Can you take Plan B while breastfeeding?

Can You Take Plan B While Breastfeeding?
The question of whether breastfeeding mothers can safely take Plan B, an emergency contraceptive pill, is one that many new parents may find themselves asking. The good news is that experts widely agree that it is safe to use Plan B while breastfeeding.
Safety and Recommendations
According to Dr. Amy Roskin, a board-certified OB-GYN, breastfeeding mothers can indeed take Plan B without concern for their infant’s health. The active ingredient in Plan B, levonorgestrel, is a progestin that has been shown to have minimal effects on breast milk and, consequently, on breastfeeding performance and infant development.
Research indicates that while levonorgestrel does pass into breast milk, it does so in very small quantities. A study highlighted by the Breastfeeding Network supports the notion that using levonorgestrel as an emergency contraceptive during lactation is safe, and there is no need to withhold breastfeeding after taking the medication.
Timing and Usage
For mothers who are concerned about the timing of breastfeeding after taking Plan B, it is generally recommended that they can continue to breastfeed as normal. However, some sources suggest waiting about three to four hours after taking the pill before breastfeeding again, just to minimize any potential exposure to the infant. This precaution is not strictly necessary, but it may provide additional peace of mind for some mothers.
Other Emergency Contraceptive Options
In addition to Plan B, there are other forms of emergency contraception that are also considered safe for breastfeeding mothers. These include ulipristal and the copper IUD, both of which are recognized by the CDC as safe options for those who are nursing.
Conclusion
In summary, breastfeeding mothers can confidently take Plan B without significant risk to their babies. The consensus among healthcare professionals is clear: Plan B is a safe and effective option for emergency contraception during breastfeeding, allowing mothers to manage their reproductive health without compromising their nursing relationship.

What can a breastfeeding mother take to prevent pregnancy?

You can start using the shot, implant, Skyla and Mirena IUDs, and some types of birth control pills (called mini-pills) right after giving birth. You may be able to get an implant or IUD in the hospital or at your postpartum checkup. Implants and IUDs are super effective, and prevent pregnancy for several years.

What are the odds of getting pregnant while breastfeeding?

If you follow the rules laid out in the LAM method — exclusive breastfeeding of an infant younger than 6 months old before your period comes back — you have less than a 5 percent chance of getting pregnant.

Can Plan B stop fertilization?

Most research suggests that Plan B does not cause changes in the endometrium , or lining of the uterus. 2 Because of this, researchers have concluded it cannot prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.

How likely is it to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

About 2 out of 100 people who use breastfeeding as birth control get pregnant in the 6 months it can be used after a baby is born. Breastfeeding won’t prevent pregnancy if you feed your baby anything other than breast milk. So if you breastfeed but also use formula, LAM isn’t a great birth control method for you.

What happens if you take Plan B while breastfeeding?

The EC pill can be taken while breastfeeding. After a single 1.5mg dose, the total amount of drug passing into the breastmilk over the next 3 days is only about 0.1% of the mother’s dose.

Can I take the abortion pill while breastfeeding?

Limited data suggest that the levels of mifepristone in milk are negligible when single doses of up to 600mg have been administered. Breastfeeding can continue in an uninterrupted manner during medical termination. No side effects have been reported for infants after exposure to mifepristone via breast milk.

What happens to the baby if Plan B fails?

Impact on a Developing Fetus
A study assessing the effect of LNG-EC exposure on pregnant women and their fetuses found that LNG-EC does not appear to have any substantial effects on the physical and mental development of a developing fetus, nor the occurrence of congenital malformations.

Will Plan B affect my baby?

Plan B is NOT the same as RU-486 (the abortion pill). Plan B is not effective after pregnancy has occurred and cannot interrupt it. Plan B won’t harm a developing fetus. If Plan B is taken mistakenly during pregnancy, it will not harm the developing fetus.

How can I breastfeed my boyfriend but not pregnant?

Inducing lactation in people who aren’t pregnant requires medication that mimics hormones your body makes during pregnancy. Suckling from the nipple can initiate lactation, either with a breast pump or by a baby.

What is the safest contraceptive pill while breastfeeding?

If you are breastfeeding, you may safely use:

• the mini pill.
• condoms.
• diaphragms.
• a contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera® or Depo-Ralovera®)
• an Implanon NXT™ implant.
• intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• permanent sterilisation (tubal ligation).