Babies Breastfeeding Pregnancy Risk With the Mini-Pill and Breastfeeding By Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown is a parenting writer with experience in the Head Start program and in NAEYC accredited child care centers. Learn about our editorial process Stephanie Brown Reviewed by Reviewed by Rachel Gurevich, RN on June 03, 2019 facebook twitter linkedin Rachel Gurevich, RN, is a registered nurse, fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Learn about our Review Board Rachel Gurevich, RN Updated on January 23, 2020 Print Julia Wheeler and Veronika Laws/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Effectiveness Breastfeeding Side Effects Both breastfeeding and birth control pills will reduce your risk of pregnancy, but there are factors that affect their effectiveness. As a new mother, you may have begun taking the mini-pill while you are breastfeeding. Learn about your pregnancy risk when using these two methods. Mini-Pill Effectiveness A progestin-only hormonal birth control pill is 91% effective with typical use and 99.7% effective with perfect use. It must be taken precisely as directed and at the same time each day. If you're not sticking with the plan exactly, then chances of a pregnancy increase. Even if you miss just one pill, you'll need to use a backup method of birth control for 48 hours until you are back on track with the pills. If you made a mistake and then you don't have a period within 45 days, you could definitely be pregnant. If you missed more than two pills, there is a chance you will have ovulated and you need to use a backup method for 2 weeks. You will need to rule out pregnancy after a couple of weeks. In addition, if you're in a country besides the United States, the mini-pill you've been prescribed might be different. If you miss a pill, you might need to use a backup method for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider or read the package insert to be sure. Breastfeeding and Pregnancy Risk Breastfeeding can reduce your fertility, but should you consider that a backup birth control method? Perhaps, if you meet the following criteria: Exclusive breastfeeding: Your baby is fed only breast milk, on-demand, without supplements, solids, or pacifiers. You must nurse at least every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night.Infant age: Your baby is 6 months old or younger.Menstrual cycle: Your period hasn't returned. Breastfeeding can be used as a lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) as it can prevent ovulation. When done perfectly, it is about 98% effective. But If you began using the mini-pill because your period returned, then breastfeeding cannot be considered to be a backup birth control method. Having your period means you have ovulated and are at risk for pregnancy. If you have returned to work and are pumping milk to be given at childcare, that is not the same as feeding your baby on demand. While it doesn't provide natural birth control protection, pumping is still beneficial for both you and your baby. Pregnancy Signs vs. Mini-Pill Side Effects The known side effects of the mini-pill are also symptoms of pregnancy (such as dizziness, nausea, changes in your breasts, weight, mood, sex drive, and menstrual flow). Before you dismiss any of your symptoms as side effects from your birth control, it's wise to take a home pregnancy test. But if it's negative, know that it's possible to get a negative result and still be pregnant. You may want to visit your doctor to rule out pregnancy with certainty. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Track your baby’s most exciting moments with our milestone checklist. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Minipill. Updated January 28, 2018. MedlinePlus U.S. National Library of Medicine. Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptives. Updated January 15, 2016. Planned Parenthood. Breastfeeding. Additional Reading Trussell J. Contraceptive failure in the United States. Contraception. 2011;83(5):397-404. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2011.01.021