Preventing Back to Back Baby Bumps
By: Katy Brennan and Cami Armijo-Grover
As you watch your baby bump grow, birth control is probably the last thing on your mind! But unless you love the idea of getting pregnant again within months of delivery, you might want to talk to your doctor about it. My parents didn’t, and “surprise,” my sister and I were born 13 months apart!
Now while I think I’m the greatest surprise ever, I didn’t want the same thing for my family. So before giving birth, I talked to my OB about what form of birth control I’d like to use after delivery. Making a plan allowed me to focus on my new little Bugaloo when she arrived, rather than being worried that I might get pregnant again.
There are many options for contraceptives immediately following birth. Just keep in mind that your body may respond differently to the birth control that was being used before pregnancy. Hormonal forms of birth control that contain estrogen (like some forms of the pill) are not recommended for the first 6 weeks postpartum because estrogen increases the risk of developing a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) during the immediate postpartum time period. After 6 weeks, it is considered safe to take birth control with estrogen if the person has no other risk factors -- but there is a chance it may affect milk supply. If someone is already struggling with milk supply and wants to breastfeed, a progestin-only pill would be a better option.
Both the Nexplanon implant (inserted under the skin in the upper arm) and IUD (inserted into the uterus) are recommended for an easy form of birth control that is effective for multiple years. It is extremely rare for IUDs to result in serious injury, but should be noted that about 5 in 100 IUDs come out unintentionally within the first year of use. Although rare, it is more common for the IUD to become displaced if it is inserted immediately after vaginal delivery.
Like most hormonal birth controls, both the implant and the IUD may affect moods and periods. These changes can range from experiencing heavier, longer periods (with a copper IUD) to experiencing no bleeding whatsoever (with a hormonal IUD or implant). Just make sure to communicate with a doctor if any of these changes begin to negatively impact daily life.
Non-hormonal birth control comes in many forms as well, though the copper IUD and condoms are the most common. These forms of birth control will not effect milk supply. While exclusively breastfeeding (aka chestfeeding) for up to 6 months after the baby is born is a form of birth control, it may not be as effective as other methods of birth control (and is the method my mum was using when she got pregnant with me).
If you’re not looking to have any more kiddos after this one, sterilization may be an option for you or your partner. Both types of sterilization are 99% effective and for males, vasectomies block the tubes that carry sperm, take about 20 minutes to do, and require only local anesthetic.
Females sterilization is the closing off or removal of the fallopian tubes. It can be done immediately postpartum, or during the surgery if you have a cesarean section. Laparoscopic sterilization is also an option a few weeks postpartum. It is minimally invasive and leaves a smaller scar.
You should be absolutely certain of your decision to be sterilized before the procedure as attempts to reverse it may not be effective. Not all doctors or medical facilities offer the same options for sterilization, so be sure to discuss this with your care providers leading up to birth.
Options for birth control after pregnancy come in all different forms, and it is okay if it takes some time for your body to adjust or to find the form that works best for you. If transportation to your doctor and/or available time postpartum are likely barriers to your postnatal visits, consider talking to your doctor about a birth control option that you can take with you when you leave the hospital after delivery.
References:
Postpartum Birth Control
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-birth-control
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/breastfeeding/whats-best-birth-control-option-while-breastfeeding#:~:text=Yes%2C%20if%20you're%20breastfeeding,pills)%20right%20after%20giving%20birth.