As Nature Intended
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We are receiving more and more reports from mothers of a decrease in milk production associated with the Mirena IUD. Today I received two such reports. Given the constant chronological relationship between the placement of the IUD and the mother’s decrease in milk production (1 to 2 weeks), it is quite possible that the decrease in milk production is a result of the IUD.

Of course, it is also likely that not all women will have a significant decrease; nobody contacts me when they don’t have a decreased production. But it is also likely that only a tiny percentage of women who do have a decrease actually contact me.

I think we need to be prudent and warn women about this possible side effect of the Mirena. All hormonal contraceptive methods should be avoided by breastfeeding mothers if possible.

Please forward to all your contacts.

Jack Newman, MD
http://www.drjacknewman.com/
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Comments

RoxieHart

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:11:09

I can attest from personal experience that I had no ill effects *with regards to milk production* from my IUD. I worked full time starting 5 weeks PP and my daughter was fed nothing but breast milk till 9 months of age. Lots of pumping, lots of night nursing. My IUD was inserted Sept. '07. I nursed her from the day she was born 7.27.07 till 7.18.09 and I can still to this day get milk from one breast and am sure with continued nursing my production would come back. I am NO FAN of the IUD due to frequent bleeding and irregular periods I am still dealing with BUT I do not think that the IUD had any impact on my milk production. so Dr. Newman, here is a note from a woman who had no decrease in production.

 

Brooke

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:41:27

I am also a mama who had the IUD inserted. I had it put in 3 months after the birth of my daughter. She was exclusively breastfed for 6.5 months before starting solids. And then continued to nurse until the age of 34months!

I had supply issues one time in our nursing relationship but that was due to me having a nasty stomach bug. We nursed through it and everything was just fine.

So just wanted to state that there are some people that can successfully nurse with an IUD. We did! My daughter self weaned at 34 months of age!

 

Monique

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:32:12

In 09/2004 I had my 2nd child, I had a mirena placed at 3 mths PP and I breastfed my daughter exclusively for 6 mths and continued till she was 3. Then I had the Mirena removed bc I wanted another child. After giving birth I had another Mirena placed at 6 weeks PP. I work full time, breastfed exclusively for 6 mths and still breastfeed my son who is now 15 mths old.

For me Mirena had No infuence on my milk production. I have tandemfed my 2nd child and donated milk while feeding both my 2nd and 3rd child. So I had no problem at all.

Mind that most babies go through a growth spurth around 6 wks of age - many moms think their milk is not enough around that time. And that is usualy the time when they go for their postpartum check up and insert an IUD.

I succesfull nurse and have the assurance of a great working contraceptive.

 

Ceallach

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:03

This does not surprise me, since every woman I know that went on the mini-pill lost their supply really fast, like down to nothing, despite being told there would be no impact.

I also very much think that since hormonal levels vary from woman to woman that some women would have this problem while others would have none, much in the same way that some women get pregnant with proper usages of HBC while others don't.

Even in this day and age, we barely understand the hormonal picture.....

 

Laura Hamilton

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:41:05

Well, on that note...a new pregnancy could affect your milk production much more seriously than an IUD might! ;-)

I had a Mirena inserted at my 6 week postpartum visit. No problems whatsoever, rather I had a problem of oversupply, if anything. I breastfee exclusively until 7 months, and my baby continued to eat solids only sporadically (once a day or so, he just didn't like them and preferred to nurse) until about 18 months.

With my second pregnancy I got the Mirena at a later date post-partum, about 18 months post-partum. My second baby was a big fan of solids and did not nurse as much as his older brother. I did notice that I had less milk, but I had less milk from about 6 months on (so before I got a 2nd Mirena), and it was IMO due to my baby simply not being as interested in nursing as his brother was, so he nursed less frequently.

 

As Nature Intended

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:22:20

Dr. Newman knows that NOT ALL women are experiencing low milk production but some do and they have reported it to him. Some sides effects can be experienced by a certain group and some other side effects can affect others. This is just something for you to think about. Thanks so much for contributing to ANI.

 



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