Birth control

Contraception

There are many methods of birth control.

During your maternity unit stay, a midwife or your doctor will advise you for birth control method, in order to give you effective contraception and minimize negative effects for you and your baby.

Oral contraceptive

Oral contraceptive is a medicine (pill) to swallow.

During breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is not contraceptive.
When breastfeeding, a progestin-only hormonal method (pill) can be prescribed. Estrogen based pills are contraindicated, as estrogen can flow to the milk.
You start this birth control method between 7th and 14th day after the birth, without any interruption (28 pills, 1 per day). Some pills need to be taken at fixed hours.

If you are not breastfeeding

  • Your usual pill, starting 21st day after delivery
  • A progestin-only pill, to be started between 7th and 10th day after delivery, without any interruption (28 pills, 1 per day).

Local contraceptive

Condoms – with or without spermicide – can be used, whatever the way you feed your baby, especially for contraindication to any other contraceptive method.

Intra-Uterine Device (IUD)

Breastfeeding your child is not a contraindication for IUD.
If you choose this birth control method, the IUD can be placed (into the uterus) from the 6th week after delivery (uterine decrease, infectious risk decrease), most often during menses.
Hormonal IUD (progestin based) is not contraindicated.
In the meantime, another birth control method can be suggested to you, as progestin only pill.

Implants

If you are used to forget to take your pill, an implant can be prescribed, whatever the way you feed your baby. Implant is a progestin-based device, inserted under your skin (with local anesthesia). Implant must be removed after 3 years. Your period (menses) may be shorter or longer.

Patch and vaginal ring

These combined hormonal methods (containing both estrogen and progestin) can be prescribed from 15th day after delivery, if you are not breastfeeding.

Last update: 10/2/2013