Note when using emergency contraception in women who are breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding emergency contraceptive pills come in two main ingredients: Progestin and Estrogen. The advantage of this type of birth control pill is that mothers can still use it during breastfeeding (under 1 year old) without worrying about affecting the baby's health.

1. Is it okay to take emergency contraception while breastfeeding?

Taking emergency contraceptive pills while breastfeeding is a method of postpartum contraception applied by mothers in case both mother and partner do not use any safety method.
However, emergency contraception should only be used when absolutely necessary and you should not think about this option if other methods of birth control can be used.

2. Side effects when taking emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills have some side effects such as:
Milk production: This is the most important side effect you may experience when you take emergency contraception while breastfeeding. These drugs can decrease the amount of milk produced. If breast milk decreases with the use of hormonal birth control methods, it is advisable to switch to other methods of contraception. Depending on the need for contraception, the need for breastfeeding and the cost of contraceptive methods to choose the right contraceptive method. Psychological effects: Hormonal birth control pills can make you irritable and irritable. Although there is no scientific study to prove this, many mothers have encountered it. Diabetes: If you have gestational diabetes, using emergency contraception increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes within a year. So talk to your doctor before you start taking birth control pills. In addition, emergency contraceptive pills can have the side effect of causing bleeding outside of the menstrual period. However, emergency contraception does not cause infertility.

3. Note when using emergency contraception in women who are breastfeeding

During the time of taking emergency contraception while breastfeeding, you need to consult a specialist for instructions on the appropriate method of birth control. Use caution with combined oral contraceptives when the baby is exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months.
Besides, note when using emergency contraception that you must pay extra attention to when using birth control pills, you may have a little trouble with lactation. This is the most important side effect you can experience from taking hormonal birth control pills. These drugs can decrease the amount of milk produced. If breast milk decreases with the use of hormonal birth control methods, it is advisable to switch to other methods of contraception. Depending on the need for contraception, the need for breastfeeding and the cost of contraceptive methods to choose the right contraceptive method.
Details of fetal development week by week, every parent should learn:

4. Some birth control pills during lactation

Progesterone-only contraceptives (POPs) The estrogen in combined oral contraceptives can reduce lactation, so progesterone-only pills will be an appropriate choice for women during lactation. The drug can be used immediately after birth, but the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using it after 6 weeks of childbirth.
This is an easy-to-implement method of contraception and is highly effective (over 99%) if taken regularly and on time. If you forget or are more than 3 hours late, take it as soon as you remember and use backup birth control within 48 hours.
Many nursing mothers worry that taking emergency contraception while breastfeeding will affect the baby through breast milk. However, the birth control pill is one of the most effective birth control methods you can use. If used correctly, this drug can be up to 99% effective. Conversely, drugs can also affect the health of both mother and baby. The form of emergency contraception that can be used by nursing women is the active form of levonorgestrel. Note, emergency contraception should only be used in cases where it is absolutely necessary and you should not think about this option if you can still use other methods of birth control. However, if you use a birth control pill that contains only a small amount of progestin, it will not harm your baby.
Depo - Provera Depo - Provera is an injectable that contains only progesterone. Pills that are effective in preventing pregnancy for 3 months should be given every 3 months, however, it takes about 9-10 months from the last injection to become pregnant again. The first injection is given 6 weeks postpartum.
Depo - Provera is more effective at preventing pregnancy than oral contraceptives and condoms. However, the method needs to be performed by medical personnel.
Progesterone-Release IUD In addition to copper-containing IUDs, some IUDs are coated with progesterone. The type of progesterone used is levonorgestrel. The main effect of levonorgestrel - IUD is the effect of local progesterone in the uterine cavity, making the endometrium incompatible for implantation and changing cervical mucus, preventing sperm penetration. . However, in some women, levonorgestrel - IUD can reduce lactation. Levonorgestrel - The IUD is effective in preventing pregnancy for 3 to 5 years and can be removed easily if a woman wants to get pregnant again.
In addition to the contraceptive effect, this method is also commonly used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, treat endometrial hyperplasia and dysmenorrhea.
Some of the side effects of the delayed-release progesterone IUD are abnormal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. In addition, the IUD can move from its original position: Being expelled from the cervix or moving upward, entering the abdomen, it can penetrate the uterine muscle layer causing uterine perforation.
Most hormonal birth control methods are safe and will not affect a nursing baby. However, it should be noted that this measure may affect the mother's milk production.

5. Other contraceptive methods suitable for nursing mothers

In addition to using emergency contraceptive pills, breastfeeding mothers can completely apply many suitable and convenient contraceptive methods without worrying about drugs affecting breast-feeding.

Using condoms: Not only effective in preventing pregnancy without affecting breast milk, condoms also have the ability to prevent some sexually transmitted diseases. IUD: The effectiveness of the IUD can last up to 5 years, without affecting the marital relationship or reducing the amount of breast milk secreted. Contraceptive implant: A rod containing the hormone progesterone is implanted under the skin of a woman's upper arm. This method also does not affect breast milk if you are breastfeeding, the effectiveness of this method can last 2-3 years. In addition, there are many mothers in the process of breastfeeding, using oral contraceptives, experiencing blocked milk ducts. When the milk duct is blocked, the mother needs to feed the baby more, actively sucking milk to let the milk out. If the condition does not improve, then you should seek the help of professional milk duct unblocking units or go to the hospital for advice from a doctor.
Currently, at Vinmec International General Hospital, spinal manipulation method is applied to treat blocked milk ducts after giving birth without using drugs. With the spinal manipulation method, the treatment technician mainly uses the fingertip software to act on the patient's back spine to adjust and open the milk glands, help clear rays, and soften the breast.
In addition to the treatment of blocked milk ducts, the spinal manipulation method also treats the following diseases:
Headache, migraine Vestibular syndrome Cerebral circulatory insufficiency, Paralysis of the 7th cranial nerve Peripheral hemiparesis cerebrovascular accident Neck and shoulder pain Shoulder periarthritis Back pain, hip pain, sciatic nerve pain Knee joint pain Disc herniation Numbness in hands and feet Stomach-reflux syndrome Bronchial asthma Sweaty feet and hands Restore breast milk supply, blocked milk ducts, lack of milk, loss of milk. For more information, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec health system nationwide.

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