After giving birth, the last thing on your mind is another baby — but it's entirely possible to get pregnant again before your first period after childbirth. If you're not ready for a surprise, birth control is a good consideration right after having your baby.
However, not all methods of birth control are the best for your baby, especially if you're breastfeeding. Talking to your OB/GYN before giving birth helps you decide which method of birth control is suitable for you postpartum.
At New England Women's Healthcare, our experienced OB/GYN doctors help you through every stage of pregnancy, including the postpartum period. When you're ready to discuss birth control, we offer advice and various options to suit your needs.
After having a baby, you probably don't want to even think about getting pregnant again, but it can happen. If you're not careful, you can have a little surprise in your womb within the first few weeks postpartum.
Birth control should be on your mind before your due date so you have a plan to prevent pregnancy while you're taking care of your newborn.
In most cases, you can start birth control immediately after childbirth, although there are some things to keep in mind, including your overall health, whether you're breastfeeding, and the reliability of the option you choose.
It's essential to speak to our team before deciding on postpartum birth control. Some options may not be suitable in the first 4-6 weeks after giving birth, including:
These birth control methods usually contain estrogen, which prevents pregnancy in several ways — but it also affects your breast milk supply. If you're going with a hormonal option for birth control, it may be best to wait at least six weeks before starting it to ensure you have a good supply of milk.
After a vaginal birth, you should abstain from putting anything into your vagina and cervix for about six weeks. Not only will you have some discomfort after childbirth, but your cervix will take about six weeks to return to its average size.
Your birth control choice ultimately depends on your health, lifestyle, and how reliable you want your choice to be. The options you can choose include:
It's important to consider how many more children you'd like to have before deciding on a permanent choice like tubal ligation. Certain medical conditions or health issues may prevent you from being able to take hormonal birth control due to health risks.
When thinking about which birth control method you want to use after having your baby, you should keep several things in mind. They include:
The good news is that all birth control methods are safe for the baby while breastfeeding — but hormonal options decrease milk supply in the first few weeks. Be sure to consult us if you're planning on breastfeeding so we can point you in the right direction for viable birth control options.
The only options you may not be able to start immediately are those that you insert into the cervix, which needs time to return to its standard shape and size, and hormonal options if you're breastfeeding. Every other option you can start the day you give birth.
The effectiveness of your birth control is something to take into account, especially if you don't want to be pregnant again any time soon. Hormonal options are often the most effective, while barrier methods aren't as reliable.
Call your nearest New England Women's Healthcare office to set up a consultation for postpartum birth control, or request one on the website. We're a premier, full-service practice with convenient locations in Woburn and Wilmington, Massachusetts.
