What are my birth control options postpartum?
Birth control while breastfeeding/chestfeeding
The type of birth control available to you will depend on whether you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding as some birth control options with estrogen can reduce your milk supply. If you are exclusively breastfeeding or expressing at least every three hours during the day and night, have not had a period and your baby is less than six months old, your chances of becoming pregnant are low but not zero.
Birth control options
Hormonal contraceptives can be used while breastfeeding/chestfeeding if your lactation is well established and your child is more than four weeks old. An intrauterine device (IUD) can be inserted immediately after delivery (<10 minutes) or best after 9 weeks postpartum. Alternatively, condoms are the least invasive form of birth control.
For permanent birth control, surgical options include tubal ligation which is a laparoscopy to block or remove the fallopian tubes, or vasectomy, a short procedure to block the sperm from exiting the testicles.
Koble sessions:
Postpartum contraception by Dr Yolanda Kirkham (MD)
Other resources:
https://www.pregnancyinfo.ca/postpartum/postpartum/contraception/
https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(21)00962-5/fulltext) (medical nonpatient reference only)