Birth Control?

[Baby_Cakes]

What are you mamas considering for birth control?  Originally I was against doing anything hormonal ever again, it destroys my libido and quite frankly freaks me out that it's screwing with my system, but I just don't know if I'm 100% committed to CTA again/using condoms.  I was thinking of the mini-pill?  We are pretty sure we are done having kids, but we don't want to do anything permanent just yet.  I had an IUD after Nora and it was a miserable experience and I have issues with how they "work". 

So...what are you doing?  Just getting a feel for what others are thinking..?

[Beckily]

I get depressed about the subject :)

I guess we're back to condoms. I don't want anything hormonal, I hate IUDs and spermicidal jelly eats my skin.

*sigh*

[love4bob]

DH just had a vasectomy, but if he didn't do that I was thinking about the Paraguard(copper) IUD. Hormonal birth control kills my libido too, and it also makes me gain weight. We used charting before, and slipped up once which resulted in DD3. haha.

[karalynnskies]

I am also torn on this. I have never been on any hormonal birth control and I don't plan on getting on it. We used condoms for a bit and then mainly used the pull out method for around 6-7 years. We never got pregnant until we decided to, but I am just terrified if we go back to that I am going to end up pregnant accidentally which I do not want. I thought about looking into a diaphragm but that just sounds like no fun at all. I am just seriously doubting that hubby is going to be ok with using condoms again. So at this point I have no idea!

I am with you Becky. sigh...

[Baby_Cakes]

Quite frankly I'm depressed about it too.  I'm coming from TTC for 7 months when we just dtd whenever, however, and hoped to get pg.  Now that I truly do NOT want an accidental pg, it's just such a buzzkill and I'm not looking forward to worrying about it either.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't sure what to do though.  I have time to think about it, of course, but until then...

[greencarnation]

I plan on getting another Paraguard IUD, but I loved mine and had no issues with it.

[kylaskye]

I can't do hormonal contraceptives. Had the pill a few years back and it just messed with my system on so many levels. I refuse to do that. DH hates condoms (that's how we got into this situation to begin with).  We half-heartedly were using the pull out method, so I don't know if that would actually work. We weren't 100% on using that when I got pregnant. 

I was thinking about the copper IUD, but when I looked up info on it before it was really expensive. We'll see. 

[Peony]

DH will be getting a vasectomy. I'm not worried about getting pg before it is proven that it is working. The soonest I've had AF ever come back was 8 months once, other times it has been years. Actually, he really needs to make an appointment here soon.

[jillybeans]

This is a hard one for us too. I've tried SO hard with all of mine to get pregnant, and have never been able to conceive without clomid & progesterone. So the chances are slim. But there. And of course I have a prolapse, which so far is looking livable, but a hysterectomy is most likely in my future (my hope is it'll wait at least five years!) If for some reason it doesn't get better in the next year or gets worse, I'll get the hyst. sooner. If not, then dh will get a vasectomy after the year mark. I just don't want both of us to have to go through surgery if mine is inevitable. We'll do condoms till then because, and be very strict about it because my body CANNOT handle another pregnancy.

[greencarnation]

Even without insurance, I have seen fliers about a year payment plan for it!  Since it lasts so long, it is very cost effective.
 

Originally Posted by kylaskye 

I can't do hormonal contraceptives. Had the pill a few years back and it just messed with my system on so many levels. I refuse to do that. DH hates condoms (that's how we got into this situation to begin with).  We half-heartedly were using the pull out method, so I don't know if that would actually work. We weren't 100% on using that when I got pregnant. 

I was thinking about the copper IUD, but when I looked up info on it before it was really expensive. We'll see. 

[SouthernStormy]

Abstinence.

DH will be leaving in 5 weeks for basic training and gone until Christmas. I'll only see him for 2 wks around Christmas then he'll be gone until mid summer. We'll probably use condoms when we see each other in Dec. Probably going to go back to NFP when he's back, except do it a lot more diligently this time. I figure by that time if we have another "oops" baby it won't be the end of the world. I just hate the thought of adding anything hormonal to my body

[copper.kettle]

I have been thinking about this (and talking to DH about this!) for months!!

