Key details about contraception after delivery:
- Contraception will be began from round 3 weeks after delivery.
- {Couples} have decisions about what contraception is true for them – there are a selection of choices.
- No contraception is 100% efficient in stopping being pregnant.
However I’ve simply had a child!
If you wish to keep away from changing into pregnant, you’ll must resolve on an efficient type of contraception. You and your companion have decisions round what’s best for you. The most typical types of contraception really useful after delivery are condoms, progestogen solely drugs or the contraceptive implant.
Many ladies discover they’re not curious about having intercourse after having a child and think about contraception to be pointless. The overall recommendation from well being care suppliers is to attend at the least 4 – six weeks after delivery to permit for therapeutic. An excellent time to debate your contraceptive choices can be at your postnatal examine.
Is that this a interval or submit child bleeding?
It’s regular to bleed for as much as six weeks after having a child. At first, blood loss (lochia) is heavy and vivid purple for the primary couple of days. Regularly the color adjustments to a reddish brown earlier than stopping. Shut to 2 weeks after having a child, it’s regular to have a whitish discharge which may also be tinged with outdated blood.
There is no such thing as a commonplace sample of bleeding after having a child. Nonetheless, many ladies discover they go extra blood clots than they normally do. Additionally they have a break of some weeks (or months) after having their child, earlier than their intervals resume.
One technique to inform the distinction between submit child bleeding and a real interval is that lochia will be lighter and extra watery. It additionally smells completely different to interval bleeding.
When to begin utilizing contraception after having a child
Most girls are fertile two weeks earlier than their interval begins. Nonetheless, breastfeeding can delay the return of intervals, making it exhausting for ladies to know with any confidence when their ‘fertile window’ could also be. This is the reason some girls conceive once more earlier than their intervals have come again.
Durations usually return any time from round six weeks to 3 months after a child is born. Breastfeeding, system or blended feeding have an effect on the timing of when intervals return.
Protected contraception in case you are breastfeeding
These contraceptive strategies are thought-about protected for breastfeeding girls:
The mini capsule – Additionally referred to as the progesterone solely capsule. It’s vital to take the mini capsule at precisely the identical time every day so it may be as much as 99.7 % efficient.
Condoms – The male condom is a nice rubber or artificial sheath worn over the erect penis. Condoms forestall sperm from coming into the vagina and uterus. When used completely, condoms are 98% efficient. The feminine condom is a comfortable, rubber like pouch with versatile rings at every finish, with one closed finish. Feminine condoms are thought-about to be 95% efficient in stopping being pregnant.
Diaphragm – A kind of cap comprised of silicone which covers the cervix and stops sperm from coming into the uterus. When used correctly, diaphragms are assessed to be 84% efficient.
Contraceptive injection – Generally referred to as by its commerce identify ‘Depo-Provera® or ‘Depo Ralovera®. It is a hormonal injection which must be given each 12 weeks. When used completely, this injection is 99.8% efficient.
Implanon – A small plastic rod which is inserted beneath the pores and skin on the within of the lady’s higher arm. This accommodates progesterone which prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg every month. The Implanon implant lasts for 3 years and is 99.95% efficient.
Intrauterine System – Additionally referred to as an IUD. It is a small machine which is implanted within the uterus. Copper UIDs are designed to final for as much as 10 years and progesterone IUDs for as much as 5 years. Copper IUDs are 99.4% efficient and Progesterone IUDs are 99.8 % efficient.
Everlasting sterilisation – For girls that is additionally referred to as tubal ligation or ‘getting the tubes tied’. It is a surgical process the place the fallopian tubes are reduce, blocked and sealed off. For males, everlasting sterilisation refers to a vasectomy which entails chopping the tubes within the testes which carry sperm to the penis. Each of the procedures are thought-about to be 99% efficient in stopping being pregnant.
Vaginal ring* – This works in the same technique to the contraceptive capsule by releasing hormones which forestall the ovaries from releasing an egg every month. *The vaginal ring is just not really useful for ladies whose child is aged lower than six weeks and who’re breastfeeding.
Contraception to keep away from for those who’re breastfeeding
Keep away from utilizing any contraception which accommodates oestrogen in case you are breastfeeding. The vaginal ring and the mixed (oestrogen and progesterone) capsule usually are not really useful for breastfeeding girls, except their child is at the least six weeks outdated. It is because oestrogen can scale back breastmilk provide.
Is breastfeeding a protected contraceptive?
Breastfeeding will be an efficient technique of contraception because it delays the return of ovulation and intervals. There may be nonetheless a threat you possibly can fall pregnant if you find yourself breastfeeding and it’s possible you’ll select to make use of different, more practical technique of contraception.
To reduce your threat of conceiving when breastfeeding guarantee all of those:
- You’re breastfeeding often and frequently.
- Your child is youthful than 6 months outdated.
- Your child is being fed ‘on demand’ each evening and day with no area of greater than 4 hours between feeds.
- Your intervals haven’t returned.
Emergency contraception
Additionally referred to as the ‘morning after’ capsule, the emergency contraceptive capsule must be taken as quickly as potential, (not essentially within the morning) after having unprotected intercourse. There are two varieties of drugs which can be found from pharmacies and which don’t require a health care provider’s prescription.
- Ulipristal (UPA-EC) – will be taken as much as 5 days after unprotected intercourse. It’s not really useful when breastfeeding.
- Levonorgestrel (LNG-EC) – will be taken as much as 3 days after unprotected intercourse.
Earlier than beginning contraception
Be sure to’re not pregnant. Do a being pregnant check and converse together with your GP or healthcare supplier for those who’re not sure. Focus on together with your companion what’s best for you each.
Effectiveness, comfort, price and way of life are all vital issues when making contraception selections if you wish to keep away from an unplanned pregnancy.
For extra details about contraception after delivery:
Converse together with your GP, midwife or maternity care supplier.
You may also examine:
Contraception | Family Planning NSW (fpnsw.org.au)
Family Planning Australia
Name – Household Planning Speak Line – 1300 658 886
What is contraception? – Play Safe (nsw.gov.au)
Concerning the Creator:
Written for Nourish Baby by Jane Barry. Jane has {qualifications} typically, paediatric, immunisation, midwifery and youngster well being nursing. She holds a Bachelor Diploma in Utilized Science (Nursing) and has nearly 35 years specialist expertise in youngster well being nursing. She is a member of quite a lot of professionally affiliated organisations together with AHPRA, The Australasian Medical Author’s Affiliation and Australian School of Youngsters and Younger Folks’s Nurses.
References
Contraception – female (internal) condoms – Better Health Channel
