Can anyone advise on experience with NorQD, the mini-pill for nursing mothers? I am terrified of getting pregnant as I have a 2 month old and a 21 month old. I am interested in hearing about side effects and effectiveness. Thank you:)
K.,
I don't take the mini pill I take Jolivette. On the packett is says it's a substitued for -ortho micronor tablet ort. It's a estrogen pill. With this one I don't have any side effects.
L. M
I see several answers recommending the copper IUD (no hormones), and I agree with this. This is what I have right now and it's great - I too have two young kids close together in age and do not want to get pregnant again right now.
But beware if your Dr tries to talk you into the Mirena IUD with the hormones. A lot of Drs push this (mine did) and tell you you'll have less cramping and lighter periods (both true), BUT there can be severe emotional side effects with the Mirena that wind up being diagnosed as post partum depression - when they are not. Many women are successful on Mirena, but think twice because the effects are not fully disclosed, and wind up being mis-diagnosed when they set in (up up to three months after insertion!).
Maybe try a copper IUD no hormones it might put you more at ease.
I too took the mini-pill and had success and no side effects. I was on it a year with my first child and 8 months with my second. My friends all joke that all I have to do is say I'm thinking about getting pregnant and it happens so I was just extra cautious about taking it on time.
I took the mini-pill but had the same fears as you. You have to take it at the same time each day and that can be hard when you have such a little one. I set an alarm on my cell phone to remind me to take it each day at the exact same time and that seemed to work for me. I was also afraid that it might impact my ability to breast feed but it had no such side effects on me.
Well I think the whole idea behind the "mini-pill" is that while you're breastfeeding you have less of a chance of getting pregnant anyway so the pill just makes it that much less likely. I was on it while I was nursing and I didn't have any side effects, however it was only about 4 months. I know it's important that you take it at the exact same time every day. There isn't as much room for error as with the normal pill and since most of the time, intimacy is at night, take it a couple hours before you go to bed. At least that's what I was told.
I can certainly understand why you would be terrified of getting pregnant again so soon, but as long as you take it correctly you shouldn't worry any more than you would if you weren't nursing and were taking the regular pill. If you really just don't feel at ease with that route, talk to your doctor and maybe you can come up with an option that will work better for you.
Hi K.,
Congratulations on you son!
I did not try that pill. I had an IUD (non hormonal) put in after my daughter was born ( 2 years ago). I nursed to so it safe for nursing Moms. I love it. It is so easy. You never have to think about it. There are no hormones becuase it is a barrier method so there are really no side effects. It can be good for up to 10 years or take it out when you are ready to try again. I would recommend it to anyone!
Just a suggestion of another option, you would want to talk to your Dr to make sure it is an option for you. Good Luck to you and your family!
Hi,
I am taking the mini pill and I am still nursing my 9 month old. I've had only one problem that I think might be related to the pill. For the past cycle or two I had some mild cramping, but no period, then I actually got my first period yesterday. Last month when I pumped, I got almost no milk. It was pretty drastic and went back to normal after about a week. I chalked it up to normal fluctuations (maybe my milk supply was in complete match with my baby, etc) then it happened again a month later.
I looked it up online and some women's milk supply drops substantially after ovulation and before their period. I can only assume that the mini pill makes this more dramatic, but I don't know for sure. None of the other moms in my group have had the same period related decrease, and I assume many of them are on the pill.
They do say that you need to be pretty on top of taking the pill on time every day, or else it is not effective.
Good luck!
I'm not sure if this advice is helpful, but you might want to consider a copper IUD. Can be totally non-hormonal, super easy to put in, and is really effective. Sorry I don't have any advice about the mini-pill.
