What are you doing about birth control after this baby? - Page 2

[BananaBreadGirl]

Originally Posted by channelofpeace

We do NFP and haven't had any problems with it- we knew that we were fertile when all our babies have been conceived. I also use breastfeeding as birth control with much success. I have had 8 months, 12 months and 15 months without ovulation with my three other kiddos respectively. I know this doesn't work as well for some women, I am glad it has worked for us. And I have always been able to identify my return to fertility before it happened, so there was no "Oops, we ovulated and conceived before my period returned".

I've learned the Creighton Method of NFP but this last time I wanted the cross checking of the Sympto- Thermal Method so we bought the CCL homestudy course. Worked like a charm

I used the CCL-taught Sympto-Thermal Method to postpone pregnancy for 2.5 years, and used it to try to get pregnant for, um, one month. I plan on using LAM for as long as possible and then charting.

I plan on feeding on demand (and probably no pacifier) when I am with the baby and hopefully co-sleeping. However, I will be working 3 days a week (consisting of 6 chunks of time away from the baby, length of time being gone 2-3 hrs...probably not able to pump during those chunks). The baby will probably need bottles (or some other type of feeding method, but I'm planning on bottles of pumped milk) during those times. I hope that I still get a decent amount of time without cycling.

[erin_brycesmom]

Nothing. I probably should do NFP but I plan on not even thinking about it. It took us over 3 years to have this baby and that was trying desperately. I'm not going to try to prevent this time around because I feel like it would be all for nothing. Of course this will be the one time we get pregnant without trying, lol. I'll take whatever God gives me at this point.

[beachcomber]

We are done after this baby. I don't want to be pregnant again. Plus, we can't really afford to have any more than two. I'll probably go with a copper IUD. I can't do hormonal anything so that limits my options. DH gets absolutely horrified at even the thought of a vasectomy (grrr) so if the IUD option doesn't work out, I'll go witha tubal or Essure if I can get it here where I live.

[beachcomber]

BananaBreadGirl

I fed on demand and cosleep (still!) and I got my first period 6 months after my DD was born. I can't tell you how bummed I was, either. I'd been looking forward to a nice long stretch of no period-related BS. So, those are no guarantee you'll have a long break before returning to fertility. Just so you know.

Erin_BrycesMom,

We tried for nearly 3 years to conceive DD. We tried for about 5 months on and off and conceived DS. It's a total crap shoot. There are no guarantees how long or short a time it'll take. So as long as you're comfortable with the idea of Irish twins, you'll be fine.

[Ianthe]

We also "tried" (actually did not try to prevent) for years for #1, and this pregnancy was the very first "oops" possible... so, you never know!

[erin_brycesmom]

We've had to try for all four of my pregnancies and it was never easy. I have fertility problems and now dh has developed a condition that causes low sperm count as well so we are both defective. Throw in my postpartum thyroiditis that I've gotten after both of my live births and I'd be shocked if we ended up blessed with irish twins. But stranger things have happened so you are so right that I have to be ok with it if I'm not going to try to prevent. I would love to have a surprise pregnancy for once...at least I say that now, lol.

[MangoMommy]

We did a FAM/NFP type of BC before, worked for almost 6 yrs (plus LAM, my period took 15 mo to return!) until this surprise, but we were "careless" in Sept. Worked out ok though LOL!!!

After this one DH is getting a V.

[Storm Bride]

It's not helpful for you, but I'm getting a tubal. This is my 8th pregnancy, 5th term pregnancy and 4th living child. I'll be 41 when baby arrives, and this will be my 5th c-section. I'm not taking any chances after this.

Between babies, dh and I have always used condoms, combined with a little bit of charting...but we only risk going without the condoms for a couple days at either end of my cycle from ovulation, as we seem to be very fertile together.

[KarlaC]

Dh is getting snipped. We talked about getting my tubes tied but I'm a firm believer in post tubal ligation syndrome after seeing it in so many people I've known & cared for. Pass on that

[beachcomber]

I wonder if the outcome of Essure can lead to PTLS or if it's just with the standard Tubal Ligation surgery. Essure causes scar tissue but doesn't actually cut off the blood supply to the ovaries. Hrm ...

[musiclady]

I really don't know. Seems we're the poster children for "Use Protection!"

Although it's my first, it only took us 2 tries to get it right. He has 3 others (adults now) from a previous marriage... I dunno.....

I struggle because in a way I'd like to have another because the whole process ended up being so different than I wanted- two SS ending up preggers, Pre-E, C-section, preemie/NICU.... and in a way, I don't ever want to repeat the emotional stress and "down times" that I've had.

I'm hesitant to do anything permanent, so I guess we'll go back to BC. But when/if we decide we're done, I think I'd rather do the V. I have had enough taking pills every day, and I'm 34. I think after a while age is a factor for increased risk with BC.

Grah.... been almost 6 weeks PP, so.... no signs of AF yet. And seriously- no signs of DTD yet either. Geez... this whole experience put a significant cap on my libido!!!

So, I guess that right now our BC is abstinance. THAT WON'T LAST (right? I hope?!?!?)

[boscopup]

Creighton Model of NFP at least at first. We haven't actually talked about what, if anything, we might do permanently. We've successfully used Creighton for 6 years, planning each child and avoiding inbetween. I did use temps when getting preg with this one because my cycles were so wonky, I wanted to see a little extra of what was going on, but I don't think temps will be at all useful for me for avoiding, so I won't bother with temping. I've used CM-only (no cervix position checking or anything like that) for the whole 6 years and it worked great. A good teacher is really worth it. Also, my Creighton teacher was cheap. I think it ended up being about $80 for a whole year's worth of classes, and she continued with free followups after the class series was over, plus she checked on me through pregnancy and postpartum, etc. The only reason I don't still have followups with her is that she retired from teaching and she moved to be closer to her grandkids.

