[FarmBaby]

My GP has suggested going on to the pill (Yaz) to sort out a potential hormonal issue. I am currently breastfeeding my 14 month old son and want to continue until he is 2. My GP warned that he may stop breastfeeding due to the taste of the milk changing. He is allergic to milk protein and so Neocate is really the only substitute and I'm not keen on putting on to something entirely synthetic when a natural alternative (breast milk) exists.

Has this happened to anyone?

If this does happen how long after stopping will he be likely to take up breastfeeding again ?

If he can taste a difference does this mean the pill is in the milk ie: will he be getting some of the hormone?

Thanks.

[FarmBaby]

No one?

[Angelina Balleri...]

I take the mini pill.

Women who are BFing aren't usually prescribed the combined pill (eg Yaz) because it decreases milk supply.

[Ronale]

I was on the mini pill and the doctor told me I could go onto the combined pill as DS was over 6 months. I think the idea is that after that point babies tend to be on solids as well, and breastfeeding is regulated differently to how it works in the early days. Maybe have a chat with a pharmacist about the potential risks and see how you feel about it.
As to the taste issue, many babies will allegedly stop breastfeeding because of the taste...if you find this is the case, maybe you could just stop the pill? He'll probably come back to breastfeeding with a vengeance!!

Oh, and there's no need to give a 14 month old formula just because you wean. As long as they have a balanced diet, a child over 12 months old doesn't need formula - it's just marketing by the formula companies.

Good luck with breastfeeding to 2 - I think you'll make it

[niggles]

My GP put me on Yaz when DD was about the same age. She kept feeding in the morning but not the evenings. I suspect it was supply that was the issue as it can impact this.

Reading the info when I got home I discovered it can cross into the milk. It actually said not to take if BF ing but the doctor said this was because of supply issues not because it's dangerous for the baby. I only took it for 2 months because that was enough to regulate my cycle again. Problem solved. But in my case DD could happily drink cows milk to supplement. Otherwise I would have had to try and boost my supply and I'm not sure how that would have gone.

I still fed till 2.

This post has been edited by niggles: 11/04/2012, 07:48 PM

[mayahlb]

I was told after both kids that I couldn't go on the combined pill while bfing as it interferes with supply (I already has enough issues there already). I guess it depends on what you want to do and it makes it hard when there are CMP allergies to take in account as it isn't something that is easily replaced in a balanced diet. (my youngest isn't allergic but very intolerant to CMP and soy and we use neocate advanced now he is 20 months, but he was topped up from 3 months with neocate due to supply issues so was used to it)

[ell80]

I changed from the mini pill to Yaz when my DS was 7 mo. My GP said it 'may or may-not' have an effect on my milk supply - (I understood that it was due to hormones affecting the supply, not the taste, although I may have been mistaken.)

Well, within 2 weeks I was dry... No more milk for my DS ALthough I was only feeding him 3 feeds at that stage as he took to solids very well.. The moning & evening feeds plus one mid arvo feed.

I did assume it was the supply that waned, not that he was rejecting it due to the taste, but I may have missinterpreted what happened.

[SplashingRainbow...]

Oh, and there's no need to give a 14 month old formula just because you wean. As long as they have a balanced diet, a child over 12 months old doesn't need formula - it's just marketing by the formula companies.

Loved you post, just wanted to let you know though that the above advice is probably right for most babies/toddlers, but not all

My son has a cows milk intolerance (as does the OPs) and my GP feels that he needs soy formula (rather than soy milk) until age 2 as the content of the normal soy milk is not sufficient for a child this young. My 17 month old DS has the appropriate solids for his age and breastfed but has soy formula on occasion, like once per week at daycare etc.