Birth Control error while Breastfeeding

[Anonymous]

When my baby was three months old I decided to resume taking birth control pills. I had a great milk supply and breastfed 95% of the time, with bottle supplements once every few days. I talked with my doctor and we both decided that I should start taking the Mini Pill. Well, after a few weeks on the pill my period returned and I noticed a huge decrease in my milk supply. A month and a half later my supply was completely dried up, even though I tried supplemental pumping, drinking tons of water, etc. My son (now 5 1/2 months) now is exclusively formula fed.

Anyway, I went to refill my prescription today and when I got home I noticed that the pills I just picked up are different from the ones I had been taking for the last 3 months. After reading the insert materials, I now realize that the pills I was given the first time were combination pills - and the pills I just picked up were the mini's!

I know my dr prescribed the mini's from the beginning, and I believe that the pharmacy made an error when dispensing the pills the first time. I'm positive that the error caused my breastmilk to dry up. What would you do in this situation? I had been planning on breastfeeding for the first year, and went through a lot of pain and tears to build my initial supply. I'm pretty devastated that this happened...

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for you. This is terrible!

The estrogen in the regular pill could have dried up your milk. Call a lactation consultant to see if you can restart your milk supply. It can be done for an adopted baby...

If you have the previous pill box, you could try to go to claims court... But I don't know the procedure.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Yes, when I talked to my Dr before she prescribed the minis, she stated specifically that a regular pill would dry up my milk and that "there would be no way to get it back". I will call a lactation consultant though, and see what they say - I didn't think of that.

[Anonymous]

I feel for you. I would be LIVID!! I don't know what the proper channels for complaints would be, however I would demand to talk to the head pharmacist. I would also find out who governs them (DEA?)

I would write a letter (CC pharmacy) to the governing body explaining the issue and demanding an investigation into their practices and some sort of admission of wrongdoing and a formal apology to you and your child. There are absolutely no excuses for this sort of shoddy mistake.

Just thank god that it wasn't an error that killed someone!

[Anonymous]

PP again - obviously, I would also let them know that I would be taking my business elsewhere.

As for your baby - you did bf for 3 months, so you have given your baby an enormous benefit. I would definitely not beat yourself up about stopping.

[Anonymous]

OP here again: I just found out that it was definitely a pharmacy error. I found my old medication insert which states that I was given 3 packs of Nor-Qd (mini pills). However, the pills that I was actually given were Trivora (a combination pill) - I still have the old cases with me.

[Anonymous]

How unbelievably frustrating. If it were me, as much as I would love to go to the pharmacy and rip someone a new one, I would focus my energy on trying to get my milk supply back. I don't think your doctor's advice was necessarily true for everyone (that you can't get it back). But that's just my .02. I'm so sorry.

[Anonymous]

Curious where you had the prescription filled? There have been a handful of postings on the listserve about CVS making mistakes, and I didn't even include my own anecdote. Wondering where it was, and if it was CVS might be time for a letter from the 8 billion of us on DCUM to get some changes made...

[Anonymous]

Don't give up yet. A lactation consultant may be able to help you. I know it sounds crazy, but I have read that there is a way to stimulate milk production in adoptive mothers (who did not give birth), so maybe they will have some magic for you!

I am totally LIVID for you! This is unbelievable that they would make such a mistake. I would think that they should reprimand (at the least) the pharmacist and the pharmacy. What kind of quality control is that to prescribe the wrong medication!

[Anonymous]

I feel for you. I hope you can get your supply back. I would focus your energy on getting the supply back first, then deal with the pharmacy later. Here's a few resources that could be helpful:

Definitely see a lactation consultant asap.

Below is a link to a "relactation boot camp" plan. I found it helpful when I had low milk supply.
http://www.fourfriends.com/abrw/Boot%20Camp/bc1.htm

Also rent a hospital grade breast pump, even if you have the PIS advanced. I've used both and the hospital grade pump is much better when your supply is low.

Consider taking blessed thistle and feenugreek herbs (available at Whole Foods or other natural food store).

Sleep with DC and breastfeed on demand. If you are exclusively pumping, then take a weekend and pump every two hours round the clock (have someone help you at home to take any pressures off of you so you can rest in between). Drink lots of water.

There are also perscription medications you can take if you are really serious--Reglan and Domperidone. I took Domperidone before--it requires a doctor's RX and must be compounded at a pharmacy (it is NOT FDA approved for this purpose). You should talk seriously with your Doctor about the pros and cons of either drug before taking one though.

I wish you all the best.

[Anonymous]

Complain to the Board of Medicine in Baltimore.
Try to get the milk supply back.
What about another form of contraception?

[Anonymous]

Wow that is unbelievable. I had a CVS give me the mini pill once from a prescription for regular pills. This was before I had my DD. My OB was apalled when I told her what I was taking (it happened to come up in conversation and she realized I was not taking what she had prescribed).

[Anonymous]

I would contact the Pharmacy right away, and let them know there has been an error made. They will (should) write up the Pharmacist and the Pharmacy Tech who filled the prescription.

I think that this is also an important reminder to everyone, check your medication before you take it. So many of the packages, and pills look the same, it is easy to make a mistake. There are descriptions of the medication on the literature the pharmacy provides you. We have a responsibility to ourselves to make sure we are taking the correct medication, as those who are working in the pharmacy, much like ourselves, are human and make mistakes.

OP. I believe there is actually a three month period when you can reverse the loss of milk production. It is going to be a lot of work, but it can be done. If for some reason, you are not able to get your milk production back, remember that you did the absolute best you could for your child, and it is not your fault.

[Anonymous]

keep track of any expenses you incur in trying to restart your production. and what you spend on formula. the pharmacy shld reimburse you for those costs.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thanks for all the supportive responses. I will definitely be contacting a lactation consultant and trying to get my supply back, as well as filing a complaint with the company who dispensed the pills. And I will never again take a medication without triple checking that it was dispensed correctly!