Patient Education
Perinatal Education
Page 77
Caring for Yourself and Your New Baby
Your Family
Planning
Many new mothers (and
fathers) tell us this is not
the time to discuss family
planning...sex is the
furthest thing from their
minds. However, your
doctor or midwife will ask
This part of your notebook is for when you will want to
experience sexual closeness again. Having a baby changes
everything. Your baby affects your life and your plans for
yourself and your family. Think about what you want for
yourself and your family. Find time to discuss the situation
with your sexual partner or partners∗.
As you read this section, think about:
you about your plans for
• Your overall health.
contraception before you
• Your age.
leave the hospital.
• How often you have sex.
• Your ideal family size.
• Your partner’s ideal family size.
• Protection against the spread of sexually transmitted
diseases.
Sometimes you will hear about success rates for birth
control methods. For example, “the condom is successful at
preventing pregnancy 86 to 96% of the time.” The
percentages explain how many pregnancies a method
prevents in 1 year using that method. This example shows
that condoms will prevent pregnancies for 86 to 96 couples
(between 4 and 14 couples will become pregnant). The
lower number (the “86%”) refers to how successful 100
∗
For convenience, we will refer to a single sexual partner in
this section.
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Perinatal Education
Caring for Yourself and Your New Baby
Your Family Planning
couples were in real life the first year they used that method.
The higher number (the “96%”) refers to expected success
rates if 100 couples use the method perfectly.
Using two methods at a time increases your protection.
Combining one method with a 95% pregnancy prevention
rate per 100 couples with a second method with a prevention
rate of 90% per 100 couples, brings their combined
prevention rates to 99.5%. That’s just 5 pregnancies among
1,000 couples using that combination for a year.
Here are some questions to consider as you think about
planning your family.
Do you want to limit your family size or time when
your next child will be born?
There are different birth control methods to consider
depending on what you want. Stopping the growth of your
family is different than spacing when your children are born.
Some birth control methods are “reversible.” When you stop
using them, you return to your natural chances of becoming
pregnant. Examples of reversible birth control methods are
male and female condoms, spermicidal jelly, diaphragms,
cervical caps, the intrauterine device (IUD), morning after pill,
Depo-Provera, and the Pill.
Permanent methods require a surgical procedure. Women
can get a tubal ligation and men can get a vasectomy. These
methods are extremely successful at preventing pregnancy.
Couples who select permanent methods do not want any
more natural children for the rest of their lives.
Can you tolerate the side effects of birth control?
What if a certain type makes you sick?
“Birth control” includes many approaches to preventing
pregnancy. The choice is not between a method that makes
you sick and no method at all. With the help of your health
professional, you will be able to find a safe method that
works for you without causing you too much discomfort.
Caring for Yourself and Your New Baby
Perinatal Education
Some birth control methods may not be safe to take with other
medical or “street” drugs or herbs. Or, you may have a medical
condition that makes some methods risky for you. Some Pills
contain estrogen, which decreases your breast milk. Be sure to
use only progesterone pills (also call mini-pills) when you are
breastfeeding.
If you smoke, let your health care provider know. Some
methods are affected by the use of inhaled tobacco.
How easy is it for you to use your chosen method
of birth control?
What one woman finds easy to use might be too involved for
another. Some women find it easy to remember to take a
birth control Pill every day at the same time; others do not.
Some women are comfortable touching their bodies and can
feel when a diaphragm is placed right; some women find
using a diaphragm uncomfortable.
If a method (such as a condom) requires you do something
while in the middle of your lovemaking, will you be able to
follow through? Will it dampen your partner’s mood too
much? Will your partner understand or try to persuade you
to “skip it this time”?
Some methods require you to make frequent efforts to use
them successfully, such as, the Pill (daily) and male or
female condoms and spermicides (every time you have sex).
Other methods such as the intrauterine system (works for 5
to 10 years) require less frequent attention.
