Normally, fertilization is made possible in two weeks after the start of the first since the birth month. Although it may seem that to think about it too early to start safest to use contraception within four weeks after birth. However, it should be borne in mind that at this time not all women are ready to resume sexual activity.

When should I begin again to use contraception

It depends on how you will feed your baby. Menstruation can return within 6-10 weeks after delivery if the baby will be feeding or bottle feeding combined with breastfeeding.

If you are feeding only breast and have not yet started to give the baby solid food until you can worry about contraception.

In some women, periods do not begin until, until they begin to breastfeed less, or even stop breastfeeding. However, there is a possibility that the woman is fertile, even before the start of menstruation after childbirth, so you can use contraception at least for your own peace of mind.

Does breastfeeding role of contraception

Breastfeeding may act as a means to prevent pregnancy by delaying the start of menstruation. This usually happens when a woman breastfeeds the child's birth.

Regular breast-feeding is a form of contraception, known as the lactational amenorrhea method Lactational amenorrhea method - effective but demanding   (LAM). The effectiveness of this method is 98%.

However, LAM operates only under the following conditions:

• Age of the child for at least six months.
• Menstruation after childbirth is not renewed.
• You feed your baby only breast, including at night.

Exclusive breastfeeding is usually breastfeeds at least 6 times every 24 hours. To maximize the effectiveness of LAM, the day the baby needs to be fed as often as every four hours, and at night - every six hours, while not giving the child other liquids and / or solid food.

Once you begin to breastfeed less, and / or give the child will become another food and drink other than breast milk significantly reduced the effectiveness of LAM.

Contraception during breastfeeding

Women who are breastfeeding can use the following methods of contraception:

• Male and female condoms;
• Aperture;
• Mini-tablets;
• Injectable contraceptives;
• Hormonal implants;
• Intrauterine device Intrauterine device - how to avoid complications? .

Condoms

When used correctly, the male condom reliability as high as 98%, women - 95%. Please use the female condom can be quite uncomfortable; In addition, they are significantly more expensive than male condoms. Do not use male and female condoms at the same time.

Vaginal dryness is a common occurrence after birth and not talking about lowering interest partner. To deal with the discomfort bought water-based lubricant - it, in contrast to the lubricants, which include various fats, can not damage the condom.

Aperture

Made of rubber or silicone diaphragm - an alternative version of barrier methods of contraception Contraceptive Methods: Ten myths about contraception in the mirror of facts .

They can be used after 6 weeks postpartum. When used properly in combination with spermicides aperture efficiency is 92-96%.

Mini-tablets

Mini-pills do not affect the production of breast milk and you can start to take within twenty-one days after the birth.

The active ingredient of these pills is a synthetic analogue of the hormone progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . Their efficacy exceeds 99% - provided that you will take them daily, at approximately the same time. While caring for a young child it can be difficult.

Injectables

Two basic types of injectable contraceptives:

• Depo-Provera provides protection against pregnancy for twelve weeks;
• Noristerat protects against pregnancy for eight weeks.

A small amount of progestogen excreted in breast milk and ingested by the baby, but do not harm him.

The first injection is recommended to not earlier than six weeks after childbirth. Earlier application of contraceptives is associated with increased risk of some irregular and heavy bleeding.

The effectiveness of the contraceptive is very high - over 99%; Note, however, that fertility is restored, usually only a few months after the termination of their use.

Can I get pregnant, breastfeed your baby? Obstetricians say you can. Nature has a natural protection against pregnancy for lactating women - lactational amenorrhea method. But this method works only under very strict conditions.

How does lactational amenorrhea method

Doctors recommend starting sexual life, not earlier than one and a half months after birth. Lactational amenorrhea method Lactational amenorrhea - the natural recovery of the body after birth   It may only have the first six months after birth, and only if there were not menstruating. Some of the lactating women menstruation can recover in two months after giving birth.

Of great importance is breast-feeding, without supplementary feeding. The number of feedings should be at least 7-8 times per day. In the afternoon break between feedings should not exceed four hours, and at night - six. If at least some of these conditions are not met, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant.

The possibility of conception during lactation amenorrhea method Lactational amenorrhea method - effective but demanding   suppressed due to the fact that the pituitary gland produces the hormone prolactin, which inhibits the maturation of the egg and its exit from the ovary (ovulation). Therefore, when feeding your baby Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast, usually in the first six months after childbirth is not menstruating. Frequent nursing baby to the breast is necessary due to the fact that sucking stimulates the production of prolactin. At the big break between feedings (more than four hours), the amount of prolactin in the blood decreases.

Sucking also stimulates the secretion of the hormone oxytocin, which helps to reduce smooth muscle of the uterus and the rapid recovery of women after childbirth. Oxytocin stimulates contraction of smooth muscle and mammary ducts, which promotes the release of milk. Subject to all rules of this method is highly efficient.

In non-breastfeeding women menstruation restored after one and a half months after birth. At the same time it is reduced and the probability of conception. It is actually pregnant before the first menstrual period. But even if desirable repeated pregnancy, it will not add to women's health, as for a full recovery after childbirth it needs at least three years.

The method of hormonal contraception

About forty years ago, first appeared hormonal contraceptives for breastfeeding women who are called mini-pill. These tablets have been successfully used today.

From kombinorovannyh hormonal contraceptives mini-pill characterized in that the analogues contain female hormones estrogen, so they have no effect on the quantity and quality of human milk as well as on the growth and development of the child. These tablets have only analogue of the female sex hormone progesterone (progestin).

Efficacy mini-pill is lower than that of combined oral (in pill form for oral) contraceptives. Take mini-pill should be strictly by the hour, if you miss taking a pill more than three hours, the contraceptive effect is reduced.

An example of a mini-pill can be laktinet modern preparation, which contains a very small dose of progestogen. However, this dose is sufficient to prevent ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   and conception so pregnancy is almost impossible.

Laktinet has advantages over other mini-pill: its efficiency is the efficiency of combined hormonal contraceptives and hold a pill can not three, and twelve hours.

Laktinet But, like any other hormonal contraceptive can be used only if prescribed by a doctor after a preliminary examination to rule out contraindications. He is contraindicated in pregnancy, thrombosis, severe liver disease, hormone-dependent tumors, bleeding of unknown origin, hypersensitive to the components of the drug.

Apply laktinet nursing mothers can and a half months after birth.

There are effective hormonal contraceptives containing only progestogen long action. For example, the injectable Depo-Provera and Norplant drug, which is implanted under the skin.

What other methods of contraception can be used while breastfeeding

Six weeks after the birth, you can enter an intrauterine device. This is a very effective method of contraception. Thus it is safe and almost never gives complications.

For barrier methods of contraception include condoms (it can be used with the beginning of sexual intercourse) and aperture that fits over the cervix (it can be used not earlier than one month after birth). Matches aperture doctor, he also shows a woman how to use it.

There are also spermicides - preparations for topical application (creams, suppositories, ointments) which contain substances spermicides. But their effectiveness is low in self-application, so they often combine with barrier methods of contraception.

Breastfeeding women, contraception is also required, as well as not breastfeeding, and to find the right method of contraception will obstetrician.

Galina Romanenko