Choosing contraception after having a baby

Once you’ve had a baby, you will need to start thinking about which contraception you want to use. Your body changes after birth, and you may want to use a different contraceptive method from the one you were using before you were pregnant, particularly if you are breastfeeding.  

How soon can I become pregnant after having a baby?

In the first 21 days after giving birth, you don’t need contraception, as you are extremely unlikely to get pregnant. After this, you need to use contraception. 

You can become pregnant before you have your first period. This is because ovulation (when the ovary releases an egg) occurs before you get your period.

Many doctors recommend that you wait six weeks after giving birth before having sex again.

What if I’m breastfeeding?

If you are breastfeeding, you should avoid any contraceptive method with oestrogen, as oestrogen may reduce your milk supply. Contraceptive methods that use oestrogen include:

• Combined oral contraceptive pill
• Contraceptive patch
• Vaginal contraceptive ring

But you can use progestogen-only contraceptive methods safely, with no effect on your milk or the baby. These include:

• Progestogen-only pill
• Progestogen-only injection
• Progestogen-only implant
• Hormonal intrauterine system (IUS)

You can also use emergency contraception if you are breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding as contraception

Breastfeeding can be a very effective method of contraception. Using breastfeeding as a way of preventing pregnancy is called the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM). 

Breastfeeding stops ovulation, provided you are breastfeeding exclusively, and haven’t introduced formula milk or solids. You must also be sure your periods have not returned (even light spotting for a couple of days counts) and your baby must be under six months. If you follow all this, LAM is more than 98% effective.

What if I’m not breastfeeding?

If you are not breastfeeding, you can use any method.

Choosing the best contraceptive for you

• You can use condoms any time after giving birth.
• If you want to use the contraceptive injection, doctors recommend that you wait until six weeks after birth, because you may get heavy and irregular bleeding if you use it earlier.
• If you have been using a cap or diaphragm, you will need to wait until your vaginal area has fully recovered after birth. As vaginal birth can alter the size of your vagina you will need to be refitted to check what size or type of diaphragm or cap you should use. You will need to use spermicide with the diaphragm or cap for it to be effective.
• The IUD (copper intrauterine device) or the IUS (hormonal intrauterine system) can be fitted within 48 hours of birth. If it is not fitted at this time, it will need to be fitted from four weeks after birth, whether you delivered vaginally or by caesarean section.

What about natural family planning?

Natural family planning can be more difficult to learn and use just after you have had a baby. If you used this method before your pregnancy, ask your natural family planning teacher for advice. 

Further information

NCT's helpline offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of NCT's Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

NHS choices has  a comprehensive list of contraception available in the UK.

The Family Planning Association has an interactive tool you can use to help you decide what the most appropriate method of contraception for yourself would be.