Post-Baby Birth Control
Completely You: Peace & Wellness: Sound Body
Mimi Zieman, MD for Completely You
: I've heard that breastfeeding is not a reliable form of birth control, so what's the best way to prevent pregnancy soon after giving birth?
: Breastfeeding alone is only effective when a woman is exclusively nursing (which suppresses ovulation so she doesn't have menstrual periods) and the infant is less than six months old. But there are other options if the above does not apply to you. If you are absolutely sure you don't want more children you can consider the idea of sterilization. Just as effective, but leaving open the option of having a baby in the future, is the use of intrauterine contraception (IUD). Modern IUDs are safe and can be inserted at the postpartum checkup -- typically 4-6 weeks after giving birth. Ask your healthcare provider if you are an appropriate candidate. Other options that are effective and safe (even if you are breast feeding) include the birth control shot and minipills. Barrier methods are also an option -- but if you are a diaphragm user you need to be refitted after pregnancy.
Mimi Zieman, MD, is the director of Family Planning and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She is a Board Certified obstetrician/gynecologist specializing in gynecology and contraception. Dr. Zieman is an author of two books: A Pocket Guide to Managing Contraception for Clinicians and A Personal Guide to Managing Contraception for Women and Men.
© Studio One Networks
User login
Navigation
Recent blog posts
- The Year of Breaking Things
- Beware angry dairy farmers
- In praise of computers for kids
- Chemistry Fun with Pennies
- A month’s worth of probiotics for the price of a cabbage!
- Gluten Free Sourdough Bread as an Intuitive Art
- caring for fleece
- A niece! I has one!
- Yearbook Yourself, or, excellent time waster
- Why you should never, ever ask us for photos
Who's online
There are currently 0 users and 14 guests online.
Warning! Don't try this at home!
I would never rely on breastfeeding as birth control at any time. If you have a big baby who begins sleeping long stretches at night early on, you lose that "protection" as early as 6 weeks. After my DD6, who was a champion nurser, exclusively breastfead for more than 6 months, I got my period at 3-mos. post-partum. Even though she was nursing, my mom got pregnant (and miscarried) 3 months post-partum. Same happened to my step-mom, except she actually had the baby, so they are just over 12 months apart. (Around here we call those Irish Twins.)
Even my experienced midwife assured me that exclusive, on-demand breastfeeding would prevent pregnancy. I told her I would not be taking that chance! After all, you have to ovulate to have a period, so you won't know when you've started until it is too late. Just don't do it!
Isn't it enough..
Isn't a screaming, colicky baby up all night enough to convince anyone that sex is BAAAAAD?
HAHAHAHA!!!! Sorry, couldn't resist, since I'm THERE right now!!!! LOL!
:D 
It can work
Yes, if you REALLY don't want a baby there are a lot of other birth control options out there; but breastfeeding can work. I believe it is something like 98 or 99% effective IF you are 6months or less after birth and breastfeeding on demand. (however, this includes no pacifiers or artificial feedings, and often involves lots of nighttime nursing.) Personally, breastfeeding suppressed my ovulation for 15 months after both my children.
Ok, update since this thread
Ok, update since this thread has been resurfaced.
CB, dont' tell me that! I get an IUD later this month! LOL!
I've always done the mini-pill after all four of my children while I was breastfeeding. Then as soon as weaning was over, to a higher dosed pill. It's always worked really good for me, never any unexpected pregnancies here. DH really doesn't want anymore children. And while I wouldn't mind more, I think at this point in my life 4 is all I can handle effectively. So I was surprised that when DH started to make his appointment for a little snipping, that I started bawling! He was relieved (because he doesn't want anyone messing around down there anyway. LOL!). I talked to my nurse practitioner/midwife and she has suggest the IUD. So that is what I am going to do.
And if I happen to get pregnant on it, well, it was meant to be then and really out of my hands. But for now, DH sleeping on the sofa and a toddler that refuses to sleep in his own bed works well, too. Better than CB's 2nd suggestion! LOL! Though lately I've come close (just kidding of course! LOL! Just a stressful time right now. Spring does that down here on the farm. So much to do and not enough time before wheat is ready to cut...)
IUD better work
I got my IUD in December and have loved it. Periods are almost nonexistant. But since I had my last baby after getting my tubes tied I was still a little nervous about trying the IUD. The pill works great but it gives me migranes and since I am now over 40 the doc didn't want me on the pill any longer. My husband didn't want anyone messing around down there either.
barrier methods and menopause
...seem to be doing the trick for us, though we're not relying on the latter until I've been cycle-free for at least 2 years as far as I'm concerned. So far the longest I've gone is 6 weeks, though this current one may break that record (and yes, I've taken the test: negative).
Lynn Siprelle, Editor
Sometimes, however, the
Sometimes, however, the crucial step is left out of the breastfeeding as birth control instructions. They should go something like this:
Establish good nursing pattern with baby.
Kill partner.
Safely rely on breastfeeding as birth control!
(Mind you, considering I have 2 birth control babies, including my IUD daughter(!) I may not be an authority on this subject. However, I am confident embracing this completely method would up the effectiveness of the breast feeding as birth control method)
Post new comment