Breastfeeding and morning after pill help

[Han1234]

I have been EBF for 5 and a half months now, but had an accident this week and thought it would be worth getting the morning after pill, I got levonelle after completing a form with the boots online doctor, it did say though that if you’ve been breastfeeding for less than 6 months you don’t need it….

But with me being so close I am a bit worried; should I still take it? I’ve read on the nhs website it’s fine to take whilst breastfeeding but if I don’t need to I’d rather not take it if it isn’t necessary?

I also spoke to the pharmacist who advised that I could take it but express, but my baby won’t accept a bottle so I can’t do that, she couldn’t really give me a yes or no answer to what I should do which is understandable, but it’s just still made me unsure if I should risk it or not.

I’m annyoed at us for needing to get it in the first place but any advice if anyone’s been in similar situations would be very helpful! Thanks!

My friends 4th child exists due to this very reason.

Levonorgestrel or EllaOne?

If levonorgestrel, you can breastfeed as normal. The leaflet says don’t feed for 8 hours, but this is not backed up by the research.

Really? Im not sure you don’t need it? I was breastfeeding and have two kids born a year apart, I conceived ds when dd was 3 months old...

If EllaOne, not enough is known and breastfeeding should not be done for a week.

@Han1234 I am concerned you have misread the info OP.

Have your periods returned?

Yeah it’s levonorgestrel the one I have.

@pollyparrot45 they haven’t returned yet no

@LittleMouseOnTheFairy yeah it’s levonorgestrel I have form the pharmacy, I have read it’s safe to take when breastfeeding but with the pharmacist telling me I should express it’s made me cautious about it.

It boils down to the fact that baby will get some of it in their system, but this is not harmful as a one-off, and the benefit of uninterrupted feeding is generally considered to outweigh any risk.

If you’re periods arnt back I think it’s unlikely you’d be pregnant. Is the baby EBF as in no bottles at all ever and no solids still.

Of course there is a small chance you could be pregnant and that is a risk but I think if the baby is completely breastfed and your periods are not back then you’d be fairly safe.

If the baby is having the occasional bit of solids or bottles etc then maybe not.

I can’t remember the name but there is a specialist pharmacist who deals with breastfeeding. You can find them online and call for advice and they generally have better information - most normal ones just either say a blanket no as they aren’t sure or read the leaflet.