does the minipill affect your milk supply

[Temples]

I have read some scare stories on the internet that the mini pill can cause your milk to dry up (even though it is not supposed to)
I know the internet is famous for misinformation but I wondered if any of you have views on this.
Also how reliable is it as a form of contraception?

No, the mini-pill does not cause drying up. There are some reports of an affect on supply, but in Medications and Mothers Milk (the textbook) this is 'rare'. An affect on supply is not the same as 'drying up'. Here's a paper to read which should reassure you:

www.makeashorterlink.com/?E3B843212

I took minipill when feeding no.3 with no problems.

The mini pill should have no effect on the suppy of milk. Regarding reliability, if taken as recomended it is 99% effective. It is almost as effective as the combined pill. It is a little less effective if you are over 11 stone. Combined with breast feeding it is very effective.

But you have to take it at the same time each day for it to be effective. You must take it within the same 3 hours daily, if you miss the window, you could well ovulate, and there is a risk of pregnancy. With the combined pill you have more like 12 hours.

If you are breast feeding you may well not bleed while you take the mini pill. Some women find this an advantace, but some find it stressful, and worry that this means that they are pregnant.

HTH

Thanks everyone.
Is weight gain likely/inevitable?

Hi, Temples! Don't know anything about milk, but re reliablity you have to follow the insructions to the letter. I took a pill one and a half hours' late and now have my much-loved baby daughter!!!!! From experience I wouldn't use it if not getting p/g was essential. I didn't gain weight with it.

Temples - I was b/f whilst on the mini-pill and it had absolutely no effect on my milk supply at all, nor on my weight. The b/f alone helped shift my wobbly belly along with a few exercises. I didn't notice any side-effects from the mini-pill to be honest, I was far too busy recovering from birth still!

I took the mini-pill whilst b/f ds and if anything my supply was like Niagara Falls!!!

You do have to take it bang on time each day though. I didn't have my first period until 3 months after I stopped b/f and I gave up the mini-pill at the same time. I can't remember if I relied on it solely for contraception but I'm now only just 15 weeks pg with no.2 and I gave up the pill 20 months ago.