What form of birth control are you using post-baby?

[umsami]

Argh, after looking forward to not having to deal with my period because I'm breastfeeding exclusively (and often), I just got my period only 10 weeks after giving birth. Hubby hates the pill... so doesn't want me to use the mini-one which is safe for BFing Moms. (Progesterone only, I think.) He also is uncomfortable with the IUD. We both suck at putting a diaphragm in... so I think we're looking at condoms. Pre-baby, I was using a funky ovulation monitor I bought from England (Persona)... but it's not designed to be used until my periods are regular... and I just don't know how things will go with BFing.

[Ravin]

I've been using the progesterone only pill. I haven't noticed any side effects. I'm a bit wary about relying on it, though, because I don't remember to take it at the exact same time every day.

I think I may go back to the doc and see about getting an IUD.

[Angie676]

I agree, why isn't there a pill for men? I admit to knowing nothing about this, but wouldn't it be smarter to bombard men's bodies with hormones for 2/3's of their lives, since their reproductive cells are manufactured on the spot? Instead, we bombard the woman (and her permanent supply of eggs, and her breastmilk) with hormones and chemicals.

I really wish there were better forms of male birth control. Right now, we're relying on natural methods (fertility awareness) and condoms.

[pageta]

Breastfeeding along only works until your cycles return or 6 months, whichever comes first. My cycle returned at 5 months and I was ebf, though I'd gone over 6 hours about a half dozen times since ds was born. The rules for ebf as birth control are that you must nurse every 4 hours during the day and have only one interval of up to 6 hours between feedings (nighttime). EBF can work much longer - they say the average is 14.5 months for cycles to return. I told dh when my cycle returned - "Just call me Fertile Myrtle."

Anyway, we were using NFP before ds was born so we will continue to use it now. It's quite tricky when breastfeeding, but I've done it before so it should be okay.

Actually the real birth control method we're using right now is pain-from-episiotomy, aka abstinence. Last time we tried it still hurt really bad so we're showing affection in other ways still.

[Soundhunter]

We used condoms for 5 yrs and they worked perfectly fine, and then when we where ready to TTC we didn't have to wait or deal with wacked cycles (thankfully, since it took 3 yrs and 3 m/cs to get our Emma) We're all for condoms, no risk to either person, and your odds of failure with them if you use a bit of lube as well are extremely miniscule. As for the poll, since it took so long to get our Emma we won't ever put up any "goalies" again :LOL

[Viola]

I'm using abstinence. So would that be does not apply or other? We haven't done the deed since before baby, but maybe one day. Then we will use condoms. I can't trust lactational amenorrhea as my baby goes for long periods without nursing. I swear I thought I was ovulating this month.

[aguacates]

I voted breastfeeding alone, but we are also using the 80% effective "withdrawl method". I am 4.5 mos pp, and I have thought a lot about various methods of bc, but anything hormonal is out, I am uncomfortable w/the idea of iuds, dp doesn't use condoms, and I am allergic to spermacide. I love the idea of charting, but feel like it is inaccurate while breastfeeding. Have I covered all the options? Other than abstinence?

[RidentMama]

More than One Form...

So I'm not the only woman wondering where the male pill is? I've been wondering that for the last few years, especially since a male pill has been almost on the market for the last few years.

Anywho, we're using BF, condoms & spermicide. We're doing everything possible to not conceive again anytime soon (DD was planned though!)--but if we're supposed to have another baby soon, there's nothing physically possible (okay, abstinence being the only thing, but that just isn't going to happen in this marriage! :LOL ) that's going to keep us from conceiving.

I have a friend who solely relied on BF, but ended up pg again before her DS turned 1. My MIL's mom also relied on EBF, but upon her 6 week checkup PP, found out she was pg again already! Talk about a Fertile Myrtle! :LOL

[Peppamint]

We are currently using condoms but when af returns and is regular I think we're going to switch to NFP. Since we haven't used NFP before (except I watched signs and sort of temped when we were ttc) I'd prefer to wait until after AF returns and I know what I'm doing.

I seem to be developing a latex sensitivity, so the condoms have gotta go. I refuse to use any hormonal or permanent. Since I am not insured, the diaphram is out too.

My ds is 8mo and still ebf (and no AF) but they say you can't use bf'ing as birth control after 6mo so we're not depending on that.

