Ladies back on the pill after baby...question

Bluesmoothee

I have a stupid question. It's been so long since I've been on oral contraceptives, I've forgotten how they work.

 I'm about to start my 1st pill pack in forever. Do I have to wait until I get my 1st post-partum period to start the pack? Or can I just start taking them when I get them?

GrowingFamily

You want to start them as soon as you want to be protected!  It was 17 mos pp before I got my first period after our older DD was born (I BF her until she was 18 mos), but I had been taking the mini-pill since 6wks pp.  You can get pg before having your first period, so don't wait for that!

krub

Either 1st day of AF or 1st Sunday after.  If you start the first day of AF, you shouldn't need any other protection.  If you haven't had a PP AF yet, then you can start anytime, but I think you need protection the first week just in case you O'd before starting the pills. But, a word for the wise, I have started BCP before my 1st PP AF and it made me super hormonal.  I needed to have one cycle on my own before I could start BCP and feel human.  This was even with something low dose like a nuva ring.  But, each person is different.  GL!