It’s been a while – probably at least nine months – since you’ve had to think about birth control, but now that your baby is out in the world, breathing oxygen and learning to wiggle their toes, you may be physically able to become pregnant again already, even if you haven’t had your period yet. This makes your upcoming postpartum appointment a great time for you to talk about contraception with your doctor before having sex again for the first time.
Your body after giving birth
Healthcare professionals recommend waiting to have sex after giving birth for a while to give the cervix time to close, for any tears from delivery to heal, and for postpartum bleeding to stop. Even if you had a cesarean section, it’s recommended that you wait the same timeframe before having intercourse. Most healthcare providers give new parents the go-ahead for sex about four to six weeks after delivery, which makes your visit around this time a great time to talk about contraception, if you have not already started or chosen a method.
Maybe you haven’t started your period again after giving birth, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t get pregnant yet. Many new moms have their first period after giving birth as early as 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. But when your period arrives, it shows that you’ve already been able to become pregnant. Ovulation, the stage of the menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant, happens before menstruation.
Postpartum contraception is important even to new parents who are planning to have more children. New moms are able to become pregnant again soon after giving birth, but babies who are conceived less than 18 months after their older siblings, are at a higher risk for preterm birth and low birth weight, and moms who are pregnant for the second time in 18 months or less have a higher risk of health complications related to pregnancy. Birth spacing is a very personal decision, and it helps to know your risks.
Types of contraception
Having a new baby around can make some types of contraception – like the pill – feel less convenient than they might have before. Your routines have changed completely, and you may be catching some Zzzs whenever you can. Taking a pill at the same time every day can get tricky. If you feel confident continuing to use the contraception you’re used to, that’s great, though it’s still a good idea to talk through your choice with your provider.
If you think this might be a good time to explore other birth control options, though, there are several very effective options that can be convenient for new parents.
- Intrauterine Device (IUD): An IUD is a small device containing copper or the hormone progestin that a health care provider places inside a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. Depending on which type you choose, an IUD can provide birth control without you needing to do anything about it for 3 to12 years, and they’re all considered compatible with breastfeeding. Once placed by a doctor, it is one of the most effective and low-maintenance types of birth control. New guidelines for pain control make insertion easier. An IUD can be taken out by a provider at any time, for any reason, and fertility returns quickly.
- Implant: The birth control implant is a small, thin rod that is inserted into the upper arm, and it provides hormonal birth control for up to five years. Like an IUD, the implant is highly effective, compatible with breastfeeding and doesn’t require any maintenance. It is also reversible and can be removed at any time, for any reason, and fertility returns quickly.
- Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM): If you’re exclusively breastfeeding your baby, you may already be using an effective form of birth control. Breastfeeding as birth control only works under very specific circumstances during the first 6 months postpartum. It’s only effective if you feed based on cues (not a schedule), still breastfeed overnight, and haven’t had a period yet. Unfortunately, even one bottle of formula here and there means LAM is not a reliable method for you. Some experts even suggest that using a pacifier or automated bassinet may interfere with LAM. But when used perfectly, LAM is about 98% effective during the first 6 months of Baby’s life.
There’s no rush to have sex after having a baby. At six weeks postpartum, many parents still need much more time before feeling interested. Don’t feel pressured to have sex before you’re ready – your body has just been through a series of big changes, and there’s no predicting how soon you’ll find yourself ready for sex. When you do, though, having a plan in place for birth control can be a great way to make sure your family is growing at a speed you’re ready for.
