Ways of Birth Control after Pregnancy

By: apurva | Posted: 05th July 2007

Practicing birth control immediately after your pregnancy period is a good idea if you want to lead a healthy life and have a happy family. It is important that you continue being on the alert once your pregnancy gets over. There are various ways of birth control to opt from but it is best to read journals, magazines, websites etc. and gather as much information as you can before you decide the method most effective for you.

It is normal for a woman to not feel sexually inclined soon after her pregnancy period. Nonetheless, the vagina heals within two weeks of giving birth putting you at the risk of becoming pregnant while still nursing. Beware of this when getting involved in sex after pregnancy. You must avoid getting pregnant at such an early stage which can be done by exercising birth control while breastfeeding. This method of birth control after pregnancy is called the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) and is said to be helpful in postponing fertility simply by feeding your baby. Following are the conditions required for this method to work:

  • You have to feed your baby from both breasts every four hours during the day and every six hours during the night

  • You must not have had a period since your child’s birth

  • You can use this method only for six months from your baby’s birth

    There are other methods of controlling birth after pregnancy that you can choose from while you are still nursing. Two of them are:

  • Barrier Methods

  • IUDs: IntraUterine Devices

    Barrier methods of birth control post pregnancy include condoms, female condoms, and sponges and help in making sex after pregnancy safe. Some are even spermicidal. Spermicidal methods should be used only when the vagina has healed completely. Prescription barrier methods like diaphragms, cervical caps, and shields require waiting for six to eight weeks after delivery. While using IUDs is a method of birth control while breastfeeding that will not have any change on your breast milk, thus neither on your infant. You cannot conceive as long as an IUD is inserted in you by a professional. Wearing a ring, using a patch and taking a combination of hormonal treatment are best avoided while you are in the process of feeding your baby.

    Another method of birth control after pregnancy is to be aware of your menstrual cycle after pregnancy and refrain from sex on days that are “unsafe”. Once you have had your first period post delivery, you can keep a track of your fertility with the aid of a doctor and avoid sex on the days your body is more receptive to sperms.

    The above mentioned methods are used before intercourse. But once you have had sex and a pregnancy kit tests you positive, you can turn to the Emergency Contraceptive pill for an urgent rescue! It can be used within 120 hours of intercourse but the sooner it is used, the better. Even if it does seem like the last resort, it is effective in birth control after pregnancy.

    You should consider different facts and measures related to birth control after pregnancy before you consider and start sex after pregnancy. Some exerts believe that birth control while breastfeeding helps you to maintain a healthy gap between your children. One method of birth control after pregnancy is to be aware of your menstrual cycle after pregnancy and to avoid sex on unsafe days. For more information visit Pregnancy Period
    This article is free for republishing
    Printed From: http://www.articlealley.com/article_183728_61.html
    Back to the original article

    Tags: six hours, diaphragms, birth control, sponges, giving birth, breast milk, feeding your baby, vagina, happy family, pregnancy period