Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Congratulations on your new baby!
You might not be thinking about contraception yet, but did you know you can get pregnant as soon as 3 weeks after giving birth?
Having another baby too soon can be tiring and may increase the risk of problems for you and your baby.
This leaflet explains the contraception options available to you. All of these methods are reversible.
If you want more details, ask your midwife or doctor.
- Progesterone-only pill (mini-pill)
- Hormonal coil or copper coil
- Progesterone implant
- Progesterone injection
- Combined oral contraceptive pill
You can also use:
- barrier methods (condoms, caps, diaphragms)
- natural family planning (tracking your cycle or breastfeeding method called lactation amenorrhoea)
- Take one pill at the same time every day.
- Can start straight after birth.
- Works by thickening mucus and sometimes stopping ovulation.
- May cause irregular bleeding, but this usually settles.
- Many women have no periods.
- Safe for breastfeeding.
- Lasts 5–10 years.
- Works by making the womb toxic to sperm (safe for you).
- Good if you want no hormones.
- Can make periods heavier and more painful.
- Can be put in during a caesarean or within 2 days, or 4 weeks after a vaginal birth.
- Safe for breastfeeding.
- Lasts up to 5 years.
- Releases progesterone to thin womb lining.
- May cause irregular bleeding at first, then lighter or no periods.
- Can be put in during a caesarean or within 2 days / after 4 weeks of vaginal birth.
- Safe for breastfeeding.
- A small rod under the skin of your arm.
- Lasts up to 3 years.
- Releases progesterone to thin womb lining and may stop ovulation.
- Can be put in any time after birth.
- May cause irregular bleeding, often stops periods.
- Safe for breastfeeding.
- Given into your buttock muscle or upper arm every 10-12 weeks.
- Stops ovulation and thins womb lining.
- Can start any time after birth.
- May cause irregular bleeding, often stops periods.
- Safe for breastfeeding.
- Take one pill daily for 3 weeks, then 1 week break.
- Makes periods regular and light.
- Not suitable if breastfeeding.
- Can start 3 weeks after birth if safe for you.
Breastfeeding can help prevent pregnancy, but only if all these conditions are met:
- your baby was born less than 6 months ago
- you are exclusively breastfeeding (no formula feeds)
- time between feeds is no more than 4 hours in the day and 6 hours at night
- your periods have not returned
If you give your baby expressed breast milk (pumped milk), this may make breastfeeding less effective as contraception.
This shows the chance of getting pregnant by accident in one year if the method is used perfectly or in a normal way:
- Progesterone pill: 0.3–9 out of 100 women
- Copper coil: 0.6–0.8 out of 100 women
- Hormonal coil: 0.2 out of 100 women
- Progesterone implant: 0.05 out of 100 women
- Progesterone injection: 0.2–6 out of 100 women
- Combined pill: 0.3–9 out of 100 women
- Breastfeeding method (lactational amenorrhea): 2 out of 100 women
- Condoms: 2–18 out of 100 women
- If you want the progesterone-only pill, talk to your midwife or doctor in the hospital. You can start it there.
- If you want a coil during a caesarean, tell your doctor so they can add it to your consent form.
- If you want a coil after a vaginal birth, speak to your doctor on the ward.
- If you want the progesterone injection, your midwife or doctor can give it before you go home.
- If you want the progesterone implant, you may need to go to a family planning clinic.
You can also get contraception later from your GP or a family planning clinic.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Maternity service.
About this information
Service:
Maternity
Reference:
M/030
Approval date:
1 March 2026
Review date:
1 March 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.