After 9 months without periods and without contraception, it is necessary to think of the resumption of contraception before the childbirth. When to start using birth control again? Does Breastfeeding Really Protect Against Pregnancy? Which contraction to choose? The answers to your main questions.

If you do not want a second child very soon after the first, you should use birth control two weeks after giving birth, the first ovulation may occur 15 to 20 days after giving birth when you are not breastfeeding. With exclusive breastfeeding, ovulation is rare but not impossible. In case of mixed breastfeeding, the risk of ovulation is higher. As the date of the first postnatal ovulation is unpredictable, resumption of contraception is therefore essential. Your doctor or midwife is there to advise you on when to resume contraception and on contraceptive methods.

Exclusive breastfeeding delays ovulation or decreases fertility, but is not a reliable method of contraception after childbirth! It is true that exclusive breastfeeding (5 to 6 feedings, at least one of which at night) makes ovulation rare, but it is not impossible. Mixed breastfeeding carries a greater risk of impromptu ovulation.

The contraceptive effect of breastfeeding is not recognized as optimal, it is better to resume contraception

Be careful, no return to diapers does not mean no ovulation. If you are not breastfeeding, you may ovulate between the 15th and 20th day after birth. When breastfeeding, it is rare but not impossible for ovulation to occur.

You must therefore resume contraception (unless you are not against a new pregnancy!) Well before this famous return of diapers, 15 days after your delivery in general. If you are breast-feeding, you should take an estrogen-free microprogestogen pill that is compatible with breast-feeding. When breast-feeding is stopped, it is possible to choose another combined estrogen-progestogen pill.

If you are not breast-feeding, you can resume using the contraception you used before you were pregnant.

An IUD can be inserted within 48 hours after childbirth, otherwise 4 weeks after. The pill can be resumed 2 weeks after childbirth, just as an implant can be placed as early as the 15th after childbirth.

If you are breast-feeding, you can take an estrogen-free micropill or progestogen-free pill, starting on the 15th day after giving birth. An implant can be placed from the third week after childbirth and an IUD 4 weeks after. When you stop breast-feeding, you can choose another combined hormonal pill or another method of contraception.

Namely: local contraceptives (condoms, spermicides …) are a method of contraception well suited for the period after childbirth, the time to have an IUD inserted for example.

Taking birth control after childbirth also allows you to resume sex without worrying about another unplanned pregnancy.

You can opt for the condom as a contraceptive method for the first few weeks, since lubricated condoms can help overcome the discomfort of vaginal dryness after childbirth.