Contraception after pregnancy
You can get pregnant very soon after giving birth
Did you know you can become pregnant again very soon after giving birth to your baby?
Post-birth contraception is available from the Maternity Department at Hillingdon Hospital, and please talk to your midwife/doctor about your options.
After birth, fertility can return really quickly, and you can produce eggs (ovulate) as early as three weeks after your baby is born. This means it can be easy to become pregnant again, soon after you've had a baby.
It's even possible to get pregnant before you have had your first period after giving birth.
We recommend at least 12 months between the birth of your baby and becoming pregnant again, to reduce the risk of poorer pregnancy outcomes, associated with short birth intervals (gap between pregnancies).
Contraception After Childbirth video
Contraception after pregnancy and before having another baby
To find out more about your options for contraception after pregnancy, please book on to our class dedicated to learning about contraception after pregnancy.
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as the injection, implant or the coil, are available from your maternity department before discharge and are safe to use immediately after birth and whilst breastfeeding. LARC is highly effective, and reversible and can be stopped or removed if you want to become pregnant again.
We can also provide you with a supply of progestogen-only pills or mini pills, which are also safe to use immediately after birth and when breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding and contraception
Breastfeeding may be effective at preventing pregnancy, but this is only for those who are exclusively breastfeeding, without the use of dummies or expressing breastmilk or if you start having periods again. This is called Lactational Amenorrhea Method or LAM and only applies for the first six months after birth.
It is not advisable to rely on breastfeeding for your contraception if you need a highly reliable or long-term method. Breastfeeding parents may not see their periods return for many months, but that doesn't mean you're not ovulating and at risk of pregnancy.
Contraception choices is a helpful website which may help you narrow down your options, and help you choose a method that will be right for you.
Contraception is free
We can provide you with contraception before you leave the hospital so you won't have to visit another clinic or your GP to start contraception. Not all GPs offer every type of contraception and your GP may not be able to offer coils and implants. Sexual health clinics offer all types of contraception but in some areas there may be a wait for an appointment.
All the contraceptive options we offer are safe to take if you are breastfeeding.
The coil
The coil is a small T-shaped device which we place into your womb after your baby has been born.
There are two types of coil:
- the copper coil (or intrauterine device, IUD) does not release hormones, and lasts for 10 years.
- the Mirena coil (or intrauterine system, IUS) releases progestogen hormone and lasts for eight years.
About one woman in every thousand will become pregnant while using the coil.
Using the coil - video
Hormonal implant
The hormonal implant is a small matchstick sized rod which is inserted just beneath the skin in your non-dominant arm. It provides highly effective contraception for three years.
Less than one woman in every thousand will become pregnant while using the implant.
Progesterone only pill (POP)
The progesterone only pill (mini pill) needs to be taken at the same time every day to provide highly effective contraception.
With typical use, about nine in every 100 women using the POP over the course of one year become pregnant because it has to be taken daily, and some people forget or have long episodes of vomiting/diarrhoea which affect how well the pill works.
DEPO-provera injection
The depo-progesterone injection (DEPO) is an injection that goes into the muscle, usually in your bottom. It lasts for three months, so you will need to go back to your GP or sexual health clinic for another injection every three months.
With typical use, about six women in every hundred become pregnant while using the injection.
The DEPO injection is the only method of contraception which can delay the return of your fertility by up to 12 months.
Start thinking about your choices early
During your pregnancy, we'll talk to you about contraception after birth. This is to give you plenty of time to plan and decide on the choice that is right for you.
Please do speak to your midwife or doctor for more information on your options, before you give birth.