**1. Introduction**

The postpartum period in the lives of women in the reproductive age group is characterized by certain features, which are related to her future reproductive performance. She is vulnerable to the risk of an unintended pregnancy (!! surprise/? shock pregnancy), especially in the first year postpartum. This is because she has the common misconception that as long as she breastfeeds her infant, she cannot get pregnant. She is unaware that factors such as the duration and frequency of breastfeeding and any supplementary top-up feeds she may be giving to her child affect the time when ovulation may be resumed postpartum. Such factors account for the unpredictability of the resumption of ovulation and menstruation [1]. Coupled with this is the fact that most couples resume coital relations within a month of delivery [2]. The combined impact of these factors is that the woman is exposed to the risk of a subsequent pregnancy before the optimal delivery-conception interval, thus shortening the inter-delivery interval as well. Such closely -spaced pregnancies are contrary to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding birth spacing [3]. Data from India show a huge unmet need of contraception as high as 65% in the first postpartum year (USAID India, 2009). Similarly, National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2005–2006 also showed similar findings in relation to postpartum contraceptive usage as a result of which 65% births occur within 36 months of the previous birth. Similar situation is present in countries such as Pakistan [4, 5].
