patch and nursing and period return

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
patch and nursing and period return
2
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 12:19pm
Hi there!

I have an almost 3 month old who is exclusively breastfed and my doctor gave me 2 months worth Evra to try out... I am on week three and got a period??? Is this normal? I was so looking forward to not getting a period for a year (the amount of time I want to breast feed)... does applying the patch "bring on" a cycle?

Thank you !

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 3:27pm
I was told by my doctor that you can't take regular birth control pills or the patch while breastfeeding. I guess it drys you up and can pass to the baby. You should check with your doctor about it. I take the mini pill and it hasn't caused me to have a period yet. Zoey is 5 months old and has even started eating solids. I'm not breastfeeding as much now so I will probably get it soon. Some of the ladies in my playgroup who bf have gotten their periods already so breastfeeding doesn't always supress it.

~Alicia

www.geocities.com/aliciaa1021/zoey


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Lilypie Breastfeeding Ticker

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 7:31am
I would definitely double-check this with your doctor--women who are exclusively breastfeeding aren't supposed to use anything containing estrogen. Not only does estrogen get passed through breastmilk, but it also tends to reduce milk production. Typically nursing moms will take progestin-only pills which add the extra benefit of thickened cervical mucous while the breastfeeding takes care of ovulation.

Your hormones, I'd have to think, aren't going to be typical for a contraceptive user, considering that you're breastfeeding, so irregular bleeding might be more common for you than for someone else. Irregular bleeding isn't unusual by any means, no matter who you are, in the first couple of months though.

Call your doctor back! And good luck...

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control