Is it necessary to talk about contraception before giving birth?

During pregnancy, it is natural that a large part of your attention is focused on the baby, the birth, and everything you need to prepare for their arrival. But there is another person we cannot forget: you. Thinking about your sexual and reproductive health after the birth is also part of preparing for the postpartum period.

It might seem early to talk about contraception, but this is a good time to get to know the different possibilities and understand which ones might make sense for you. Not all methods are suitable at every stage of the postpartum period, and the choice should take into account your health, whether you are breastfeeding, the time that has passed since the birth, your preferences, and if and when you would like to get pregnant again.

There is also something that many women do not know: ovulation happens before menstruation. Because of this, fertility can return before you even realise your menstrual cycle is back. Breastfeeding can delay this process, but it only works as a contraceptive method when specific conditions are met.

Thinking about this topic in advance also allows you, if you wish for a method that can be started right after the birth, to discuss this possibility with the team during pregnancy. It doesn't mean you have to make a decision right now; it simply means having information, knowing your options, and being able to choose in your own time.

After the birth, there will be so much to discover and many new decisions to make. If we can anticipate some of them during pregnancy, we can make the postpartum period a little simpler. Contraception is one of those decisions: find out more, ask your questions, and choose whatever makes the most sense for you and your life plans.

Here is our suggestion to help you find out more and compare different types of contraceptive methods