After you have a baby, birth control may be the last thing on your mind. However, it is important to know that you can get pregnant as soon as three weeks after the birth of your baby, even if you're breastfeeding and your period has not started. As many experts recommend waiting at least 24 months between pregnancies before having another baby, using a birth control method in the weeks after you have a baby helps you avoid an unintended pregnancy and lets you plan your family.

When can I use contraception after having a baby? 

It is recommended to plan for contraceptives around the time of your 36 week pre-natal period. You will usually have a chance to discuss contraception before you leave the hospital after your baby is born, and again at your postnatal check. You can also talk to your doctor, midwife or go to a family planning clinic, at any time. 

A good time to choose the birth control method you will use after pregnancy is while you are still pregnant. There are many birth control methods to choose from. Many methods can be started right after you have your baby and some can be started even before you leave the hospital.

What are the contraception choices immediately after birth? 

When choosing a birth control method to use after you have a baby, consider the timing, as with some methods of contraception you have to wait a few weeks to start. Be aware that certain methods are not recommended during the first weeks of breastfeeding because there is a very small risk that they can affect your milk supply and some methods used pre pregnancy may not be as effective during the postpartum period. Not all methods of contraception are safe for all women and certain contraception should not be used if you have certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure. Hence, it is always best to discuss with your doctor or nurse which methods are suitable for you.

At any time after the birth of your baby, as long as you have no medical risks, you can use, a contraceptive implant or injection (every three months), the progestogen-only pill or condoms. You can also choose to have an IUD (intrauterine device) or IUS (intrauterine system) inserted within 48 hours of the birth or 4 weeks after the birth.

Three weeks after birth, if you're not breastfeeding and your healthcare professional has checked you have no medical risk factors for blood clots, you can start to use the combined pill.  However, if you are breast feeding, have health conditions or you are at a risk of blood clots, it is always recommended to speak to a healthcare professional prior to use.

As you are unlikely to have any periods if you breastfeed exclusively when your baby is under 6 months of age, you can use breastfeeding as a form of natural contraception. This is known as the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM). However, if your baby is older than 6 months, anything other than breast milk is given, your period starts again, you stop night feeding, breastfeed less often or there are longer intervals between the feeds, it’s important to use another form of contraception as this alone is then not an effective form of family planning. 

Finally, tubal ligation is a long-term family planning method, also known as "getting your tubes tied". For most women, tubal ligation is permanent and whilst surgery is available to try reversing it, there is no guarantee it will work. Therefore, you must be mindful of the same when using this method of contraception.

Your birth control method is your choice and your Ob/Gyn specialist can give you information to help in the decision process. 

To learn more about each contraception option and choose what you feel most comfortable with call FPA Sri Lanka on 076 588 4881 / 076 588 4881 for advice.