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Post-Birth Contraception Options

By: Rachel Newcombe - Updated: 24 Oct 2012 | comments*Discuss
 
Contraception Contraceptive Post-birth

When you’ve recently had a baby and are busy caring for your newborn and getting over the effects of the birth, it’s not unusual for the idea of having sex to be completely off your radar. But if you are beginning to think of it, then post-birth contraception may need to be a consideration too.

Why Is Post-Birth Contraception Important?

Amazingly, despite the stress of giving birth and the major effects it can have on your body, within a few weeks of having a baby, you can be fully fertile again. If you’re going to have sex, whether sooner or later, then you’ll need to consider your post-birth contraception options, unless you want to run the risk of getting pregnant again.

Apart from the risk of getting pregnant again, there are other practical reasons why you need to think about what form of contraception you’ll use. Even if you’ve had a tried and tested form of contraception that you preferred in the past, it may not be appropriate to use in the early months after having a baby.

One of the major reasons is that some forms of contraception – particularly those involving artificial hormones – aren’t suitable to take or use if you’re breastfeeding your baby. So even if you’ve had a favourite form of contraceptive in the past, now you’ve had a baby, you may need to renew the options that are available to you.

Contraception That’s Safe To Use When Breastfeeding

One of the most practical forms of contraception for many people to use is condoms. They’re simple and easy to use, don’t pose any problems when you’re breastfeeding and are available in both male and female forms.

Both diaphragms and caps, which are inserted into the vagina before you have sex, are suitable forms of contraception for post natal women. You do need to feel comfortable about inserting them and, if you’ve had a difficult birth or suffered tears during childbirth, then they might not be so comfortable to insert.

If you’re disappointed not to be able to take a contraceptive pill when breastfeeding, one useful alternative is the contraceptive injection. Although this does involve progestogen, it releases it very slowly and is a good choice for long-term contraception. If you’re planning on trying for another baby within the next year, then this may not be such a good choice.

Contraception To Avoid When You’re Breastfeeding

There are some forms of contraception that are best avoided if you’re still breastfeeding, even if you used to use these methods in the past.

Various forms of contraceptive pills are available, including the mini pill and combined pill. Although they are convenient to use, when you’re breastfeeding, all the hormones they provide aren’t a good choice and are best avoided until you’ve finished breastfeeding your baby.

The contraceptive patch, which releases the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into your bloodstream each day, work like the combined pill. Although it can be an easy option, as you don’t have to remember to take a pill every day, this method should be avoided when you’re breastfeeding, due to the hormones that are going into your body.

For similar reasons, the vaginal ring, which is inserted inside your vagina and releases oestrogen and progestogen, is not a suitable form of contraception for breastfeeding mothers to use.

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Hi How lOng will rake to recovery after labor? I had big baby and big torn and am still in pain most the time, am upset snd have to back to work in month, what need to do to reduce the pain and how long should take to recovery? What food i need to eat?
Al - 18-Mar-12 @ 6:38 PM
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