*nods* One thing I'm finding in my research is that post-IUD infertility (or delay of fertility) seems to be common. The recommendation is to only get one if you 1--have already had children and 2--are pretty sure you're done having children. Just in case you know.
Is that for both types or just the Mirena? I had the Copper (hormone free) one and got pregnant 18 days after it was removed. 
Honestly I don't know. I was reading some articles from the NYTimes and from I think Time Magazine and they didn't specify which kind, that was just the recommendation of several doctors who were interviewed.
Thank you all for your contributions on this topic. I had never thought to go to planned parenthood's website--that was very helpful, thank you! I got a lot more specifics about several forms of birth control, and (especially helpful) some details about the effectiveness of various methods. Their little 'which BC method should you use' quiz said I should try a cervical cap, diaphragm , or IUD. Seeing as now both the cap and diaphragm have like 30% failure rate for someone who has given birth (and pregnancy prevention is our priority right now), I'm still leaning toward the IUD.
@Christine--I have read up on how they work. An IUD just feels like the best option to me right now (although I'm also considering the nuvaring, but I'm not sure if I can do it since I'm not postpartum menstruating yet). I know the IUD drastically reduces the uterine lining so that implantation can't happen, which as a pro-lifer that does give me pause... but the IUDs also thicken the mucus so that it's darn hard for the sperm to get to the eggs anyway...and the Mirena suppresses ovulation as well, so it seems like the chances of ovulating and fertilizing are very very very slim...so the inability to implant seems almost irrelevant because it would just be so unlikely to get to that point. At least that's how I'm feeling about it. I appreciate your bringing up that issue though, because those things do matter to me.
and I am really hoping for a repeat performance this next time. I'm full term this Thursday! 
Part of me really hopes this baby is little and will be a little peanut in little newborn clothes for a while, and part of me wants to see just how big I can grow 'em! lol, my first (and only so far) was 9 lbs and I kind of impressed myself by birthing her with no tears, I'd like to see if I can do bigger! But I think/hope this one will be smaller. More reasonably sized. And this time I have a whole bunch of AP mama friends who are signing up to come over and help me clean, cook, take care of DD - I feel so lucky! You ladies were all so helpful when I was trying to move to Fairbanks while 'big with child' and now I've got more Alaskan mamas helping this time too. Maybe Alaskans are just the kindest people ever?
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