Lois,
       You ask if you are correct in telling moms that even the mini pill
causes production problems.  Well, when stating it as an absolute, you are
incorrect.  I have talked with many mothers who have no problems with production
while on a mini pill.  But I have also worked with *plenty* of mothers who had
trouble with either the mini-pill or the Depo-Provera shot.  I always tell moms
that barrier methods are best for breastfeeding mothers, but if she wants to
try a chemical method, she should use a mini-pill rather than the Depo shot.
If the shot adversely affects her supply, there is nothing she can do about it
for the next three months.  If the mini-pill affects her supply, she can
always stop taking it.  And I tell her that although there are mothers who use the
mini-pill with no effect on milk supply, there are also lots of mothers all
across the country who do have problems.  As usual, it's those words "always"
and "never" that get us into trouble!  :)
       Some mothers find their supply is immediately affected by the
mini-pill and others find that it does not cause a cumulative effect significant
enough to notice for a couple of months.  What I see is that if the mom has been on
the mini-pill for 3-4 days and is calling because her baby has suddenly
become fussy (he can't be *hungry* because her doctor told her the mini-pill would
not affect supply!), it usually takes 3-4 days for the chemical to completely
leave her system and her milk supply to get back to normal.  But if the mother
has been on the mini-pill for a couple of months or longer, then it seems to
take 2-3 weeks for milk supply to return to normal.
       Dee

Dee Kassing, BS, MLS, IBCLC
Collinsville, Illinois, in central USA

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