Breastfeeding and Oral Contraceptives: a Randomized, Controlled Trial
Breastfeeding and Oral Contraceptives: a Randomized, Controlled Trial
Objectives

 To clarify the relationship between postpartum (2 weeks) use of progestin-only vs. combined
 oral contraceptive pills and the outcomes of breastfeeding continuation, infant growth,
 contraceptive method continuation, and pregnancy rates in breastfeeding women. Specific
 research questions:

 1. To determine whether there is a difference in rates of breastfeeding continuation at 2
 months and 4 months between postpartum breastfeeding women using progestin-only pills
 vs. combined pills.

 2. To determine whether there is a difference in infant growth at 2 weeks and 8 weeks
 between postpartum breastfeeding women using progestin-only pills vs. combined pills.

 3. To determine whether there is a difference in birth control method continuation at 2
 months and 4 months between postpartum breastfeeding women using progestin-only pills
 vs. combined pills.

 Hypothesis

 Combined oral contraceptive pills, when initiated by postpartum breastfeeding women, will
 cause a differential in continuation of breastfeeding: 35% continuation in the combined pill
 group vs. 60% in the progestin-only pill group at 8 weeks.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  able to give informed consent

 -  postpartum women delivering at the University of New Mexico Hospital

 -  Intend to breastfeed

 -  Plan to use oral contraceptives as her family planning method

 -  Willing to be randomized to either progestin-only pills or combined pills

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  medical contraindications to combined pills including history of thromboembolism,
 uncontrolled hypertension or complex migraine headaches

 -  preterm birth (<37 weeks)

 -  small for gestational age infant (<2500 grams)

 -  large for gestational age infant (>4500 grams)

 -  infant with major congenital anomaly