To morning after pill or not - EBF

[Genericnewnumusername]

Just looking for some advice on what some of you would do?

I had unprotected sex with my husband last night - a bit stupid but caught up in the moment. I have a four month old baby that I am exclusively breastfeeding. I’m not sure whether my periods have returned - I’ve had some light flow at certain points over the past couple of months but nothing like the normal flow of my regular periods and nothing regular time-wise so I just don’t know if my fertility is ‘back’ or not.

I’m in two minds today about whether to take the morning after pill - hormonal contraception just does not agree with me at all, and even though it seems safe to take while breastfeeding there’s a slight chance it will mess with my milk supply which I’m desperate not to jeopardise. On the other hand, falling pregnant now with a four month old would absolutely not be the plan at all and would definitely put a strain on us as a family.

So AIBU not to get the MAP? What are my chances of falling pregnant (I know no one can actually tell me, but to hear some other people’s maybe similar experiences would be very helpful)

So YANBU - your chances of pregnancy are minuscule, don’t take the risk of the hormones messing you up

YABU - don’t be an idiot and take the bloody pill to stop the risk of pregnancy

(And before anyone jumps on me, I’ve already phoned the GP this morning to make an appointment to get the copper IUD so this won’t happen again - but they can’t fit me in the next five days to use it as emergency contraception so that’s not an option)

Key info:

• is your baby under 6months
• are you feeding on demand, round the clock with no long gaps between feeds
• would it be OK if you did start another oregnancy now?

Unless you can answer a resounding ‘yes’ to all those three, get the MAP

Breastfeeding definitely reduces number of conceptions at a population level, but it’s not a terribly good thing to rely on as an individual

I have a friend who was combi feeding (a bottle a day). She took 6 years and IVF to conceive her first. She conceived number 2 5 months postpartum. I wouldn't risk it.

Chances of falling pregnant with normal fertility any given cycle are 20%. So you have an up to 20% chance of getting pregnant.

It's not likely, but it's absolutely possible. It kind of depends how much of a bad thing it would be. Baby would be 12 months old by the time their sibling was born which is a small gap, but quite different to a 4 month old.

I would only take the chance if I would be ready to be pregnant again.

Unplanned pregnancy will be bigger impact on you and baby than chance of milk supply being messed up.

Any milk supply issues would be temporary, although obviously at 4 months your baby is still highly reliant on your milk. So it's worth weighing that up as well.

It's simple op.

If another baby is ok, don't get the map.
If you don't want another baby, do get it.

Any posters here saying the chances are slim, it'll be fine, don't worry etc don't have an ounce of actual information to give you any confidence.

It's a simple decision only you can make based on whether you want another baby at this point. You're not stupid. You're looking to us to lie and tell you it'll be fine.

We can't.

(P.s. an abortion or another pregnancy is 100% going to affect you more than hormones from a map will do.)

There is 9 months and TWO weeks between my ebf cousins. I have a friend who had 3 dc under 3 while ebf (she had coil fitted after no 2, still got pregnant with no 3). Some things you don't risk with on the basis of "I just don't know....."

I’d take the MAP in your position.

Pregnancy will probably affect your milk supply more than the MAP. Quite a few pregnant friends found their older baby went off the taste and supply was low in the early months.

I really don't understand these threads at all. If some people responded saying you didn't need to get it, would you really think hmm OK well the good people of MN said so, therefore I don't need to worry about getting pregnant?

If you don't want to get pregnant, get the MAP. Its as simple as that.

@Violetroselily no but it’s helpful just to talk these things out! It’s genuinely helping me to hear other people’s opinions even if it’s just to clarify my own thoughts. Surely that’s what forums are for?

Personally if I absolutely did not want another baby I would take it no matter how low the risk is. If your milk dries up then surely that would be better than dealing with an unwanted pregnancy.

You are still very fertile from your first child. Agree with others, if you would be happy to be pregnant then take the chance. If you wouldn't be happy to at the moment then get the MAP.

It’s definitely possible. If another baby is not in your plan. Don’t risk it.

The only bit of info missing from your OP is how much of a nightmare it would be for you if you DID get pregnant.

The end of the world = get the MAP. The risk is too great to not.

Not in the plan, but not awful = risk it, if you want.

I fell pregnant while my baby was 18 weeks old. I thought my fertility wasn't back to normal. I now have a 3.5 & 4.5yr old. Good luck. 😆

Just a reassurance for you in terms of milk supply. I took the map while ebf (baby was under 6 months and I certainly did not want to risk another pregnancy) and my milk was absolutely fine. Continued to feed my baby as normal.

It's a risk!

Up to you but absolutely you could conceive.

My ' got carried away' is 18.

It happens.

Couldn’t your husband have had some responsibility in this and at least have pulled out or something.

Now it’s your shit storm to weather.

This is why I have 2 kids 14 months apart. And I was an older mum.

What does the pharmacist say about the effects?

My friend was breastfeeding and didn't think she could get pregnant because of this, she did, do what's right for you and your family.

Any chance you can get the copper coil fitted at a GUM clinic or similar, instead of GP?

I'd personally consider this first, particularly as the MAP is not always effective (it happened to me!).

@ShitStain we both got carried away - equal responsibility on both sides. And not just my storm to weather - his too, but he is being very respectful over the fact it’s my body to choose what medication I put into it. We are absolutely deciding what to do as a couple though.

@YenneferOfBattenberg an emergency coil was my first choice and I’ve been trying to make that work all morning - unfortunately because of bloody Covid, Sexual Health clinics are stripped back to the bare bones and I just can’t find somewhere that will do it.