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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To question my gp's advice and ask mumsnet?

79 replies

MrsVidic · 22/09/2011 18:29

Hi I usually always take gps advice and respect their training etc. However yesterday my dd2 had her 6 week check. Contraception came up in the appointment- I explained where I do want more children I want a gap of minimum 3 yrs before ttc.
Now her advice was as you are bfeeding exclusively you won't need to use anything until she is weaned.
Now dd2 sleeps for up to 8 hrs in a row some nights and was concieved very easily.
Is bfeeding reliable contraception?

OP posts:
Fatshionista · 22/09/2011 21:06

Your GP is worryingly wrong.

The Mirena is safe during breastfeeding.

grubbalo · 22/09/2011 21:15

Well with both my DS's, I exclusively breastfed, and they were both terrible sleepers so this included feeding regularly through the night. I was dismayed when my periods returned after 2-3 months - I had really hoped that delayed periods was going to be another advantage (to me) of breastfeeding!

As someone else said, you could get pregnant without even having ever had a period - I'm very glad I didn't rely on advice like you have been given or else the 21 month age gap between our sons could have been even shorter!

plupervert · 22/09/2011 21:19

My GP also made a big point of warning me to use contraception. I hadn't even known vreastfeeding was considered a contraception in some quarters!

Anyway, that was at an 8-week appointment (for me) which was at least six months too early to be too late, as it took rather a while for sex to start again... Angry

KittyWalker · 22/09/2011 21:20

WOW! Can't believe this advice! Shock

crystalglasses · 22/09/2011 21:23

I conceived my second dc when still breast feeding my first (six months after giving birth).

kirsty75005 · 22/09/2011 21:29

A friend's mother had 8 children in 8 years. All of them EBF till at least 6 months old. You do the maths...

banana87 · 22/09/2011 21:31

RUBBISH!!!!

Even my HV said (when DD was 2 weeks) that we needed to use contraception before/when we became sexually active again.

Your GP is talking crap.

naturalbaby · 22/09/2011 21:47

i know a gp who said the text book advice is as your gp said but i have conceived twice while ebf. my periods returned after 3 months after all my babies, when they started sleeping longer than 4hrs overnight but still ebf.

Rebecca41 · 22/09/2011 21:58

I'm a GP and that advice is totally wrong. Breatfeeding can reduce your chances of conceiving but it's certainly not an effective contraceptive. Worryingly wrong advice.

WhereYouLeftIt · 22/09/2011 22:00

"Now her advice was as you are bfeeding exclusively you won't need to use anything until she is weaned."

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

Yeah, right! Tell that to my cousin!

michelleseashell · 22/09/2011 22:07

It does work; I still haven't had a period and I've been breastfeeding for eight months and I'm only on three feeds during the day now.

It's not reliable in the slightest though. You need belt and braces!

devonshiredumpling · 22/09/2011 22:51

go and get yourself an implant best thing i have done i was ebf and it did not interfere with it and is 100% safe to use while bf advice is complete tosh

MissVerinder · 22/09/2011 22:54

My midwife told me at my registration appointment whilst I was about 6 weeks pregnant with PFBD that "Breast feeding is NOT a form of CONTRACEPTION" with that inflection and a high pitched squeaky voice.

It was the best piece of advice I ever received during pregnancy!

MissVerinder · 22/09/2011 22:56

Birds Do you live oop North near me!?!?!

Dawndonna · 22/09/2011 23:10

I managed to conceive twins whilst still breastfeeding!

CocktailQueen · 22/09/2011 23:21

No of course it's not! You must use other contraception.

carabos · 22/09/2011 23:24

I breastfed DS2 for 26 months , EBF for the first six. Had no periods for the whole 26 months (assume this was because he fed hourly day and night). Wouldn't have dreamt of not using contraception even so. Don't risk it. It's just like believing you won't get pregnant if you have sex during a period- we all know someone who fell for that one!

LoveBeingAMummyAgain · 23/09/2011 06:21

My doc also said to wait for first period buy what if you never get one cause your pg again!!!!

SnakeOnCrack · 23/09/2011 07:17

AHAHAHAHAHA!

Yeah I thought that but when my baby was 3 months old (I was breast feeding) I got pregnant with twins who are now due in under 2 months..

Use a condom kids.

Honeydragon · 23/09/2011 09:33

This thread is alarming tbh.

When politicians, the press and generally indignant go round tutting and bemoaning that there is enough free contraception and education to prevent unplanned pregnancy. When they insist help should be with drawn for unplanned pregnancy as it simply cannot happen.

If medical professionals can be this woefully ignorant, how the hell are we suppose to prevent it? Contraception can always fail, dishing out advice like this is asking for trouble.

Not one person on this thread except Pinot, the lush was using this method, or others without the belief that it would work, based on professionals say so.

Cheeseandbiscuits · 23/09/2011 09:35

Oh dear, what a load of tosh. Very outdated advice!

gherkins · 23/09/2011 09:46

DD1 is 7 months old. I exclusively breastfed her, including at night. Never got a period as I was still breastfeeding. Thought that meant I was safe.

I am now 10 weeks pregnant! Never even got a period. Felt a bit ropey one day, took a test, and bam!

BREASTFEEDING DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST PREGNANCY! In my case it was utterly useless. Even if your periods have not yet returned, you are not safe. Be warned! Your GP is talking utter crap.

milkyways · 23/09/2011 09:48

NO! My period started 8 weeks after birth, and I was exclusively breast feeding. Your GP is wrong!

GruffalowsMammy · 23/09/2011 11:17

OMG your GP said that? All I heard from my GP is bfing is not 100% and you must use contraception. Tbh I think this is quite a serious mistake on the part of your gp and I would complain to the practice manager.

gallicgirl · 23/09/2011 11:33

OP- have a word with the practice manager and they can bring it up as a training issue.

Glad you double-checked though! If you go on the pill, make sure it's suitable for BF as some pills can cease milk supply. I think you have to take the mini pill rather than a combination pill.