Breastfeeding exclusively offers a certain level of protection against pregnancy for about six months, but if you want to be sure (at any time), you should consider other methods of contraception.
At five months, many babies sleep for more than six hours straight at night, and by six months they are more than likely eating baby food. As nursing becomes less frequent and even if you haven't started menstruating, the "lactational amenorrhea" method (the natural contraceptive method that relies on breastfeeding exclusively) is no longer reliable.
But there is good news: all other methods of contraception are now available to you. If, of course, breastfeeding was your only contraindication.
- Barrier contraception: condoms, cervical diaphragms, spermicides. They do not cause harm to either the mother or the child. However, women who continue to breastfeed may experience vaginal dryness. In this case, a lubricant can be used along with a condom.
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs). There are both regular (copper) and hormonal IUDs. The former can be left in place for up to 10 years, the latter for three or five. Hormonal devices are usually not placed before the baby is six months old, because they can hinder milk production.
- Progestin-only hormonal options: Injectible (DMPA), оral daily pills, рrogestin vaginal rings, implants. Their most unpleasant side effect is irregular periods. But this is nothing new for breastfeeding moms.
- Combined oral contraceptives (COCs). When we talk about oral contraceptives, we usually mean pills. But combined hormonal contraceptives are also available in the form of a transdermal patch or vaginal ring. Regardless of the "form of delivery," these drugs do not affect the breastfed baby’s development but can reduce milk production. Therefore, they are usually not given until your baby starts solid foods. Nursing mothers are usually prescribed low-dose pills, so don't be surprised if your doctor doesn’t recommend the same ones you took before planning your pregnancy [1].
