Birth control pills are one of the contraceptives chosen by breastfeeding mothers. So, are progestin birth control pills for breastfeeding mothers safe for the womb and breast milk production, Mother?
Planning to have children really needs to be planned carefully. For new mothers in particular, don’t get pregnant without planning after giving birth, which ends up causing complications. For this reason, the use of birth control is an important effort to control pregnancy.
Among the various birth control devices that are widely available on the market, progestin birth control pills for breastfeeding mothers are one of the ones that many breastfeeding mothers choose. Apart from its trusted effectiveness, breastfeeding mothers also feel safer and more comfortable even though they have to take pills regularly.
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The problem is, many breastfeeding mothers are worried that the use of progestin birth control pills will affect their breast milk production. So, it is not uncommon for them to refuse to use it again or not use birth control at all because of these concerns.
Progestin birth control pills for breastfeeding mothers
According to the opinion of 20 international experts in the field of reproductive endocrinology and family planning service delivery, they agree that progestin birth control pills can be used safely and effectively during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding mothers also do not need to switch to other contraceptive methods or other types of pills.
However, if a breastfeeding woman wants to switch to combined oral contraceptives while still breastfeeding, she is allowed to do so after six months after giving birth, as quoted from the Science Direct page.
Talking about contraception itself, the lactation process can actually be a natural birth control for at least 6 months, especially for those who exclusively breastfeed their babies. After 6 months, breastfeeding mothers need a reliable method of contraception. The first choice usually falls on non-hormonal contraception, such as IUDs, spermicides and sterilization.
Some women want hormonal methods because they are convenient and effective. Methods that only contain progestin are the preferred hormonal contraceptives because they are safe for both mother and baby. These medications include progestin-only pills, implants, and injections.
How progestin birth control works
The method used by the progestin method to prevent pregnancy is to thicken the cervical mucus, thin the uterine lining, and sometimes suppress ovulation. Lactation experts so far do not agree on when breastfeeding mothers should start using methods that contain only progestin.
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) says that breastfeeding mothers can start using progestin birth control as early as 6 weeks after giving birth. Another specialist group states that women can wait up to 4 months after giving birth. A study in Argentina revealed that there was no danger to the baby if the mother started using a progestin-only method 1 week after delivery, as quoted from the Pubmed.ncbi page.
Does progestin birth control affect breast milk content?
A Swedish study showed no detectable progestin in the blood of babies whose mothers took progestin-only pills. Using birth control that only contains progestin does not reduce breast milk production and can even increase it.
DMPA can affect the concentration of lactose, calories, and nitrogen in breast milk. However, these changes should not be a problem in areas where women receive adequate nutrition. Further research is needed regarding DMPA levels and breast milk components in populations with less than ideal nutritional levels. Progestins do not appear to cause harmful effects in the long term.
According to a review on the La Leche League International page, progestin-only contraception is preferred for breastfeeding women if hormonal methods are their choice. Most breastfeeding mothers also do not experience any problems with breast milk supply when using progestin-only contraception when started after 6-8 weeks postpartum.
However, there have been reports that some women experienced problems with breast milk supply when using progestin-only contraceptive methods. Further research is needed to prove this, Mother.
Progestin form of birth control
Regarding progestin-only contraception itself, it is actually available in several different forms, including the following:
Progestin-only pills Progestin injections Progestin implants, Progestin releasing IUDs, and others.
A number of these progestin-only methods are designed to provide doses that continue to have an effect for months and in the case of implants and IUDs, even years.
Therefore, you may want to try the effects of progestin-only pills before trying methods that have long-term effects. If you find that your breast milk supply is affected, you should immediately stop using contraception.
It should be remembered that progestin-only pills are considered safe, including for breastfeeding mothers. However, you can consult a doctor first to get further information and also get directions on which contraceptives are safe and suitable for you to use.
Hopefully the information helps, Mother.
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(rap/rap)