What is the best birth control for nursing moms?

Question

I just had my second child and do not wish to have anymore for at least 5 years and was considering mirena. I'm not sure what's going to decrease my milk supply or what's going to give me horrible mood swings. Any input on your own experiences would really help. Thanks.

Answer 1

Mirena is a great option for long term birth control.  The hormone levels are so low (and are almost completely localized to your uterus) that it shouldn't effect your mood or anything else.

You might also consider the mini-pill, condoms, a diaphragm, natural family planning and (for the first 6 months or until you get a period, which ever comes first) Lactational Amenhorrheah.  

Really, the only thing you CAN'T use is estrogen containing birth control (so no regular  pills, patch, or ring).  Anything else is fine, if it meets your personal needs.  

Answer 2

I have the Mirena IUD, and I love it. :)

i think it's the best choice. I went through the others, because I have migraines I cant take estrogen, so I was limited and the depo, i didnt like the side effects, and the pill wasnt effective enough for me.

Answer 3

I love my mirena iud...loveee it...and I've been nursing my son for 11 months + now and still plan on nursing a while longer. The only bad effect I had to be honest..I got terrible migraines once a month for the first few months I had it in...don't know if it was the iud or just readjusting to my body after 9 months of tough work, but I had badddd migraines...to the point where throwing up, tylenol, and sleeping on the bathroom floor was the only thing that made me feel better....a few hours of sleeping and I felt great...like I said..it was once a month for probably 6 months, but it's been a while since I've had a migraine and my IUD is still working well.

Answer 4

Condoms are the best bet if you don't want to mess with your body like pills do.

Answer 5

If you're worried about the hormones in the Mirena, look into the Paraguard IUD. It's basically the same thing as Mirena but is made from copper and is hormone free. That's what I'm getting as soon as I get my period (that's the only time they insert it). My sister had the Paraguard IUD and loved it. The only symptom she experienced was a slightly heavier period.