During the postpartum period, you and your baby get to bond and grow, while you heal and get back into a normal rhythm in your life. After having a baby, an important question to ask yourself is whether you want to have another baby right away (if at all) or if you want time to savor this moment with your family.
This is when birth control becomes an option but how soon after pregnancy is it safe to even consider? Here we explain the timeline for ovulation after pregnancy and when birth control becomes a viable option.
Residents of the Las Vegas, Nevada area looking for tips for postpartum care and birth control options can find help with Dr. Staci McHale and her experienced team at the newly named WHASN Sunset Valley.
Within the first few weeks after delivery, some things depend on whether you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section, but there is usually pain with both as the uterus shrinks back to its natural size over time. Soreness in the perineum (space between the vagina and anus) is to be expected, and little contractions may occur as the uterus is getting smaller.
By the end of the second month, the uterus should be back to its normal size, and sex is often okay to resume, but that varies from person to person. The body had mostly healed from the pregnancy, though there might still be itching in any incisions for C-sections, and feeling overwhelmed or exhausted is not unusual.
There is no fixed timeline for ovulation to resume after delivering your baby, but studies indicate you may start between 45-94 days (about a month and a half to three months). Many don’t start until after a month and a half, but it can happen sooner.
In fact, you may ovulate before you have your first period after having your child. Breasting usually prevents ovulation, but it’s not a guarantee.
Even if you do start ovulating within the normal timeframe, it is often safe to wait longer to have another child, between 18 to 24 months after to give your body time to heal and avoid complications.
Any type of birth control should be safe after delivery, but when you start using it depends on various factors. Some forms of contraception like condoms, can be used right away, and most forms are usable overall but not right away. Here are some guidelines:
Any type that uses estrogen for birth control can adversely affect breastfeeding, in which case you should want to wait at least a month to a month and a half before using them.
Cervical caps, diaphragms, and vaginal rings may not be the best option right away, so waiting six weeks gives things time to get back to their normal size. Refitting may also be necessary.
This usually keeps your body from ovulating, which keeps you from getting pregnant. It’s most effective when your baby is breastfeeding exclusively, and is less effective when using a pump or bottle feeding as well. It also only works within your baby’s first six months.
You should also consider how often you need to change pills, patches, and rings and how soon you want another child if you’re using IUDs or other implant devices. Permanent forms of birth control like tubal ligation are also an option, but we need to consult with you on when it would be safest to do.
Deciding what contraception to use after giving birth is important, and if you need help navigating it and when to resume sex make an appointment with Dr. McHale and WHASN Sunset Valley.
