Natural contraception while breastfeeding?? Please help if you can!

[kate2179]

My friend is currently breasfeeding her 4 1/2 month old daughter - my beautiful god-daughter . She is not bf exclusively and wants to start cutting down further for various valid reasons which I don't need to go into for these purposes. Her husband works abroad and is only home for 3 weeks every 9 weeks. She told me this afternoon that they have not been using contraception since their baby was born because she desperately does not want to go back on the pill or use any other hormone based contraception, he doesn't like/won't use condoms , and her step-mother who is a GP has told her there's probably not much point her having a coil fitted if they're hoping to try for another baby in about a year's time.
So are there any alternatives to crossing her fingers and hoping for the best?
It wouldn't be the end of the world if she got pg again, but it certainly wouldn't be ideal.
She hasn't had a period since her daughter was born so it would be tricky for her to start temping as she wouldn't know where she was starting from, if that makes sense!
Please help if you can! All helpful responses gratefully received!

her DH could use condoms?

no sex then. his choice.

diaphragm +/- spermicidal gel

ooops sorry, didn't notice the condom point.

My bf counsellor was keen to point out to all that you can't rely on bf as a contraceptive since she had tried that, and got pg again when her baby was 3 months and wouldn't recommend it!!!

I'm pretty sure they will let you have a coil fitted even if you are planning to TTC within a year. Fertility levels return to normal when it is removed. If she doesn't want hormones then the copper coil rather than the mirena would be her best bet.

I had a diaphragm and I really liked it. It's not great if you really really really can't get pregnant as it's not as reliable as the pill, but for circs like this I would recommend it. I used to get home from work, have dinner, insert diaphragm, go to bed, either use it or not (), get up in the morning, take it out and wash it and go to work. No fuss and completely spontaneous during the act. Although to be fair this was pre-DD so it had a lot more use than it would now!

Firstly - she isn't protected at the moment - it is perfectly possible to get pregnant while breast feeding. I belive you are particularly fertile in the first few month from memory to if she's not planning to get pg yet she needs to do something.

Temping is the obvious one (it's not just temperature though you have to look for other signs like cervical fluids - look at this book) although she'll find it impossible at first as she has no experience of doing it and no period as well.

I think shes got all available options on a no go so could only go for a progesterone only pill (better than the normal ones??

I was exclusively breastfeeding and taking the mini pill and still managed to fall pregnant when DS was 4 months.
DS is now 11 months and will be a big brother in August, so relying on breastfeeding is not, erm, reliable.

You want emma1977 (she's a GP with a particular interest in contraception).

Neither is prayer or crossing your fingers, thats how I came to be breastfeeding DS
They are both wonderful surprises though, don't get me wrong

good info sheets here.

Scanning through the list (crossing out hormonal methods) you've got

condoms

diaphragm

copper coil

natural methods (temping etc)

so as condoms are out then it's the last 3.

the copper coil is a perfectly viable option, I had one for just over a year, then had it removed and conceived again.

don't trust breastfeeding for contraception, esp if getting preg would be a total disaster!

Message withdrawn

Thank you ladies - knew I could rely on you! I will forward this thread to her, and continue trying to persuade her to join mn

Hello, regarding the coil in my experience GP's do not want to give you this if you are planning ttc within 5 years, something to do with the cost, i had to lie that i wasnt to get my GP to agree to allow me to give it a go.

I would say all practices and trusts would be different though.

Breastfeeding amennoreia (sp) requires both exclusive rtc breastfeeding (every 3 hours, day and night) and no return of periods.

With my last children, I had no trouble in fulfilling the rtc bf, but unfortunately had periods return within weeks of the birth.

In order for breast feeding to be effective in preventing ovulation the baby must be under 6 months, feeding at least 4 hourly day and night and not be having anything supplementary food or formula or even expressed milk. Even with this the system is between 90 and 94 % effective.As your friend is not bf exclusively then i would not suggest this .

Copper coil is fine, there is no reason except cost that she couldn't have one for a year or so, normal fertility returns as soon as it is removed.

First of all I got preg while bf ds1, so contrary to what some believe it is not reliable. I use the cap because I cant use any hormone stuff as it turns me into a fruitcake. I always been happy with cap.

You can chart your temps and BF but you need to be trained.
Go to this site www.fertilityuk.org/
There is a section on breast feeding and lots of info about the indicators of your fertile time Your friend's local Family Planning clinic may have natural family planning trained nurses to help her.

The book that is on the site is 'Fertility' - Clubb & Knight.
Dr.Elizabeth Clubb & Jane Knight,
David and Charles, Third edition 1996.
It is out of print but I have a copy and have scanned the Bfing chapter and can email it to you if you CAT me.when she fully gives up a Persona machine may be what she is looking for.

Just bumping this so my friend can find it! Thanks again for all your advice. I just spoke to her and she was surprisingly pro the "No sex then. His choice" response!

I exclusively bf ds1 throughout the day and night, probably more frequently than every 3-4 hours. Never got a period, and only that tell-tale sickness when he was 6 months old alerted me to ds2, who popped into the world 7 months later...

I got pregnant breat feeding, so obviously am somewhat confused!

Hey Kate...how are you my lovely?

My periods came back when DD was only 9 weeks old. I then had a 7-8 weeks cycle.....so two weeks in we thought things would be OK. That was the month that my cycle decided to get back to normal.......and as you know my DD is due in November.

Hi Daisy, good to hear from you! I'm ok thanks, we have been on holiday and moved house lately so I haven't been around much. I continue to lurk both on the avengers and knicker checkers but I'm not posting much at the moment. Just taking things quietly. We had a consultant's app last week, he was very positive, and "very optimistic that there are happier times ahead"... Will maybe start trying again in September, we're trying lots of Naturopathic stuff atm and we want to give that a chance to work. I do miss you all though! Hope all is good wih you, CAN'T BELIEVE you're almost 5months pg already, seems to have flown by! (To me, anyway ) Love to you, the DDs and the rest of the Daisy clan xx