Breastfeeding & Mirena IUD

[Matryoshka]

I want to hear from those breastfeeding on Mirena IUD and how it affected it.

I can't get past so many stories of issues i've been reading online, which is putting me off getting it. Doctors also claim there is no effect but they said that too with the mini pill and that definately interferred with BF ds1 (would not feeding while i was on it).

[saslia]

I had no problem BF with it, I had it in when DS was 10 weeks. In saying that I never had any other supply issues.

I had more problems with bleeding than anything else but over 12 months later it has settled down nicely!!

[MantaRay]

I got mine when DS2 was about 7 months old I think, and didn't find that it had any effect on bfing at all. I did have a few weeks of spotting but it wasn't too bad, and after that settled down I found AF was less frequent and much lighter.

The one thing I can say is that there a lot of potential, minor side-effects. But it is not expensive to get, and is VERY easily removed. So if you are worried, you could always try it and remove it if you're not happy.

[Matryoshka]

Thanks, can i ask how often your bubs were feeding then, and if you had AF back?

[saslia]

DS was fully breastfed until 6 months so he was probably feeding every 3 hours (he demand fed), and BF until 14 months.

I didn't have AF back but was still bleeding post C/s - dr sent me for tests and I was just unlucky!!

Did bleed for another few months and now it has settled down to very light bleeding every month and maybe every 3 months a full on period.

[MantaRay]

It was DS2, and he was still feeding pretty often. I would say 6 - 8 times during the day, a dream feed, and at least one overnight feed. Funnily enough AF returned earlier with DS2 than DS1, and DS2 was the one who fed overnight for much longer!

[Jennifer13]

I had the Mirena put in when DD was about 10 wks old as my cycle had returned (great to have a baby that slept for long periods at night, but AF was back!). I haven't had any issues with supply or anything else on it either, for that matter. But I guess it's individual for every person.

It's a little uncomfortable to have it put in, but not too bad. I have heard ppl say their gyn did not use a local when inserting and that sounded painful! Mine did. It works locally, as you would know, unlike the mini pill which still is absorbed into your body. So I guess it is much less likely to affect you than the mini pill.

[Marlene]

I think DS was about 3 or 4 months when I got the Mirena, he is fully BF, the Mirena has not seem to have made any difference to anything (only had 2 days spotting). AF has not returned yet, DS is now 6 months.

[Matryoshka]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm really not sure if i should go with this, i guess i've been over researching and come accross so much negative feedback that i'm hesitant. But my dh did say that i could do the same thing with paracetamol and come accross 1000's of people who've had bad experiences.

Its good to hear this has not happened to you, have any of you ALSO used the mini pill? and had an effect with that? my DS1 would not feed while i was on it (a few days).

[MantaRay]

I tried the mini-pill after DS1 and spotted constantly. So I stopped. Then after DS2 I tried again and same result so stopped and got the Mirena. I really had no major problems. As I said, the spotting initially which I was expecting. Some cramps, like mild labour pains for the first day. On going AF was less frequent and lighter - woo hoo! I had mild cramping mid-month and for AF but nothing major, and probably I would have had these anyway, I don't really know as I hadn't really had many cycles without bfing or the Mirena in the last few years. I think it gave me worse PMT in terms of moods, but then I would say less so than being on the pill. And removal - easy peasy - a few minutes and no real discomfort at all.

It's really up to you hun. Everyone's experience is different. It's a pity there aren't many options while bfing!