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Is birth control needed straight after giving birth?
How soon after giving birth can my wife get pregnant? Is it necessary to use contraceptives when we resume making love?
Women will generally not feel like having intercourse for two to six weeks after childbirth, but of course this is variable. When a woman becomes fertile again also depends upon many variables. If she is breastfeeding exclusively ? not using formula supplements at all - and she is not having periods, fertility can be delayed for up to six months with high reliability. If supplements such as formula or solid foods are being given, fertility may return. It depends upon the woman's fertility level prior to the pregnancy, the baby's patterns of feeding and whether or not periods have resumed. If a woman does not breastfeed, fertility can return as soon as two weeks after birth. More commonly, for this group of women, fertility returns between two and six weeks after delivery.
The bottom line is to use some form of protection all of the time unless a pregnancy would be OK. Condoms are best initially. If breastfeeding, your wife should wait until her milk supply is well established before using birth control pills, and even then should avoid oestrogen-containing pills (combined pills) as these can interfere with milk production. The mini-pill (progesterone only pill) is much more suitable, and combined with breast-feeding, gives a high level of protection.
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