Monique, re: pp Depo shot and BF'ing 19 yo:
I share your outrage that this woman wasn't informed about the possible
effects of Depo on her BFing, but I have to say don't assume that it will
cause problems for her. I know others will think very differently about
this, but I have to say that I've seen an awful lot of moms (especially on
the young side) have absolutely NO PROBLEMS as far as BFing goes after depo.
OK, I'll modify that to no "detectable" problems (since I'm highly
suspicious of the stuff and wouldn't go near it myself if I were nursing).
Anyway, with good nsg. habits all *can* go well - I worry that making too
much of a big deal about it to the mother could set her up for problems -
i.e. make it easy for her to give up nsg. at any little glitch because she
can blame the depo, the doctors, the nurses, etc. What's done is done (but
doesn't need to be done again in 3 months!), and I hope you can just remind
her re: the importance of keeping up all the "good stuff" (frequent feeds,
lots of skin-to-skin & cuddling, you know...) It's possible too that this
young mother's need not to have another baby right away is higher in her
scheme of priorities than BFing, and that for her this is the method of
birth control most likely to be effective. I know, I know, she wasn't given
all the info she needed to make that decision, and there are lots of
effective methods of birth control that are better for BFing, and I share
your concerns, but in helping her I think you need to remain positive about
her ability to continue to nurse well.

Has anyone ever brought a law suit against a doctor (or hospital, clinic,
HCP, etc.) for administration of depo  without appropriate education about
the risks it may pose to BFing? That would be one way to ensure that this
sort of thing doesn't keep happening!

Cathy Bargar, RN, IBCLC