However, in every "barrel there is a fly in the ointment", and therefore now, when you are enjoying your child's society, it is worthwhile to think about the methods of contraception during breastfeeding. In our time, there are many options for protection from pregnancy, so the choice is not easy. Of course, it is necessary that the harmful components of your medication are not transferred to breast milk, and therefore your first visit should be made to a specialist - a gynecologist.
Do not overshadow the joy of the birth of your baby, but completely ignore the possible problems and consequences, too, there is no need. Agree that the second pregnancy, so soon, not very positively affect both the woman and her physiological health. The body is still too weak and unstable, of course, he is not ready to bear all the hardships of pregnancy again, so you need to seriously think about how to protect yourself from pregnancy while breastfeeding.
Contraception, designed for women who have just given birth, has a whole list of features. About these features, you must first of all know the newly mum. Here we will consider all possible methods of preventing pregnancy and their possible negative sides.
The first method of lactational amenorrhea (delay of the menstrual cycle due to breastfeeding). This method is based on the hormone suppression of the production of female milk of various processes of maturation and preparation of the egg for fertilization. To put it simply, ovulation simply does not come, and your egg becomes, not ready for fertilization. Naturally, there are several important conditions that need to be adhered to in order to help this method. However, not all women can try this technique on themselves, as there are a number of contraindications. Therefore, you can try it on yourself only in the cases indicated below.
- your menstruation has not recovered (postpartum discharges are not considered menstruation);
- After delivery enough time has passed, but not more than six months;
- your baby eats exclusively breast milk (not mixed feeding), he drinks only the mother's milk, but can consume no more than fifteen percent of juices, tea, water, if in the street, let's say, a hot summer;
- pauses between feedings are not less than three hours in daylight hours and six hours at night;
- Your breastfeeding began no more than an hour after delivery;
- the kid does not use the pacifier at all;
- in this case, you can not express breastmilk and feed the baby.
If one of these conditions can not be fulfilled, then this option of protection will not work for you.
The most natural methods of protection from pregnancy in this postpartum period are not suitable (interrupted sexual intercourse, temperature, etc.). These techniques can not be used due to the fact that the usual rhythms of your body can be disturbed. Binding factors are a lot of this and childbirth, breastfeeding, frequent stress.
The next type of contraception is barrier techniques. They are convenient to use, because they give a strong enough contraceptive effect, do not interfere with the intake of breast milk, and can easily protect against some troubles with which healthy immunity copes, but the weakened can crack. The only thing worth paying attention to and is a drawback of this method is that women's barrier medicines can not be used before six weeks after labor, and the specialist should be involved in selecting these funds.
Some girls, thinking how to prevent pregnancy during breastfeeding, choose spermicides. With proper application, their reliability is equal to eighty percent. These drugs in no way affect the mother and baby, do not interfere with regular lactation. These drugs quickly envelop the uterus, and chemicals, quite actively destroy male sperm. Spermicides are available in several forms: jelly, foam, candles. There is another plus of this remedy: it helps to moisturize the woman's too dry vagina.
Tablets that produce hormones, as well as combined contraceptives should not be used in any case, since there is a risk of losing breast milk.
There are also hormonal injections and various implants. Such drugs may be used only 6-7 weeks after delivery. However, they do not inhibit the excretion of breast milk. Their reliability is about 99%, so these drugs are ideal for women.
There is a reserve of specialists yet another contraceptive that prevents pregnancy is the intrauterine device spiral. All intrauterine drugs do not affect women's milk and it is best to use them during lactation due to their high effectiveness. With the introduction of the IUD immediately after childbirth, there is a high risk of falling out, since the uterus has not yet assumed its normal form after delivery, so it is best to do this about eight weeks after the birth.
Another way to protect yourself is to use an intrauterine hormone system. It is ideal for most lactating women. Its principle of operation is that in one part of the system there is a special container with the active substance, which is a synthetic analog of a female sex hormone called progesterone. The membrane is made in such a way that it makes it possible to excrete at the same rate a very small amount of the hormone. This almost does not change for five years and provides a contraceptive effect.
There are, of course, more radical methods: you can completely refrain from sexual intercourse (but does this please your husband?), Another method - female sterilization. However, it implies that you can never have children again. Therefore, it is worth considering whether you need to rush to extremes. If you consult a doctor, think for yourself and consult with people who have already used contraception, you can definitely choose for yourself the ideal option.