Is it possible to take birth control pills while breastfeeding?

Do you take birth control pills while breastfeeding because you cannot prevent another pregnancy? So choose a medicine that is safe for your child.

How to prevent pregnancy? The contraceptive pill is one of the most widely used family planning methods in the world by many women. However, if taking birth control pills while  breastfeeding , is it safe for the baby? Please join aFamilyToday Health to follow the following shares to understand more about this issue.

Is it safe to take birth control pills while breastfeeding?

This is the question that many people wonder. Most mothers worry that the hormones contained in birth control pills will affect their baby through breast milk. There are 2 types of hormonal birth control pills:

Progestin-only drugs (POC)

Combined birth control pills

Both types above are very effective contraception. If you are breastfeeding, POC is a wiser choice. This is because the combination drugs contain both the hormones progesterone and estrogen. While these hormones do not affect the baby, they reduce breast milk production by 41.9%. If you intend to use the combination contraceptive pill, wait until your baby is 6 months old, because the first half of the year is a time when your baby needs a lot of breast milk. Once the little angel has learned to wean, the amount of breastmilk, even if reduced, will not affect the baby much. Therefore, for 6 months after birth, you should use the POC contraceptive pill.

POC is also known as mini birth control pill. This medicine contains only small amounts of progesterone. However, its contraceptive effectiveness is also close to 100%. However, when taking the drug, you need to be careful and pay attention to take it at the right time each day. Even delaying your usage by 3-4 hours can cause problems.

Taking birth control pills while breastfeeding is effective?

Birth control pills are one of the most effective birth control methods you can use. If used correctly, this drug can be as effective as 99%.

How do progestin-only birth control pills (POC) work?

Progestin-only birth control pills help thicken cervical mucus and prevent sperm from reaching an egg. Certain POCs can also prevent ovulation.

Are there any other options besides POC drugs?

If you don't like taking pills or are forgetful, you can use other birth control pills such as:

Contraceptive Injections (Depo-Provera)

The hormonal contraceptive ring (Mirena, Skyla)

Contraceptive implantation (Implanon, Nexplanon)

Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills should only be used when absolutely necessary and you should not consider this option if you can use other methods of birth control. However, if you use a birth control pill that contains only a little progestin, it will not harm your baby.

Side effects of birth control pills

Here are 3 side effects of taking birth control pills while breastfeeding that you should be aware of:

1. The state of milk production

This is the most important side effect you may experience when using hormonal birth control pills. These drugs may decrease the amount of milk produced.

2. Irritability

Hormonal birth control pills can make your baby fussy and uncomfortable. Although there are no scientific studies to prove this, many mothers have encountered it.

3. Diabetes

If you have gestational diabetes , using POC increases your risk of type 2 diabetes within one year. So talk to your doctor before starting birth control pills.

Things to keep in mind about taking birth control pills while breastfeeding

If you want to take the birth control pill, keep the following points in mind:

Talk to your doctor for advice on which birth control method is best for you.

Be wary of combination birth control pills if you want to breastfeed your baby for the first 6 months.

Use low dose medicine but do not forget to consult an obstetrician and gynecologist.

If your milk production decreases or if your baby has weight problems, consult your doctor. Maybe this is the time when you should choose another method of contraception.

If you think that sleep deprivation and exhaustion can make the POC pills ineffective, take other remedies.

Remember that hormonal birth control pills do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases . Therefore, please use condoms to ensure safety.

Through the above sharing, hopefully you have an answer to the question of whether to take birth control pills while breastfeeding. In fact, these pills are not harmful to your baby, so you can use them with peace of mind.