"Side effects of postpartum contraception are not very many. If you take for instance, intrauterine device, you may have a heavy flow for the first few months. After all, it is a foreign body that has been inserted. So it can take a few weeks or a few months for it to settle down. So you may have initially an extra bout of bleeding, but it can be taken care of or you may have intramenstrual spotting between your periods, that also can be taken care of. Or you may have some extra discharge, maybe if there is any infection. But if you have any foul smelling discharge or any discharge, then you have to consult your doctor, then you have to consult your doctor and it may a local infection that can be taken care by pessaries or oral antibiotics, but don’t remove it in haste. the mild infection can be take care of and the intrauterine device can be continued. The benefit is more than the harm. So the side effects are very less and if you want to, in the beginning you start menstruation, if you want a change or you want to remove an IUCD, it is the ideal time will be to remove it when you are in periods so that you can switch over from one method of contraception to another. For instance if you are not very happy with your intrauterine device, then you can remove it within 5 days of your periods. Remove the IUCD and then immediately start on the combined oral contraceptive pills, which is a 21 day pill pack and can be started immediately an after 21 days you will have abnormal bleeding and if you like it, you can continue. So the other side effects is with the injectable and the progesterone only pills you may go for amenorrhea. Amenorrhea means you may bot get your periods or if at all you get, the flow may be less. But please don’t discontinue it because of this one side effects. Injectables there might be a very slight weight gain, maybe upto 2 kgs, but you can keep it in check by regular diet and exercise, but if you feel that it is really helpful, and you are not very happy after 6 months of delivery or after that baby started weaning, then you can change over form the injectable contraceptive to a combined oral contraceptive which is a 21 day pill pack, which will have you regular menstruation if it is taken in the correct way. So the doctor will instruct you how to take it and how to follow this medication. Bin the same way, the progesterone only pills you may not get the periods. As such after delivery when the lady is continuously lactating, without any top up feeds she may not get her periods. So the idea of introducing postpartum contraception is that when the baby changes over from breastfeeding to top up feeds or other feeds then your ovaries suddenly wake up. So when the ovulation happens, you may not be aware of it. So at that time you will conceive. So when you conceive you may not be aware of it till the vomiting sensation and you are in for a shock that if you have not taken adequate precautions that you are pregnant again and you do not know when you have conceived. So that is the main reason why we advocate postpartum contraception because when you are lactating, you will not get your periods and even before you start menstruation, you will suddenly conceive. So that is why we advise all these precaution. So if you are not happy with one form of contraception, then you can switch over to a different form of your choice. So you can even nowadays at 6 months. Nowadays we say even within 3 months of delivery and you are lactating, and you want a contraceptive that will give you a monthly bleeding, then you can go for what is called as low dose combined contraceptive, a low dose pill. That can also be taken. It will not affect your lactation because the components are very low in the combined contraceptive. So if you actually think of side effects, you should not avoid it totally. One or two side effects may be there, but it can be tackled, and you can always change over to a different form of tour choice. So if you are not agreeable with one form then go switch over to another form. So that you are protected for 3 years for 4 years, for 5 years as long as you want the gap between the first child and the second child"

"Postpartum contraception is something very essential. It is something how you plan for your pregnancy any couple for that matter, if they have to plan the pregnancy they have to put in lot of thought into it and they time their conception when it is convenient for them. So in the same way the postpartum contraception is a part of every couple’s life because it is a very crucial decision that they have to take, be it is a normal delivery or be it a caesarean section. So it is that period when you start it is called as postpartum contraception. Contraception means that you are preventing conception. So it is something temporary till you decide your next child"

"Postpartum contraception is very very safe. Nowadays the government recommends insertion of the copper T soon after the delivery of the placenta so that you won’t know how it is being inserted also. But ofcourse it is done with your consent. You can even opt for that, whether it is a normal delivery or a C-section. Once the placenta comes out, the Copper T, can be put in place so that it can be left there for 3 to 5 years, which is your choice. The safety wise, it is your chive. So you can opt for Copper T, Copper T, is very safe. It does not interfere with lactation and it can be that there can be Copper T available that can be inserted for upto 3 years or upto 5 years and even upto 10 years and if you are worried about bleeding for menstrual problems or a heavy flow, then you can go for a hormone containing device called as mirena. It will not cause increased flow during menstruation and a mirena can be even kept in place for upto 5 years. That is also recommended. All of the, Copper T, is called as a long acting contraceptive devices. So it can be kept in place as long as you want it to be there, say 3 years, 5 years or 10 years. Injections are also quite safe. It will also reduce the ;lactation. It can be taken once in 3 months without a break. That means you should not prolong it. Once your doctor has advised that it has to be taken on a particular date, then it has to be taken within a week of that date. Don’t prolong it, because then it will become a failure and you van conceive of you prolong the next injection. So you have to keep in mind that the injections have to be taken every 3 months and the pills that are taken after delivery, that will not compromise on the lactation is that the tablet which has to be taken everyday, for you can take it upto 1 year or 2 years and then change over to a different type of contraception. So again the choice is yours. All the 3 methods are very very safe in the post-partum period. So once the baby wean, then is it starts taking the oral other soft diet other than milk than other top up feeds, then you can opt for a different method if you feel a Copper T does not suit you. Can opt for another methods. Say after 6 months or 1 year. But follow something so that you get adequate space between the first child and then next child"

"Postpartum contraception is like a family planning in the sense, that is after the child is born, say the first child is born, then you see everything for the child till the child goes to school. Then at that time you do not want to be burdened with another pregnancy very quickly. So you are going to plan your family. So after the child is born, then you have to taken the decision to do something and adopt a temporary contraception of your choice so that you will plan the pregnancy after the child starts going to school, say after the child is 3 years old or after the first child is 5 years old and it also gives you enough time to recuperate from your first pregnancy. After the delivery every woman has to recuperate herself, has to get back into shape, improve her health, improve her anaemia if she was anaemic earlier and whatever the medical problems that she has had during the pregnancy she has to come out of it. So she has to give her enough time so that she recovers herself for the next pregnancy. So it is kind of a family planning method"

Is barrier method a method of Postpartum Contraception?. Find out more by watching this video by Dr. Nazira Sadique, T Nagar, Chennai, Cloudnine Hospitals. For more information visit cloudninecare.com

"Actually we do not for see any complications with any of these methods, because say once suppose you are on a Copper T. Once you remove, then the fertility returns immediately and then it is the same way. Injectables, maybe the ovulation will start taking place, maybe a few months once you stop. It may vary form 6 weeks to 3 months once you stop the injection and it is the same with the progesterone only pills that is started soon after the delivery. So there is no problem with regaining the fertility status. So if at all there is any problems then it can be taken care by consultation with your gynaecologist and it is not a major complication. If at all you might get a displaced Copper T. But if you come for a regular follow up, and that can also be picked up and taken care of. So there is not very many complications with the patients with the contraceptive methods that have been suggested to you so far"