to bf mums - what contraception do you use and how does it affect you?

[justonesherryformedicinalpurpo]

I have been prescribed the feanolla pill. I haven't been on the pill for over two years now and it just feels right and natural.

However, after having my second DD 7 weeks ago I'm not ready for a third any time soon!

I haven't taken the pill yet but I have been doing a little reading and the following are alarming me!:

• acne(I am already prone to spots)
  
• breast tenderness and breast enlargement(ouch! This could potentially make breastfeeding something I dread rather than love)
  

-an increased or decreased sex driveand mood changes(sex drive is average I guess but definitely lower than DP likes. We haven't had sex yet since DD2'S birth but I am keen to get back to having a healthy sexual relationship and I'm worried this could severely damage that + I could do without the mood changes. It can be stressful enough looking after two under two)

• irregular bleeding (after research seems a lot of women have bled constantly with variations on how much. Constant or even majority of the time.. please no!
  

Can anyone share some positive stories! Well any stories, positive or not I will really appreciate. I think there's a family planning thread so I'll post there too but wanted to share here because of the breastfeeding situation.

Thanks all!

[Beansprout30]

No advice but I'm bf and have just started on this pill, never had any problems on the pill before so I'm hoping this one will be no different!

[Highlove]

I'm planning to have a mirena coil fitted. Been told to wait till DD is 12 weeks, so another four to go. She is most definitely my last!

[Chattycat78]

I'm taking Cerelle (mini pill) I'm b feeding too and am almost 4 months post partum. I'm definitely not having any more if I can help it (baby is my second and there's only a 17 month gap between them!). I've had no problems with it so far. The biggest challenge is remembering to take it looking after 2 small people. However I set a daily reminder on my phone which seems to work for that. I've thought about the coil but I'm not sure how I feel about the possible irregular bleeding/heavy periods or no periods at all that it can cause. I'm not having periods yet anyway, but still. I also keep reading stories of people getting pregnant with the coil.

[HandbagFan]

I'm expressing rather than BF and DS is 7m old. I'm on cerelle too and no effects at all except no periods. I'd forgotten how much I love that! You have a 12 hour window to take cerelle too so it's great when you struggle to keep to a regular pattern - I take mine just as I get into bed.

They have to list all the possible symptoms on medication - it doesn't mean you will experience them all. You won't know til you start.

[applecatchers36]

Have a copper coil fitted had it fitted when baby was 3 months... No issues so far still not had a period. Also not ready for a 3rd

[Sparrowlegs248]

I was on the mini pill - Norgeston (?) while still bf ds. I am now 5 months pregnant, he's 14 months old........

[DesignedForLife]

Nottalotta - that's not a good advert!

[MrsLettuce]

I had a copper coil fitted 12 weeks after DS was born and it's been great, no hormones involved so no hormonal reactions. I tried the mini-pill (I forget which)first but it had an awful effect on my mood so came off, I'd had had tonnes of problems with the combined pill before so it was no surprise, TBH.

The copper coil really has been fab though, I BF DS for 16 months and got my period back maybe 10 months after he was born. Haven't had any issues at all, periods no different to the ones I had between DC. DS is 7 now and I'm onto my second coil, can't recommend it highly enough.

[justonesherryformedicinalpurpo]

Wow nottalotta that is crazy! You and your DH must be extremely fertile!

Second tablet tonight. I haven't noticed anything major so far but then perhaps it takes a little while.. will have to see how it goes!

[MrsLettuce]

(I just did cycle tracking between DC, so they were 'natural' periods IYSWIM. Was sure I wanted another DC so a slightly-earlier-than-planned pregnancy would have been fine)

[53rdAndBird]

Was on depo-proverbs injection, now Nexplanon implant. No issues at all, both great.

If you've ever had any side effects of hormonal contraception before, though, I'd try the mini-pill first and make sure you get on with that, because depo in particular takes a long time to get out of your system.

[Sparrowlegs248]

Yes, noy a great advert for Norgeston (if that's the correct name.....) but worth mentioning I feel! We were not incredibly fertile, took almost 2.5 yrs to conceive ds and had started fertility investigations. Yet we dtd once in the month this pregnancy occurred....

Would be interested to know what would be suitable for me next time given I'm.an oldie!