Breastfeeding,mini-pill,periods etc

[jhcodrum]

Hi i am looking for a little advice. I am breastfeeding my 12month old 3 times a day breakfast lunch and bedtime.I have had one period when he was 10months old. When i mentioned this to a friend of mine the other day she commented that if your periods return while on the mini-pill and you are breastfeeding it means you are no longer protected by the pill i am a little confused and was wondering if anyone else has been in this situation as i definitely don't want a pregnancy.
Thanks Julie

[Mrs. Gravy]

I have never heard that.

When a woman takes regular birth control pills, she can have a period every month and not get pregnant, so I can't see why that wouldn't hold true for the mini-pill too.

I have heard of many women getting pregnant on the mini-pill though.  The hormone level in your blood stream is almost nil 24 hrs after you take the pill.  It's vital that you take the pill at the same time every day.  Even being late taking the pill by a couple hours can result in a pregnancy.

[linfran]

I went on the progesterone-only pill when I was bf - my GP advised me that I should be very careful as if it was taken more than three hours late it wouldn't offer the same protection against pregnancy.

I was told he would prescribe it but he said it was better in cases if you weren't too bothered about falling pregnant again.

[jbepko]

The mini-pill isn't nearly as good as combined pill. Like pp- has to be taken at same time (to the minute) every day! That would never happen in my life....so I went with IUD. Life is wonderful!

[Southernbelle]

My best friend with a nine month old just found out she was pregnant.  She was still taking the mim-pill.  She cried when she took the test, but is getting used to the idea slowly.  She had stopped nursing and should have switched over, but I guess she was waiting to get a new prescription.   You can actually get this new IUD called Mirena and use it while nursing.  It is good for five years and you can get pregnant the month after it is removed.  Me and all my girlfriends are using it now.  It's great not to have to worry about birth control.

[Scate]

My mini pill said in the package insert that if you don't get a period after 60 days while breastfeeding you should check whether you are pregnant before continuing. So they are expected. I certainly got my period again after dropping the first feed. I agree it isn't as effective as the normal pill, but I used to have an alarm on my cell phone which went off at the same time every day to remind me.

[jhcodrum]

Thanks for all your replies i guess the general consenses is that as long as i am taking it at the same time each day all will be well.  I guess it was a little bit of a shock to get a period as i fed my first child for 15months and my periods didn't return until she was 18months. I will be seeing my Doctor next week so i will also be interested to find out from him, will i be protected as i drop feeds to wean.
Thanks again

[rosie and joe's mummy]

can i just wave my medical qualification in the air and say that is categorically not true. you can have some or no periods on the mini pill. having a period on the mini pill does not mean you are not protected.

having a period when breasfeeding if you're using nothing else as protection does mean you're not covered.

if you're using the minipill correctly and breastfeeding you're near as damn it 100% covered.

the biggest problem with the mini pill is timing. missing the time is a big issue and is the reason i have little rosie! i'm now having progesterone injections as i can't be trusted to remember to take a pill regularly!!