Final answer:
An IUD is typically inserted immediately postpartum or at the 6-week postpartum checkup, with the timing chosen based on clinical advice and the patient's circumstances.
Step-by-step explanation:
An IUD is usually inserted immediately postpartum or during the 6-week postpartum checkup. Immediately postpartum insertion may be more convenient and ensures the IUD is in place before the patient becomes sexually active again, helping to prevent unintended pregnancy. However, there may be higher expulsion rates when the IUD is inserted immediately postpartum. If not inserted immediately postpartum, the usual practice is to insert the IUD at the 6-week postpartum checkup, once the uterus has returned closer to its normal size and the risk of expulsion is lower. It's important to note that women should wait three weeks after giving birth before using birth control methods that contain both estrogen and progestin. Those with additional risk factors for blood clots should wait six weeks. Hormonal IUDs work by thickening cervical mucus and sometimes by interfering with ovulation, while copper IUDs interfere with sperm movement and egg fertilization.