Making the decision to be on birth control before having children is a choice completely dependent on your own needs. Birth control after having a baby is a whole new game — especially if you're nursing. Although the act of breastfeeding can sometimes prevent pregnancy naturally — given you exclusively nurse every four or so hours without missing a feeding — its efficacy only lasts the first six months and it isn't a medically recommended form of birth control.
If you're breastfeeding and in the market for a form of birth control that is not only effective, but also safe for both you and baby, read through for six options — hormonal and nonhormonal — you can consider.
Note: The following information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
Condoms are a nonhormonal birth control that is cheap, 98 percent effective when used correctly, and considered one of the safest options for breastfeeding moms. Female condoms are another nonhormonal option that are about 95 percent effective when used correctly.
A diaphragm is a flexible silicone cup that is inserted into the vagina and covers the cervix. If always used as directed it's about 96 percent effective and is recommended to be used alongside a spermicide to increase effectiveness. Although the benefits of diaphragms include being nonhormonal, safe for nursing moms, and easy to carry around, the main disadvantages are that it can be difficult to insert, can be moved around during sex, and could lead to frequent urinary tract infections.
Nonhormonal: The hormone-free IUD, ParaGard, is up to 99 percent effective and is placed in your uterus to prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. Common side effects include heavier periods, longer periods, and spotting in between periods — all of which should diminish within three months.
Hormonal: Recommended for women who have had children, Mirena is also over 99 percent effective and lasts for up to five years. It delivers small amounts of progestin locally into your uterus to prevent pregnancy but is still safe for breastfeeding moms. However, there is an increased risk of perforation — when the IUD becomes attached to or goes through the wall of the uterus, which can cause infection and may require surgery — when using Mirena while nursing.
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4Minipill
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
The minipill, a progestin-only oral contraceptive, is another hormonal birth control option recommended for nursing mamas by many providers. Compared to the combination pill — which contains estrogen in addition to progestin — the minipill's dosage of hormones is lower. The 95 percent effectiveness of the minipill (when used correctly) can be increased when the pill is taken at the same time every day.
Depo-Provera, a hormonal injection, is approximately 99 percent effective when used properly — which means getting a shot every 12 weeks. One of the benefits of Depo-Provera is not having to take a daily pill, but a common side effect includes irregular bleeding, which can occur for the first six to 12 months of use. Because the shot does not contain estrogen, it is considered a good option for breastfeeding mothers, but because it is long-lasting, if you're looking to get pregnant within six to 10 months of going off the method, it may not be the best option for you.
A birth control implant — sold under the brand names Implanon and Nexplanon — is another hormonal option presented to breastfeeding mothers. It is a thin, flexible plastic implant the size of a matchstick, which is inserted into the skin of a woman's arm for pregnancy prevention up to four years. The estrogen-free implant gives continuous, long-lasting birth control, and the ability to become pregnant returns quickly when you stop using it, which is beneficial for couples who may want to expand their family later.
