Here are six key contraception tips for optimal postpartum care:
- Initiate discussion of ongoing contraceptive needs while the patient is still pregnant and encourage her to communicate these to her clinical attendants
- Provide an evidence-based discussion of the pros and cons of various contraceptive methods — taking care to counter prevailing misconceptions
- If the choice is oral contraception, provide her with a prescription so that she can commence this immediately postpartum. It is a detail often overlooked at hospital discharge
- If the choice is for an IUD or implant, then ensure that she takes the device along to the hospital with her. Few hospitals or outpatient departments have these devices on hand or provide them cost-free. If she does not bring one along, she is likely to be rescheduled even if there are no contraindications to insertion at the time
- Be aware of the virtues of bridging contraception. If access to her preferred contraceptive method is likely to be delayed, then provide her with something until she can get it — such as the POP, DPMA or COCP, if she is not breastfeeding
- Encourage her to come back to discuss her options before simply stopping a method which is not suiting her.
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