Advising postpartum women on contraceptive choices

Abstract

Women can become pregnant early in the postpartum period if they are sexually active. To avoid unintentional pregnancy, it is important to be aware of this fact, and to advise women that contraception is needed as early as 21 days postpartum to avoid unintended pregnancy. Practice nurses must consider whether or not a woman is breastfeeding, as this can impact on contraception. Ovulation can be suppressed in breastfeeding mothers; however, this is not 100% guaranteed and guidelines state that breastfeeding women should be advised to consider the use of contraception. It is thought that progestogen-only contraception does not affect breast milk volume and may therefore be used while breastfeeding. Long-acting reversible contraception (laRC) may be particularly suitable for this group of women, depending on a woman's plans for future children and the spacing of these. Practice nurses should be aware of suitable methods of contraception for postpartum women and be able to advise accordingly.