Postnatal family planning (contraception)

When is it safe to get pregnant again after birth?

It is safer for you and your next baby to wait at least 2 years before becoming pregnant again after giving birth. If you get pregnant again in the first year after giving birth, it is more likely that your next baby is born too soon, too small or even does not survive. Your body also needs time to recover after childbirth.

How soon is it possible to get pregnant again?

It is possible to get pregnant as soon as 21 days (or 3 weeks) after having a baby. It is possible to get pregnant before your first period after childbirth. It is also possible to get pregnant whilst you are breastfeeding. Contraception can be used to stop you from getting pregnant from having sex. To stop getting pregnant, you need to be using contraception before your baby is 21 days (or 3 weeks) old.

Can breastfeeding stop you from getting pregnant?

Breastfeeding can help prevent pregnancy, but it only works well if:

• Your baby is less than 6 months old
• Your baby is getting only breast milk (no water, formula or other liquids)
• You haven't had your first period since giving birth

The chance of getting pregnant goes up if you breastfeed less often (more than 4 hours between feeds in the day, or more than 6 hours between feeds at night). Breastfeeding less often might happen because you or your baby are sick, you stop feeding at night or your baby uses a dummy (pacifier). The chance of getting pregnant also goes up if your baby has other liquids as well as breast milk.

Once your baby is 6 months old, you need to use another form of contraception, even if you are fully breastfeeding and still haven't had a period.

Is contraception safe after having a baby?

Contraception is very safe. It is safer than being pregnant. Most methods of contraception can be started safely immediately after birth. These include long-acting methods (implant and intrauterine methods), hormonal methods (e.g. progestogen-only pills) and condoms. Intrauterine methods (such as a coil/intrauterine device (IUD)) can be put in straight away after birth, even if you had a cesarean delivery. Most methods are safe for you and your baby when you are breastfeeding. Condoms, which can be used together with any other contraceptive method, are the only method that protects you against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Unfortunately, they do not work as well as other methods to stop pregnancy.

A few methods of contraception may not be safe immediately after having a baby, especially if you have a medical illness or had some medical problems during pregnancy or birth. These methods include the combined pill, the contraceptive patch, vaginal ring and injection (which contain estrogen hormone). You should discuss which methods are safe for you if you have any illnesses or medical problems.

Is contraception safe when breastfeeding?

Most methods are safe for you and your baby if you are breastfeeding. These include the implant, injection, progestogen-only pill, intrauterine device and condoms. These methods do not affect breastfeeding, breast milk, or your baby. Some hormonal methods should not be used in the first 6 weeks as it may make it harder for you to start making breast milk. These include the combined pill, the contraceptive patch and vaginal ring, as they contain estrogen.

Which methods are best at stopping pregnancy?

Long-acting reversible methods are best at stopping pregnancy. These include the implant and IUDs. When implants and IUDs are removed, getting pregnant again as normal is possible. This means they can be used to space out your pregnancies. The implant is a small, flexible rod placed in your arm and can be fitted immediately after birth. Intrauterine devices are small flexible devices that contain hormones or copper and are placed into your womb. Intrauterine devices can be fitted at birth or 4 weeks after birth. Long-acting methods need to be fitted and removed by a trained healthcare worker.

Which methods do not work well after having a baby?

A few methods do not work well to stop pregnancy straight after birth. The diaphragm will not fit properly in the vagina in the first weeks after birth. Using your period to guide you to when to have sex when you are less likely to get pregnant, also called fertility awareness methods, will also not work soon after you have a baby. You can only use these methods when you have had at least three normal, regular periods after giving birth. After birth, it is normal to bleed for a few weeks, and then your periods may not return for some months, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Is emergency contraception safe after having a baby?

If you have had sex without using a method of contraception, you can use emergency contraception to help stop you from getting pregnant. It works better the sooner that you use it after having sex but can be used for up to 5 days after having sex. There are three different emergency contraceptives: two different types of tablets or a copper IUD.

How can I get contraception after having a baby?

Talk to your healthcare worker about what contraception is available to you and which method may be best for you. It is a good idea to start thinking about this when you are still pregnant and have time to ask any questions. You may also want to discuss this with your partner or other family members. You should also make sure you know how to get your method of contraception after you have had your baby and may also be able to discuss this after your birth or when you are getting your baby immunized.