Can I Start Birth Control Before My First Postpartum Period?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Can I start before my first postpartum period?

You can start taking progestin-only pills right away

. If you're going to be taking combination pills (the kind of pill most people take) you need to wait at least 3 weeks after giving birth to start your pills, depending on certain health factors.

Contents hide

Can I start a new pack of birth control before my period ends?


You can start taking birth control pills as soon as you get them

— any day of the week, and anytime during your menstrual cycle.

What happens if I start birth control right before my period?

If you start taking combination pills within 5 days after your period starts,

you'll be protected from pregnancy right away

. If you start combination pills any other time, you need to take the pill for 7 days before you're protected from pregnancy.

When can I start taking birth control pills after giving birth?


6 weeks after birth

If you're breastfeeding or you've developed certain medical conditions during pregnancy or delivery, you'll need to wait until at least 6 weeks before you can use the: combined pill.

Why do you have to wait 6 weeks after birth to start birth control?


There is a very small risk that the estrogen in these methods can affect your milk supply if you are breastfeeding

. You should avoid these methods for the first 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth, until breastfeeding is established. Side effects may include breakthrough bleeding, headaches, breast tenderness, and nausea.

Can you start birth control in the middle of the week?


Yes! You can start your birth control method any day of the week

.

Will I get my period if I start birth control mid cycle?

However, since you started in the middle of your cycle,

you won't have a bleed during the time you would have expected a regular period

, instead you'll have a withdrawal bleed (you don't have real “periods” on hormonal birth control since you are not ovulating) during your inactive or placebo pills.

How does birth control affect your period the first month?

Breakthrough bleeding — bleeding or spotting between periods — is common when you use hormonal birth control to

delay or prevent periods

, especially during the first few months. Breakthrough bleeding typically decreases over time, however, as your body adjusts to the new regimen.

When is the best time to take birth control pills morning or night?

A good time to take the pill is

in the evening, either just before you go to bed or around dinner time

, says Dr. Yen. Our a recent interview, she said, “In the 19+ years that I've been prescribing women birth control, I've only had 2 women who woke up from sleep with nausea.

What is the best birth control after having a baby?

You can start using the

shot, implant, Skyla and Mirena IUDs, and some types of birth control pills (called mini-pills)

right after giving birth. You may be able to get an implant or IUD in the hospital or at your postpartum checkup. Implants and IUDs are super effective, and prevent pregnancy for several years.

What happens if you don't wait 6 weeks after birth?

While there's no required waiting period before you can have sex again, many health care providers recommend waiting to have sex until four to six weeks after delivery, regardless of the delivery method.

The risk of having a complication after delivery is highest during the first two weeks after delivery

.

How fast does birth control dry up breast milk?

Taking estrogen as a part of a combined birth control pill can help stop lactation. Most mothers see a drop in milk production after taking one pill a day for one week.

Why do Obgyn push birth control?

It's worth noting that hormonal contraceptives are used not just

to prevent pregnancy, but treat certain conditions such as hormonal acne, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis, among others

. It can also lower the risk for certain types of cancers — ovarian in particular — when taken long-term.

Does birth control cause weight loss or gain?


Most types of birth control don't affect your weight

. But there are some methods that may cause weight gain in some people. There's been a lot of research on common birth control side effects. And studies show that the pill, the ring, the patch, and the IUD don't make you gain weight or lose weight.

Can birth control make you gain weight?

It's rare, but

some women do gain a little bit of weight when they start taking birth control pills

. It's often a temporary side effect that's due to fluid retention, not extra fat. A review of 44 studies showed no evidence that birth control pills caused weight gain in most women.

Can birth control cause weight loss?

Can birth control promote weight loss? Although weight loss is listed as a potential side effect of some hormonal contraceptives,

no birth control has been designed to promote it

. The only way you may feel like you've lost weight is if you're prone to water retention and use a contraceptive that has a diuretic effect.

Is the first week of birth control the strongest?

No ovulation means no egg for a sperm to fertilize and no chance of becoming pregnant.

The first week (week one) of taking pills is the most critical

. It's less risky to miss pills in the middle of a pack (weeks two and three).

What is the correct way to take birth control pills?

Take the 1st pill from the section of the packet marked “start”. This will be an active pill. Continue to take a pill every day, in the correct order and preferably at the same time each day, until the pack is finished (28 days). During the 7 days of taking the inactive pills, you will get a bleed.

Are you more fertile after having a baby?

Does giving birth “reset” a woman's biological clock? Perhaps.

Women who have given birth before do have a better chance of getting pregnant in their mid to late 30s

.

Do you ovulate before first postpartum period?

Most women did not begin ovulating until at least 6 weeks after childbirth, but a few ovulated sooner. Usually, women who are not breastfeeding ovulate sooner after giving birth than women who do breastfeed. However,

a woman's first ovulation cycle might occur before she gets her first postpartum period.

Can you get fingered after having a baby?

According to Baby Centre, you need to wait because you're losing lochia as your uterus heals, and penetration before the bleeding halts could quickly lead to an infection. So, as a result,

the general wait time before penetration, including fingering, is four to six weeks or when your doctor's given you approval

.

What kind of birth control can you take while breastfeeding?

  • IUD.
  • Mini-pill.
  • Barrier methods.
  • Implant.
  • Depo-Provera.
  • Natural family planning.
  • Sterilization.
  • Morning-after pill.

What contraceptive pill can I take while breastfeeding?


The Progesterone only pill (mini-pill POP)

The progesterone only contraceptive pill (mini-pill) is generally recommended during breastfeeding. It needs to be taken at the same time every day continuously – a delay of more than 3 hours may mean contraceptive protection is lost.

How can I dry up my milk without getting mastitis?

Most mothers will be able to suppress their lactation by

limiting the volume of milk removed, wearing a firm bra, using cold packs or cabbage leaves and medication for pain and inflammation if required

. At times, you may experience milk leaking from your breasts during the lactation suppression process.

Why birth control is toxic?

Contraceptive medications may contribute to endogenous toxicity by

modifying endogenous nutrient, heavy metal and trace mineral levels, subsequently influencing (nutrient-dependent) hepatic detoxification and cellular antioxidant enzyme activity

.

What age should a woman stop taking birth control pills?

Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the North American Menopause Society recommend that women continue contraceptive use until menopause or age

50–55 years

(333,334).

Can a doctor refuse to give you birth control?

Under the Trump-Pence administration's refusal policies,

health care workers in the U.S. and around the globe can deny patients services like birth control

, abortion, sterilization, hormone therapy, and HPV vaccines. There are no protections for patients, not even in an emergency.

How can I avoid getting pregnant after giving birth?

We typically recommend three types of birth control options for women who want to avoid pregnancy after childbirth: the Depo Provera shots, which last about three months; long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) devices, which are effective up to 10 years; and tubal ligation, which is considered permanent.

What are the risks of getting pregnant 3 months after giving birth?

How do I know I'm ovulating after birth?

Cramping. Another one of the signs of ovulation after giving birth is probably not the one you missed.

Once you start feeling the cramps in your abdomen again, you're probably resuming your menstrual cycle

. Cramps actually stop when the egg gets released, which is when you're at your most fertile phase of the cycle.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.