Need advice!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Need advice!
3
Thu, 06-17-2004 - 5:15pm
Hello. I just had my first baby about 7 weeks ago. I have never been on birth control because I was afraid of the weight gain. I don't want to take the chance of getting pregnant again but I sure don't need to gain anymore weight. I'm trying to lose the weight I already gained from being pregnant. So from your experiences or from what you have heard, what bc method (if any) is less likely to cause weight gain? Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
In reply to: juliek21
Thu, 06-17-2004 - 5:43pm
OMG! I could have written you post! I am in the exact same position as you. I just had a baby on April 11 and I am planning on going on birth control, but I've never taken them as well. I am very nervous about taking them due to the side effect of weight gain also. I definitely don't need anymore of that! This baby I just had was my second one. My first was born in Jan 2003 so my sons are only 15 months apart. Getting pregnant again so quickly, you can imagine my weight problem.

A friend of mine recommended Ortho-trycyclene Lo because it's a lower dose of hormones than most other birth control pills and therefore less side effects. I've filled my prescription and am just waiting to start my period, which should be next week sometime. Wish me luck! BTW, congratulations on the baby. Is this your first?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
In reply to: juliek21
Thu, 06-17-2004 - 5:53pm
personally, I've never gained weight on the pill and neither have most of the women I know. I think it might be a myth left over from the high-dose days a couple decades back that BCP make you fat and hairy. ;)

Of course, that's not to say that nobody gains weight from the pill, I just think it's not as common as it used to be.

anyway, some popular low-dose options for hormonal birth control are Loestrin, OTC-lo, yasmin, Ortho Evra (the patch) and Nuvaring (the ring). The brands of pills I mention seem to be very popular. There are lots of other low dose pills now, and your doctor can help with that.

Those last two options aren't pills, though. They both have the lowest hormone doses around, you don't need to take anything daily (the patch is changed once a week, the ring stays in for 3 weeks at a time) and a lot of women are very happy with them.

Since you both have new babies to take care of, not having to take a pill every day might be a big load off your mind. and, since you're leaning towards low hormone dosage, I think the ring is probably a great idea because it's got very low hormone dosage.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: juliek21
Thu, 06-17-2004 - 9:17pm
Hi maybaby5,

If you don't plan on adding to you family or want to wait a few years before the next one a Mirena IUD http://www.mirena-us.com/ might be an option for you. It is effective for 5 years and continuously releases a tiny bit of progestin which will lighten and shorten your periods. An IUD is extremely effective and very low maintenance, a very good thing with two young babies. I hope you find an effective method that works for you.

Good luck

      Jill