combination pill while BFing- only the mini-pill.

see here: kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/birthcontrol/
and here- www.parents.com/parenting/relationships/postpartum-birth-control/birth-control-while-breastfeeding/

the general recommendation is to avoid estrogen while BFing. but you have to weigh your own personal pros and cons.

[melody330]

I was also advised by my midwife not to take a combo pill. The mini pill is what she suggested.

But like PP suggested, if you want to try the combo you can always stop if you see a decrease in supply.

[bluefairy5]

FWIW, I did really well on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo as far as PCOS control (so well that I didn't even know I had it, heh), and am having a great experience with the mini-pill NoraBE. From my research, the active hormone in various mini-pills can vary (as in the various combo pills) so you may respond better to a different mini-pill than you were on previously. There is some research showing that some of the progesterone mimics are more androgenic than others, so perhaps this is part of it (in re: PCOS and SEs).