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Component 2.5

Services for Postpartum and/or Breastfeeding Women

Strategies

  • Ensure the clinic is breastfeeding-friendly for patients and staff. Breastfeeding and postpartum women will feel more comfortable seeking services in an environment that is receptive to their needs.1
  • Encourage and support access to contraception services prior to resuming sexual activity, which often may occur before the routine six-week postpartum visit. Encourage contraceptive use prior to resuming sexual activity.2,3
  • Offer a broad range of methods and ensure staff can counsel and support the use of each available contraceptive method, including Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM).2,3
  • Discuss the spacing of pregnancies and the patient’s reproductive life plan during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Offer contraception that supports patient’s plan.2,3
  • Obstetric providers should counsel pregnant women about all forms of postpartum contraception in a context that allows informed decision-making. Immediate postpartum LARC should be offered as an effective option for postpartum contraception.4,5

Resources

  1. Breastfeeding-friendly physician’s office: optimizing care for infants and children, 2013: http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=46908
  2. Association of Reproductive Health Professionals 2013, https://www.arhp.org/publications-and-resources/quick-reference-guide-for-clinicians/postpartum-counseling/contraception
  3. US MEC revisions for postpartum contraception, 2011: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6026a3.htm
  4. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion on Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, 2016: https://www.acog.org/-/media/ Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/co670. pdf?dmc=1&ts=20160826T1311208590
  5. Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) Coverage Guidance: Timing of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Placement, 2016: http://www.oregon.gov/oha/herc/CoverageGuidances/LARC-CG.pdf