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Many experts, doctors, and midwives agree that it is a good idea to wait at least one year between pregnancies to provide your body an opportunity to recover and replenish itself. Therefore, it is a good idea to research birth control options that are available to you and your partner before your baby arrives and you are too tired to even pick up a newspaper, let alone evaluate the pros and cons of the many choices available to you. When considering which option is best, take into account whether or not you will be breastfeeding (as some hormonal contraceptive choices may not be right for breastfeeding women), any religious concerns you may have, and be certain to include your partner in your decision making.
Take the time to talk with your regular prenatal care provider to get her opinion on which option might work best for you and your individual situation. It is also likely that your doctor or midwife will have pamphlets you can take home and read at your convenience on any birth control methods you may be interested in learning more about. It is also worthwhile to talk to close friends or relatives about which birth control options have or have not worked for them.
It is important to note that the return of menstruation after pregnancy can vary from six weeks to up to a year, depending on the individual woman and whether she is breastfeeding or not. However, a postpartum woman is still ovulating and, therefore, able to get pregnant even if she is not menstruating. For this reason, take the time to weigh out your birth control options now to help avoid an "unexpected" pregnancy in the future!
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