Birth control pill after pregnancy

Posted by Ann on April 27, 1999 at 14:54:47
Hi,   I am 11 weeks postpartum with child number three and am 38 years old.  I bleed for 5 weeks (red) and spotted 2 weeks more.   I stopped nursing at 7 weeks.   I started on Demulen 1/35 at 7 and 1/2 weeks.  I had no blood or spotting weeks 7 (before pill )and 8  (1st week on pill) I began spotting week 2 and bleeding red (3-6 pads/day) week 3.  It is now the week of having menses for the pill schedule and I am bleeding  moderately.  These are my questions:
1.  With all this bleeding am I protected against pregnancy?
2.  Should I continue with Demulen or switch to ortho tricylen (am I less likely to have breakthrough bleeding with it?)( I was on Demulen for 5 years before preg.#1 and for 5 years between pregs #2 & #3) (my only problems were dizzy spells and longer periods toward the last year I was on it)
3.  I assume some of my problem is widely flucuating hormone levels.  Should I just go off the pill completely for awhile?
4.  At what point should I be concerned with amemia?  (My doctor's office nurse advised me that  I could continue on the Demulen and that this "breakthrough" bleeding could continue for several months.  I would like to avoid  months of bleeding like this.  (it's been 9 out of 11 weeks so far)  PS  at lest my baby is doing GREAT.  Thank you for your help.

Posted by hfhs.md.rcs on April 27, 1999 at 18:36:53
Dear Ann:
Breakthrough bleeding is common in the first cycle of all birth conrol pills. Staying with the formulation through three cycles, 92+% of women will exerience controlled cycles. Changing formulatons may not improve the original problem may add second problems such as headache, or may trade on set ofsymptoms for a second.
During breakthrough bleeding, ovulation is blocked and contraception is being provided.
Anemia can be avoided by a blanced diet combined with a multiple vitamin with iron.
Do not stop the birth control pills until you have an alternate contraception plan in place.
Keywords: breakthrough bleeding, oral contraception
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your healthcare provider.