Do you need to protect yourself from sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) and the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
The best protection against STIs and HIV is no sex. When
you are having sex, continuous barrier methods offer the
best protection. These methods include the male and female
condoms. Protection against STIs, HIV and pregnancy is
increased when these methods are used with a spermicide.
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Your Family Planning
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Caring for Yourself and Your New Baby
Your Family Planning
Perinatal Education
If you use the Pill or the Shot as your preferred means of
birth control, you will still have to use the male or female
condoms to protect yourself.
Five Common Ways Birth Control “Fails”
Half of the unintended pregnancies in this country occur to
women who are using birth control! Birth control must be
used the right way, every time. Here are 5 reasons
contraceptives fail, and what you can do about them.
1. Failing to follow the instructions.
Carefully read the directions for your chosen birth
control method and follow them, every time.
• The Pill should be taken at the same time every day.
• Make sure condoms have not expired and check to see
that they are in good condition. After he has
ejaculated, the man should remove his penis from the
vagina before it begins to shrink. Also, he should
make sure he has gripped the top of the condom after
sex so that it does not accidentally slip off.
• Make sure diaphragms or cervical caps cover your
cervix.
• If you use an intrauterine device (IUD), check the
string monthly to make sure it is in place properly.
2. Failing to be consistent.
Birth control must be used every time you have sex – no
exceptions – unless you want to become pregnant. If you
forget to take even one birth control pill, your chances of
becoming pregnant increase. You must use barrier
methods of contraception (condoms, cervical caps, and
diaphragms) with spermicide every time for them to
prevent pregnancy.
It only takes one unprotected sexual act to become
pregnant. If you have any doubts you or your partner can
be consistent, think about longer-lasting methods.
Caring for Yourself and Your New Baby
Perinatal Education
3. Failing to keep the condom intact during sex.
Condoms hold up during use 95 to 98% of the time. This
means that they break 2 to 5% of the time.
Most condoms are made of latex rubber so anything with
oil in it weakens them. Always use vaginal spermicides
with condoms to help decrease the possibility of
pregnancy should condom failure occur. Use only waterbased lubricants and spermicides with a condom.
Tiny tears can be made in the condom by fingernails,
jewelry and other objects. Latex rubber cracks and gets
brittle over time, so don’t use a condom if it is past the
expiration date on the label.
4. Failing to know the interactions of the Pill with other
medicines or herbs.
Tell your health care provider about the other drugs or
herbs you are taking. Antibiotics can interfere with
combination oral contraceptive pills. When using
antibiotics, check with your healthcare provider about
when you should stop taking the Pill, when it is safe to
start taking it again, or if you need to use a back-up
method. Use another birth control method or abstain from
sex during the time you are not taking the Pill.
5. Failing to know the truth about how pregnancy occurs.
There are many misconceptions that create confusion for
women and their partners in choosing their method for
intended family planning.
The following are true:
• You can get pregnant during your period.
• There are no safe times during your menstrual cycle.
• Unprotected sex “just one time” can get you pregnant.
• You do not need to have an orgasm to become pregnant.
• You are not too old to get pregnant.
• You are not too young to get pregnant.
• You can get pregnant while breastfeeding.
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Questions?
Your questions are
important. Call your
health care provider if
you have questions or
concerns.
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Caring for Yourself and Your New Baby
Your Family Planning
When you make informed choices, you strengthen your
chances to have the number of children you want in your
family timed when you want them. The inconveniences of
using birth control the right way every time are small,
compared to the decisions that follow an unwanted or
mistimed pregnancy.
If you would like to read about the many methods of birth
control, ask your health care provider for an informative
brochure called “Birth Control – Choosing the Method
That’s Right for You” by the State of Washington
Department of Health. Or you may request a copy by calling
800-525-0127.
Perinatal Education
Box 356159
1959 N.E. Pacific St. Seattle, WA 98195
206-598-4003
© University of Washington Medical Center
07/2003 Rev. 10/2007
Reprints: Health Online