Many women believe that contraception is not needed after the birth, and so they can not get pregnant. But it is not so often the case, that it was in the first months after the birth a woman becomes pregnant again. And it almost always leads to abortion, which is extremely negative impact on a woman's body after childbirth.
Hormonal changes in the body
A woman who feeds the child, the main hormone that suppresses the activity of other hormones is prolactin. Prolactin is released by the pituitary gland and stimulates the production of breast milk. At the same time inhibits the production of prolactin, another pituitary hormone - follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which affects the maturation of the egg in the ovary. A small amount of FSH does not allow the eggs to mature, so no ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary into the abdominal cavity and the fallopian tube for fertilization), not ready to receive the embryo mucous membrane of the uterus.
A nursing mother may further (to have guaranteed to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy) to use some other methods of contraception, such as the barrier.
The method of natural contraception
Hormonal changes in the body lead to a nursing mother that the woman after the birth, which is nursing her child, in the first 5-6 months is usually no menstruation. Fertilization in this period is also impossible, because there is no egg. This method of contraception or a method called natural lactation amenorrhea
Lactational amenorrhea - the natural recovery of the body after birth
.
The reliability of the method depends on how well a woman breastfeeding a child. If she feeds him "on demand", the child is fed and is developing normally, then the natural contraception works. Once the child begins to receive supplementation (if you do not have enough breast milk), the reliability of natural contraception decreases. Naturally it is reduced after the first solid foods introduced
Introduce solid foods - how not to be mistaken with a choice of products?
- 5-6 months.
Despite the fact that the natural method of contraception is attractive to spouses, is not always completely reliable, and therefore nursing women are advised to use other methods of contraception in addition to breastfeeding.
Lactational amenorrhea method can be supplemented by barrier methods of contraception, as well as the local use of spermicides.
Barrier methods of contraception in addition to the natural contraception
For barrier methods of contraception include the use of condoms a man and a cap, diaphragm - a woman.
- Condoms are available in various sizes from a thin durable latex. This is the most commonly used method of barrier contraception. It is also good that protects against infection by sexually transmitted diseases.
Diaphragms and caps are not as popular. The problem basically is to pick them up in size, and this can only be done in the office of an obstetrician-gynecologist. And the diaphragm and cap can be used after 1, 5 months after birth.
- Aperture - a round dome-shaped cap with a flexible rim of rubber or latex, which is used to cover the cervix. Available in different sizes and aperture types (eg, with different types of diaphragm springs). A diaphragm inserted into the vagina before intercourse (pre verifying its integrity) and left there for several hours and then recovered, thoroughly washed and dried. Sometimes the introduction of the diaphragm combined with the introduction of spermicides (spermicides). The diaphragm can not be lubricated with oil - it can damage it.
In some cases, if a woman has some kind of inflammatory disease of the reproductive organs, against the use of the diaphragm can begin toxic shock. This is due to the fact that some types of bacteria produce toxins. Since the diaphragm prevents vaginal discharge secretions, toxins begin to be absorbed into the blood and poison the body.
Toxic shock manifested fever, chills, malaise, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in muscles and joints, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The skin may appear rash, skin peels layers of palms. If you suspect that you need to remove toxic shock diaphragm and seek medical advice.
- The cap - a device made of soft rubber that fits over the cervix. The cap is held in place by the formation of negative pressure between the cup rim and the surface of the cervix.
The cap is also inserted into the vagina before intercourse and are often used in conjunction with spermicide. Contraindicated use of the cap with uterine bleeding and acute inflammatory processes in the genital area. After intercourse, the cap is removed. His delay in the body for more than a day can cause toxic shock.
Hormonal contraception
Nursing mothers can take one component hormone (progestin) contraceptives that contain artificial hormones - an analogue of the female sex hormone progesterone
Progesterone - norm and pathology
(e.g. femulen). These drugs are harmless to mother and child they can begin to take six weeks after childbirth. This type of contraception will only fit a neat women, since only ensures correct reception of the effectiveness of the drug.
Progestin contraceptives suppress ovulation
Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?
Reduce the risk of thrombosis, cause no pressure increase or decrease the libido. While receiving this type of contraceptives, the following side effects: occurrence of bleeding (or, conversely, the absence of menstrual periods), development time of ovarian cysts, and others.
Contraception for nursing mothers entails the application of methods that do not harm the child would be inflicted.
Galina Romanenko
