Obstetrics >> After Delivery: Birth Control

Birth Control After Delivery

Your doctor recommends at least 6 months between pregnancies to allow you to recuperate, lose weight and breast feed for a few months. If your pregnancy was complicated by high blood pressure, diabetes or premature labor, you should wait a year between pregnancies. If you delivered your baby by cesarean section, we also recommend a 12 month period until your next pregnancy.

The birth control method you use after delivery will depend upon a number of factors:

  • If you are breastfeeding
  • If you are looking forward to another pregnancy in the next 12-18 months
  • If you are finished growing your family
  • Your general health

Breastfeeding mothers should avoid using birth control products that contain estrogen such as a regular birth control pill.

Hormonal birth control products that contain only progesterone are safe and effective for breastfeeding mothers. These products are:

Most women can start a hormonal birth control product 4-6 weeks after delivery.

Non-hormonal birth control products include:

  • Condoms
  • Diaphragm
  • Copper IUD (Paragard) 

Bottle feeding mothers can use regular birth control pills if their blood pressure is normal and they do not smoke.

Permanent birth control methods include:

  • Tubal ligation
  • Vasectomy 

Our goal is to discuss your birth control plan prior to delivery. Ask your provider any questions that you may have.

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