It may seem strange to be thinking about and planning contraception whilst you are pregnant. However, research has shown that many couples start having sex within six weeks of the birth of their baby. Did you know that it is possible to become pregnant when your baby is only 21 days old and before your menstrual period returns?Effective, safe contraception is available at your maternity unit and can be started as soon as you give birth. This means you don’t need extra appointments at your GP or sexual health clinic to start contraception. This is particularly helpful at a time when you will be busy looking after a newborn baby and yourself.Take some time to speak to your midwife or doctor about the options available to you, some of which may be available immediately after the birth of your baby.Planned pregnancies with an interval of at least one to two years are associated with a healthier pregnancy for you and your baby. Pregnancy spacing of greater than one year reduces the risk of pre-term birth, low birth weight and neonatal death. It also reduces the risk of complications in a future pregnancy particularly if you have given birth by caesarean section, because it allows the scar on your womb to fully heal.Effective contraception puts you in control of deciding when and if you would like to have another baby and can have some beneficial effects on your periods and long term health.You will be asked about your plans for contraception during antenatal appointments. Take some time to think about the different options and what might be right for you. Talk to your midwife or doctor and ask for any further information you may need. Once you have made a choice it can be entered into your personalised care and support plan and provided to you after birth.
Which form of contraception is right for me?
The most effective options for contraception are usually those that last for a few years and you do not need to remember to take every day. These are called Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) and include a progestogen or hormone coil, copper coil or progestogen implant.Short-term methods (those that you need to remember to take every day) include the contraceptive injection (known as Depo-provera or ‘depo’), progestogen only pills (POP or ‘mini pill’) and combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP).Permanent family planning methods are sterilisation, where the fallopian tubes (tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb) are clipped or cut and for male partners, vasectomy.It is important to remember that none of these methods protect against sexually transmitted infections. If you are at risk from infection, for example when having sex with a new partner you should also use a barrier method or condom.Find out more about all the options available in the link below. Most can be provided as soon as you have given birth. Just ask and remember to make a note of what you would like in section 16 of your Health and wellbeing in pregnancy personalised care and support plan.
It may seem strange to be thinking about and planning contraception whilst you are pregnant. However, research has shown that many couples start having sex within six weeks of the birth of their baby. Did you know that it is possible to become pregnant when your baby is only 21 days old and before your menstrual period returns?
Effective, safe contraception is available at your maternity unit and can be started as soon as you give birth. This means you don’t need extra appointments at your GP or sexual health clinic to start contraception. This is particularly helpful at a time when you will be busy looking after a newborn baby and yourself.
Take some time to speak to your midwife or doctor about the options available to you, some of which may be available immediately after the birth of your baby.
Planned pregnancies with an interval of at least one to two years are associated with a healthier pregnancy for you and your baby. Pregnancy spacing of greater than one year reduces the risk of pre-term birth, low birth weight and neonatal death. It also reduces the risk of complications in a future pregnancy particularly if you have given birth by caesarean section, because it allows the scar on your womb to fully heal.
Effective contraception puts you in control of deciding when and if you would like to have another baby and can have some beneficial effects on your periods and long term health.
You will be asked about your plans for contraception during antenatal appointments. Take some time to think about the different options and what might be right for you. Talk to your midwife or doctor and ask for any further information you may need. Once you have made a choice it can be entered into your personalised care and support plan and provided to you after birth.
