Contraceptives and breastfeeding?

[Bobojangles]

Can I ask for your experiences of different contraceptives and breastfeeding? Trying to decide what to go for, I've got a 6 week old baby and hope to feed him until he's 2. We might then like to try for another baby. I was always on Yasmin pre kids but that's not an option now. I've what's bad things about the mini pill and not sure if imanga etc are a good idea if wanting another baby

Combined is considered ok after 6 weeks now. Mini pill, injection, coil are all considered compatible with bf. The good thing with the pill is that you can stop it quickly if it didn't agree with you.

P.s. I used the mini pill for several years and it worked fine for me (No periods but I wasn't breastfeeding too)

We used condoms to 6mo and then I had a mirena coil fitted. BF both DDs until they were 2, no problems. My GP doesn't like to fit a coil before 6mo in order to allow for everything to recover a bit post-birth - but then we weren't having that much sex so it wasn't too inconvenient using condoms on the occasions we did!

I had the copper coil fitted six weeks after I had my DD, its non-hormonal so it doesn't affect breastfeeding in any way. Plus it doesn't affect fertility either so when you're ready for another child you just have to have it removed and you're good to go.

I always just used condoms (but I didn't get on with the pill)

Now DS is 2 I'm using the contraceptive app but that only really works if you're periods are back to normal and you ovulate regularly (Its only 92% effective though so I think its more for people where a baby would be inconvenient rather than a disaster)

I was on the minipill immediately before conceiving and started taking it again the day I got home from hospital and will do the same this time.

At 6 weeks though you should be fine on any contraception.

I've had an IUD after both pregnancies. Best practice these days is to insert it no earlier than 12 weeks PP so I used condoms until then. I'm pretty sure I'm not fertile until my babies start really doing solids at 8/9 months but taking no chances. I adore the coil personally.

Combined pill is not suitable with breastfeeding, the oestrogen inhibits lactation.

Zebraantelopegiraffe tht used to be the case but they've recently changed that guidance so that it is is fine once feeding is established. It's up to mum to decide if she thinks feeding is established though.