Everyone knows that breastfeeding after childbirth is an obstacle to the onset of pregnancy. Prolactin - a hormone, under its action is the formation of milk in the mammary glands, blocked the maturation process, as well as the release of the egg from the ovary. Without this, pregnancy can not occur. What kind of contraception can be used for breastfeeding?
Efficacy of lactation as a method of contraception after childbirth
Breastfeeding is a very effective method of contraception, although only when there are simultaneously such factors:
- has not yet resumed menstruation - bloody discharge within 42 days after birth is not menstruation;
- a child in full or almost full breastfeeding;
- The baby is less than 6 months old.
If these factors are simultaneous, the probability of conceiving is less than 2%.
Resumption of menstruation after the birth of a baby
If the mother does not breastfeed, the menstruation resumes in about 6-8 weeks. In nursing women it is difficult to predict the onset of the first menstruation. This can happen on the 2nd - 18th month after the birth.
Full or almost full breastfeeding
Full breastfeeding is when the baby does not eat anything, except milk of the mother day and night. Breastfeeding is almost complete - at least 85% of the child's ration for the day is given to breast milk, and the remaining 15% or even less - different food supplements. If a child does not wake up at night or sometimes during the day there is more than 4 hours between feedings - breastfeeding can not provide reliable protection from pregnancy.
The need to choose another method of contraception appears:
- if there are spotting after 42 days from the time of delivery. And if such discharge is not similar to the menstruation that a woman had before the onset of pregnancy, they are still considered a signal to restore the function of the ovaries and, of course, the possibility of becoming pregnant.
- if the lure begins on an ongoing basis or lengthens the intervals between breastfeeding.
- the age of the baby has become more than 6 months.
Methods of contraception, combined with breastfeeding
- Sterilization - when the birth of children is not planned at all, the most optimal variant of contraception is male sterilization - the ligation of ducts that carry sperm or female sterilization - the ligation of the fallopian tubes. In Russia, the sterilization procedure is carried out under stationary conditions.
- Intrauterine device. It can be delivered at any time after delivery. The spiral is recommended to be administered after 3-4 weeks after the delivery if the mother does not breast-feed, six months after the cesarean section, if not put during the operation.
- Hormonal contraception. From this contraception when breastfeeding it is recommended to use only progesterone-containing drugs. These hormones pass into breast milk in small quantities and have no effect on the development of the baby. Contraceptive pills that contain both progesterone and estrogen are not contraindicated during breastfeeding and also do not affect the development of the baby, but make less amount of breast milk and the lactation period is reduced.
- You can use condoms, diaphragm.
If the mother does not breast-feed
As noted above, if the mother does not breast-feed the baby immediately after birth, menstruation resumes in about 6-8 weeks. Since ovulation occurs before menstruation, it means that an unplanned pregnancy can occur earlier than this time. Therefore, it is recommended not to breast-feeding women to start using any contraceptive method from the third week after childbirth.
If, for any reason, breastfeeding stops, then contraception should be used immediately after the breastfeeding process has ended.
It is worth discussing with a gynecologist what method of contraception is most suitable for the first visit to him after childbirth, recommended to all who gave birth on 3-4 weeks of the postpartum period.