We don't plan any more kids, but I am NOT getting a tubal or anything permanently done to me. I have enough friends that have had bad side effects (heavy, painful periods, really wonky hormones, etc.) that I am content with Creighton. DH may want to get a vas, although I am a bit leery of that too because men can also have side effects. So we'll see. We just haven't talked about it at all yet, and AF usually doesn't return until after a year anyway, so we have time to figure things out.

My Creighton teacher said that couples that are absolutely "done" have the best success rate at avoiding because they follow the rules to the letter. I feel like we'd probably do fine just using Creighton for the long haul, and we both feel "done" after this one.

[gruver]

i'll probably go back to the nuvaring as soon as my doctor okays it. we are crazy fertile around here, hate condoms, and not good at NFP. BCP made me crazy but the nuvaring worked like a dream for me.

[BananaBreadGirl]

Originally Posted by beachcomber

BananaBreadGirl

I fed on demand and cosleep (still!) and I got my first period 6 months after my DD was born. I can't tell you how bummed I was, either. I'd been looking forward to a nice long stretch of no period-related BS. So, those are no guarantee you'll have a long break before returning to fertility. Just so you know.

Yeah, I know it really varies for people, and I probably would have more success at keeping AF away if I was not going to be working part-time. Do you know if there are any other factors that tend to affect that length of time (mother's age or body type, first child vs. second/3rd/etc. child?).

[goin' green]

Just a plug for Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler for charting questions. As long as you have your period back, night nursing shouldn't really affect your charting at all. Check out the nursing while TTC board. I think there's a charting to avoid thread in there too.

As for me, I charted for the longest time with NO period, so that was pretty pointless. There was nothing going on....

I didn't get my period back for 24 mos pp after DS, so I'm not really too worried about it right now. Although I joked to my hubby, that since we expect the same pattern as last time, I'll end up preggo again at like 4 mos pp!

And if that happens, I think I'll be okay. I'm pretty sure I want at least on more. We've talked about 3 or 4 for forever so I just don't feel any real urge to do anything TOO permanent or anything just yet. If I get AF back sooner though then we'll discuss whether we're ready at that point, if we want more, etc.

[MamaMem]

I have been on BCP once and will never. Never. NEVER do it again. It nearly killed me after 5 months. NO joke. And even through all that I was still ovulating and had a miscarriage.

Then we went back to the Lea Sheild we had been using. Bc I am hypothyriod, I can't use my temp as an accurate guide but my mucos has never let me down. Hence I only have to use the sheild for about a week every cycle. Plus, we are soo not done having babies, so by the time this one is 6 months I don't care if we have an "oops".

I for sure can't just wait to see when AF comes. Last time it was 9 weeks PP. Demand feeding and all.

[Sarahstw]

UGH. What a stressful question!
The two things that pop quickly into my mind are 1) abstinence 2) go back to being a lesbian...

Alas, the reality is that I will not use any pharmaceuticals and I've seen too much trouble with the Copper IUDs, everyone hates condoms (no?)...

I was pretty friggin' happy with my cervical cap for a long time but the failure rates increase significantly with parous women... I think the success rates drop to something in the 80%s...
I guess I can look back into LAM and NFP minus the temperature charting which makes me crazy. I guess I can do a combo of cap/half-*ssed NFP, maybe the combo of them will be enough...

[phrogger]

Originally Posted by beachcomber

I wonder if the outcome of Essure can lead to PTLS or if it's just with the standard Tubal Ligation surgery. Essure causes scar tissue but doesn't actually cut off the blood supply to the ovaries. Hrm ...

I know more people who have had problems with essure then a tubal. So I don't think it is without complications. I will stick with the tubal, which, while there are complications, it is a process that has been around a lot longer. However, if I weren't having my 5th c-section, I probably would make my DH just get a vasectomy, but since I will be open anyway, might as well cut/burn/remove what ever they can.

[ihugtrees]

*Sigh*
I'm really bummed by the fact that even with on demand feeding my periods might come back a month or two PP

DH and I are soooo fertile together...despite my many 'oopsies' in high school and college, I had never gotten pregnant. Well, we had unprotected sex two times and got pregnant. We miscarried and a week later got pregnant again, the one and only time we had sex that month. So I don't want to take any chances...this has been a HARD pregnancy for me (well, weeks 15-28 were okay. Before that I was soooo sick and after that I've been in pain and huge and miserable) and I can't imagine wanting to get pregnant again for awhile. Also, I really want to be sure I can nurse this babe until she is a year...

NFP seems like the only option at this point, but it makes me sooo nervous to think about that. I feel like it's ALL on me to make sure we don't get pregnant, other than saying, "Oh, we could get pregnant right now so let's not DTD." And what if I mess up?? We have no other backup to be sure we don't get pregnant. This is the first time in my life that I really, really don't want to get pregnant (I've wanted a baby since I was about 17, to be totally honest :-P) and the idea of it happening when I really don't want it to is kind of terrifying...

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by KarlaC

We talked about getting my tubes tied but I'm a firm believer in post tubal ligation syndrome after seeing it in so many people I've known & cared for.

umm...eek. I just read up about this a little. It sounds terrifying, and I've really had more than enough crap from surgical complications, etc..

*sigh*
I guess I'll think about it a little more...