Contraception after birth: when you can get pregnant again

Many women believe they cannot get pregnant until their periods return, or while they are breastfeeding. In fact, you can get pregnant from 3 weeks after the birth, even if you are breastfeeding and your periods have not come back. You ovulate before your first period, so you will not notice.

Waiting at least 12 months before your next pregnancy is usually advised, so your body can recover. If you do not want to get pregnant, use contraception every time you have sex after the birth.

Breastfeeding as protection

Breastfeeding can protect you, but only when all three of these are true:

• your baby is under 6 months
• your baby has only breast milk, day and night, with no formula, water or other food
• your periods have not returned, not even light spotting

As soon as one of these changes, the protection drops. It also drops when your baby starts sleeping through the night without feeding, when feeds become less frequent, or when you express milk instead of feeding directly. Then switch to another method.

Bring it up at your postnatal check

In Albania, many women do not raise contraception with their doctor, or wait for the doctor to raise it. Do not wait. Ask your gynaecologist at your postnatal check, or even before the birth, which method suits you. A short conversation avoids a pregnancy you had not planned.

Sex after the birth

There is no set date. Many women feel tired and sore in the first weeks, so do not rush. Hormonal changes, especially while breastfeeding, can cause vaginal dryness, and a lubricant helps. If sex keeps hurting, talk to your doctor. For the first weeks after the birth, read recovery after birth too.

Sources we consulted

• NHS: Sex and contraception after birth

Written by the mam.al editors as general information. It does not replace advice from your gynaecologist. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.