How soon after childbirth can I start using contraception?

[VictorianSqualor]

I mean not condoms?
I remember getting the mini-pill after DS1 at my 6-week antenatal check-up but wasn't sure if I have to wait that long or if that was just the way it worked out.

[Psychomum5]

I think 6wks is about the norm......simply because until then your hormones are still wacked and you are also still healing/bleeding. that is why they wait 6wks for the check-up IIRC.

plus....most women wait until after then to even have sex, or like me, wait until the night before just to give everything a test-drive!!!

[Bky]

I started the combined pill at 21 days, this was the earliest you can start taking that. No idea if mini-pill is the same.

[VictorianSqualor]

I can't use the combined pill as I'm breastfeeding, I just found something online that says that for the first three weeks you can't get pregnant anyway.
I'd never heard this before

[Psychomum5]

oooh....thats interesting (re-not being able to fall for the first 3wks).

maybe it has something to do with the healing time in your womb from the placenta etc??

[BouncingTurtle]

Well you can't get pg if you don't have sex

But I do have a friend of a friend (I was supposed to meet her on Friday so this isn't apocryphal) whose babies are just over 9 months apart - apparently she caught when elder was 3 weeks old...

[VictorianSqualor]

My ex and his sister were 9months and 3 days between them, and mum was exclusively breastfeeding so not too keen on leaving it to nature tbh!

[emma1977]

Depends what method you wish to use. Do you have any strong preferences?

I recommend starting contraception by week 3 as this is when you start to ovulate again. Don't wait until your 6 week check to sort it out if you have already started having sex. I see far too many women unhappily unexpectedly pregnant at the 6 week check.

[VictorianSqualor]

Not really emma1977, I do know we want to start ttc in 12 months so not something that will affect my fertility too much, plus I am breastfeeding so not anything that can't be used with that.

[emma1977]

Mini pill would be the easiest option, but an implant or coil may also appeal. The combined pill isn't an option if BFing and the depo injection may delay your fertility which wouldn't be great for you.

If you go for the mini pill or implant- week 3 is the ideal time to start. For a coil, 6-8weeks is ideal if not already done immediately after birth.

[maxbear]

You can start mini pill at 3 weeks, so are you going to go for a vba3c? I can't wait for the threads!!

[VictorianSqualor]

Yes maxbear! As long as everything goes well with the pregnancy we will wait til 42 weeks then go for an elective, I'm going to ask for the same cons if possible because I know she'll support me.
That's partly why we are leavng it a year to start ttc so my scar is strong enough.

[maxbear]

Good for you, your little one must be a good little lad to be thinking of number 4 already!! I'm just starting to think about when we might go for number 3 and my ds is 14 months. Mind you when I was pushing him out I did say 'I'm not finished I still want another one after this!' I think that everyone there was a little surprised to hear that as 'never again' was probably more what they would have expected.

[VictorianSqualor]

I was the same, after about a day or two I said to DP 'he's not the last you know' but I'd always said as I had DD just before my twentieth birthday that I wasn't having kids past thirty(think ten childbearing years is enough for me!), and I'm 27 now so it will work out perfectly.

[maxbear]

Yes but I will think about it for quite a while before going for it I think!