How Soon After Having a Baby Should You Start Birth Control?

After nine months of pregnancy and the rigors of labor and delivery, family planning is probably the last thing you feel like thinking about. 

But the fact is, fertility returns a lot sooner than many women realize, and deciding on a birth control method early is the best way to manage your future and prevent an unexpected pregnancy.

At Feminine Urgicare, our team provides education and guidance to help women manage their fertility throughout their childbearing years, including during that all-important postpartum period. 

Here’s what you need to know about the critical importance of having a birth control plan in place even before your delivery date.

Fertility after childbirth

Pregnancy causes some significant shifts in your hormones, and after nine months of hormonal upheaval, it’s tempting to think that it’ll be some time before your body gets back to its “normal” pre-pregnancy cycle. 

As a result, many women are caught off guard by how quickly fertility returns, leaving them at risk of becoming pregnant sooner than they planned.

In fact, ovulation and the risk of pregnancy can occur within a few weeks of giving birth, even before you’ve had your first postpartum period. Pregnancy can happen even before you realize your menstrual cycle has resumed. 

What’s more, many women wrongly assume breastfeeding acts as a natural form of contraception for as long as they continue to nurse, but once again, that’s not true. 

While nursing may delay ovulation, it’s definitely not a guaranteed form of birth control. Ovulation can still occur soon after pregnancy, especially as feeding schedules change or nighttime feedings decrease.

Because fertility timing varies from one woman to another, it’s important to discuss birth control options early, even before your delivery date. 

Early planning helps reduce the risk of an unplanned pregnancy, reducing stress and providing you with more control over your future and the future of your family, too.

Know your options: Timing matters

If you’re done having children, tubal ligation is an option that can be performed soon after your baby is delivered. Remember, even though some procedures can be successfully reversed, tubal ligation is considered a permanent form of birth control and should only be considered once you’re sure you don’t want children in the future.

If you do want to have children in the future or you’re not sure, you have plenty of options, but there are some important considerations. 

While some birth control methods can be started immediately after childbirth, others require waiting a few weeks, depending on what type of hormones they use.

For most women, progestin-only options, such as certain pills, injections, or implants, are often considered safe soon after delivery, even if you’re breastfeeding. 

Alternatively, estrogen-containing birth control methods typically require a waiting period to reduce the risk of postpartum blood clots. 

IUDs are a convenient type of birth control that can be placed soon after delivery or during your postpartum follow-up visit. 

These devices are available in both hormonal and non-hormonal forms, and they can be an ideal choice for women looking for long-term, “set-it-and-forget-it” birth control.

Family planning is an ongoing process

Even if you want to have kids close in age, most experts recommend waiting at least 18 months after delivery to get pregnant again. 

During those 18 months, your body has a chance to fully recover before it’s taxed with supporting another pregnancy, and that’s important for your health and the health of your developing baby, too.  

Getting pregnant too soon increases your risks of serious pregnancy complications that could affect you and your baby. Plus, waiting 18 months gives you time to establish a strong, healthy bond with your first child. 

Ideally, you should start thinking about birth control while you’re pregnant or at least during your postpartum visit with our team. That said, it’s never too late, and the sooner you make plans, the more control you’ll have over your future.

Not sure which contraceptive option is right for you? We can help. To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine Urgicare in Paramus and Clifton, New Jersey, today.