[Melinda77]

I am still experiencing LAM, but started charting (sporadically at first) at 6 months. Just had my first bit of fertile mucus, and we used withdrawl for now since my history with ds was to o before first af at 13 months old. We also invested in some non-latex condoms, and a vibrator Hey NFM doesn't have to mean no big O around o time, right

[lilmiss'mama]

Although I am single at the moment bc is something I think about. I was EBF when I got pg with dd #2 when dd#1 was 5.5 months old. I don't feel at all comfortable with hormones being put into my body. My plan was to get an IUD when the time came. They don't all have progesterone in them, do they? Does anyone use an IUD and is happy with it?

[Melinda77]

They don't all have progesterone in them, do they? Does anyone use an IUD and is happy with it?

No, they don't all have progesterone, there are also copper IUDs (the copper is supposed to help slow down the sperm so that they cannot reach the egg). I did have a copper IUD between ds and dd, and was fairly happy with it. My mother and MIL also had copper IUDs for several years each, with few complaints.

PS my reason for not getting another IUD is that I have had 2 c-sections, and it is possible the IUD could cause complications at the scars.

[natashaccat]

I have a mirena IUD, unlike a copper iud, this works by releasing pergesterone (sp?). If i recall correctly, it prevents ovulation so you don't have same side effects of a copper iud. I have had absolutely no probs with it, milk supply was fine etc...

[lilmiss'mama]

What are the side effects of a copper IUD?

[momileigh]

I've been on estrogen-based bc since dd was 6 months old. (I tried the patch, then switched to the nuvaring.) At first my Dr. would not prescribe it because she said it was incompatable with breastfeeding, but I did some research through LLL and took the info to my Dr., and she agreed I could try it. My supply has not suffered, which was the only concern. Dd is thriving; it has been 4 months on the estrogen bc.

So it IS an option! I was so glad because I use the estrogen methods to skip periods... I just stay on the active medicine continuously until I decide to have a period, usually every 3-6 months.

[memory maker]

I had an IUD put in at my 6 week checkup after dd was born. It was fine at first but then it became really uncomfortable, but not all the time. I could always feel the string so I knew it was still there. Finally it got to hurting so I went in to have my midwife take it out. Come to find out it had not stayed up in my uterus like it is supposed to. The bottom part of it was actually stuck into my cervix. Lucky for my I did not get pregnant again while using it. Now I am using the mini pill with no side effects. I tried Depo after ds was born and hated it!

[Viola]

Originally posted by mamapenelope

She said that the non-progesterone (copper) IUD is ok, but it has major side effects for some people. The most frequent one is extremely heavy bleeding.

My sister had that and she did experience heavy periods because of it. She finally got tired of it and just took it out herself. :LOL

I have a question, though. Is there less progesterone in the IUD than in the mini-pill? I thought that the hormone based IUDs were just a more foolproof way to distribute the hormones than by taking a pill. I took the progesterone only pill for a year after my first daughter was born and I didn't notice any side effects other than lack of sex drive.

[umsami]

I just picked up my Micronor... and in large letters on the print-out from the pharmacist, it says that it is excreted in breast milk. That, has freaked me out...and there's no way that I'm taking these things.

I guess it's Mr. Trojan-time.

[beccaroo]

We used condoms for the first 6 months (rare occasions!), then I got the copper IUD 4 months ago. I've been treated for depression before, so I didn't want to mess with anything with hormones. I wish I'd read "Women's Moods" years ago when I was on the pill.

So far, so good. AF returned about two months ago, and it hasn't been as bad as I'd expected. I've been spotting lately, but the cramps and flow have been cake compared to what I experienced in my teens and early twenties. (31 now) Knock wood!

[amyrobynne]

We're planning to use ecological breastfeeding as long as possible. We used NFP to prevent for 2 years pre-TTC, so I'll watch for signs that ovulation is coming back even if I haven't had AF yet. Once I'm ovulating (hopefully not for a year or more, but I realize it's not a guarantee by any means), we'll decide whether to go back to NFP or just leave it up to God to decide when we'll get pregnant again. Ideally, I'd like ovulation to stay away for 12-15 months or longer and then we could just let things happen. We conceived this baby on our first cycle trying.