I need Mommy opinions- BC, & future...

[Mami Love]

I'm going to tell you a little about myself and what my plans are, and hopefully I can get some options of what you would do in my shoes.

I am a Wife (w/ DH of 10 years), and mother to 2 young children, about 2.5 yrs apart. Started TTC earlier this month, and 3 weeks after my period started, less then 2 weeks after ovulation. I just KNEW i was withchild. I was right! So here we are, extremely excited with baby #3 on the way.

I have never taken any form of BC (various reasons). We used to "pull out and hope" method, trying to avoid the peak times, and it has worked wonders for us. But with Baby #3 on the way money is going to be very tight, but not tight enough that we aren't comfortable., we would like to have a little more protection than Pull out and hope. So I want to think about BC.

I plan on breastfeeding Baby #3 until minimum 1 year (as I did with #1 and #2) so I would need BC that is safe to take while I breastfeed. DH and I hate condoms as we feel it takes away from the passion and connection we have with our "parts" when we make love. We feel like it's more like sex using them. On top of the rubber irritates me, even without dryness, so we would prefer not to use them.

We believe that both of us as extremely fertile. Each time we TTC the same time we do, it happens immediately. I can easily see myself being that .5-.1% that gets pregnant on BC of any kind. So it's going to be a mix of BC and pull and home method, avoiding the peak times for us.

I need to decide on BC. We aren't 100% sure we want other children (as in we are pretty sure we do). We want to see how 3 works as having a 4th would mean a new car combining kids rooms etc. So we do not want a permanent BC method. I am worried about BC with hormones as not only will I be breastfeeding, but I have had "perfect" 28 day cycles since i was 10 (except during BFing and pregnancies) and I do not want to introduce hormones into my body and it mess my system up.

I pretty much have it narrowed down to two forms of BC; The 2 types of IUD's. I've read a lot of mixed reviews on both. I understand everyone's bodies are different, but I'm wondering if someone on here has had both, with 28sh day cycles, without prior BC. I have very very heavy periods, that last 7 days. First couple days I'm changing pads/tampons every hour or two, then its not as bad the rest of the week. Bad cramping. With that said, that's my concern with the Non Hormone IUD is having an even heavier period and stronger cramps. Now with the Hormone one, I've read a lot of it's localized, doesn't go in the blood stream, as well as it does affect a person like pills (just not as bad). Mainly 50/50. I know it's mainly about individualism, but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask for some opinions. I also don't want to gain weight which is a common side affect to homone BC (although haven't heard it too much with the IUD) I know my mom takes them to not gain weight as coming off the pill makes her gain.

I've got a while to think about this. Baby #3 isn't due until Late September. But I wanted to do my research to be prepared.



Thanks in advance!!

[eirual]

Is charting with abstinence during fertile times an option? If you follow the FAM, it's ridiculously effective! (www.tcoyf.com)

There are also spermicides (dissolving ones....they're little tabs that you insert, they dissolve, and you're good to go)....should I mention we conceived DS while using them...not properly of course, since they say you have to wait 15mins from insertion??

Personally, we've been using FAM combined with withdrawl during fertile times for 5 years now and I think of it as the perfect BC- which I never thought existed before discovering it is sooo much more than the rhythm method. I think the benefits of being chemical/hormone/barrier-free far outweigh the ridiculously small chance of pregnancy (that's something you have to decide though- IUDs personally freak me out and definitely come with cons).

[Mami Love]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not a big fan of BC in regards to taking something artificial, and iffy on IUD's too. I didn't think about spermicides (although the wait may kill the mood sometimes). I've been doing the abstinence during fertile times thing since I've been "active". Which is what kept us from having children until we wanted started TTC. Although I've never really charted, This time I will most definitely chart, (that site looks perfect too!) to make sure I don't count wrong. (I've done that on pregnancy scares in the past, counting a week short haha)

[lactatinggirl]

Since we're planning on TTC soon, I got my IUD (hormonal) out and we're using a diaphragm. I've been charting and plan on using FAM once the hormones get out of my body. I'm really liking the idea of FAM and will likely use it in the future.

In your circumstance where you're not sure if you're going to have another and it might be some time, I may go with the non-hormonal IUD. I liked the convenience of the IUD, but the hormones are NOT localized. I'm sure that for some women they don't effect them, but I appear to be hormone sensitive. Since taking the IUD out a few weeks ago, I've lost 5 lbs (without changing anything diet or exercise-wise), my acne has gotten SO much better (I had zero acne as a teenager and incredible amounts with the IUD) and I actually want to have sex! Considering I'm a very sexual person, it was very weird to have very little drive while on the IUD. My husband actually said to me "Your sex drive is definitely back!" the other day! :-P

[Mami Love]

Thank yo0u for your reply. I've never ever taken any BC with hormones. I lost 80 lbs after baby #2, my acne cleared after my first pregancy. I am afraid to take any hormones because I'm prety sure I will be very sensitive to them. It's just a feeling I have. My sex drive has always been low, I could care less for it. Until I found my perfect love, and the way he treats me and the way we connect, it makes is so special and welcomed. I do not want to go back to no drive. I think I will just to the FAM thing. Kepe things natural like they were made to be.  I wish you 

luck TTC!!