I love FAM, but I don't trust it until my cycles get "regular", which didn't happen until about 17 months post partum last time.  I had a paragard, but I had terrible anxiety, which I read can be a side effect, something about copper levels causing anxiety in some women?  I must admit my anxiety improved in a big way when I had it removed.  I just can't do anything hormonal, it freaks me out, and I don't think I'd be as diligent as you have to be with the minipill.  I've thought about the mirena, but I'm still not comfortable with those hormones, if I can avoid it.  (the mirena is my #2 choice, though, to be honest).  I HATE condoms.  I'd rather not have sex than have sex with a condom!  So?  I've been thinking a lot about getting a diaphragm.  I like that I can put it in in advance, and leave it in over night.  I like that there's no real "barrier", and no hormones.  I know it's kind of old school, but I can't think of anything that would work better for us.  I like that when my cycles regulate, I can just use it during my fertile times.  We are also not ready to do anything permenant. 

Birth control is such a tough issue!!!

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by copper.kettle 

I have been thinking about this (and talking to DH about this!) for months!!

I love FAM, but I don't trust it until my cycles get "regular", which didn't happen until about 17 months post partum last time.  I had a paragard, but I had terrible anxiety, which I read can be a side effect, something about copper levels causing anxiety in some women?  I must admit my anxiety improved in a big way when I had it removed.  I just can't do anything hormonal, it freaks me out, and I don't think I'd be as diligent as you have to be with the minipill.  I've thought about the mirena, but I'm still not comfortable with those hormones, if I can avoid it.  (the mirena is my #2 choice, though, to be honest).  I HATE condoms.  I'd rather not have sex than have sex with a condom!  So?  I've been thinking a lot about getting a diaphragm.  I like that I can put it in in advance, and leave it in over night.  I like that there's no real "barrier", and no hormones.  I know it's kind of old school, but I can't think of anything that would work better for us.  I like that when my cycles regulate, I can just use it during my fertile times.  We are also not ready to do anything permenant. 

Birth control is such a tough issue!!!

 I love my diaphragm :) I hope you don't have the same issues as I do with the spermicide, though. And sometimes it's hard to find in stores because so few women use them anymore. I don't know why not - they're completely hilarious :D

[mamamerle]

I'm done. I'll be scheduling my Adiana procedure in a few weeks. DH is supposed to be getting a vasectomy, but hasn't scheduled anything yet.   Last time my cycles started back up six weeks pp despite EBFing. I can't risk an 'oops'.

[copper.kettle]

Beckily, I have a few questions!  I have to have my OB "fit" me for a diaphragm, right?  I have a 6 week post partum appt scheduled, but do I need to tell them I want to be fitted for a diaphragm before the appt?  Is it something they can do on the spot?  Do you get the thing that day?  When you said "it's hard to find', were you talking about spermicide?  Is spermicide an extra precaution, or is it totally necessary every time?  Is the diaphragm hard to place?  Were you using one when you got pregnant?  Sorry for all the questions, lol!  I don't run across many women who have experience with the diaphragm!

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by copper.kettle 

Beckily, I have a few questions!  I have to have my OB "fit" me for a diaphragm, right?  I have a 6 week post partum appt scheduled, but do I need to tell them I want to be fitted for a diaphragm before the appt?  Is it something they can do on the spot?  Do you get the thing that day?  When you said "it's hard to find', were you talking about spermicide?  Is spermicide an extra precaution, or is it totally necessary every time?  Is the diaphragm hard to place?  Were you using one when you got pregnant?  Sorry for all the questions, lol!  I don't run across many women who have experience with the diaphragm!

You do have to be fitted! It's good to let them know ahead of time because it can take some time. They feel your cervix and guess and then put in a tester. Then you fill it at the pharmacy - sometimes it can take some time as they're sometimes not kept on hand. The spermicide can be hard to find - you can look now! It's just any tube of spermicidal jelly :) My pharmacist didn't know how they worked (!!) and told me I could use the little spermicidal films - not true! You need the jelly. You put about a quarter sized glop in the center of the cup and then around the rim. You can use them without, but it's not a perfect seal all the time, so that's not the best plan.

It's .. amusing to place? :) Can take some practice and you certainly want to practice! It's not the best thing to try in the heat of the moment. You have to put the goo on and then fold it and side it in. I usually laugh a lot. And then you can't feel anything :) You take it out the next day and it's very slimy.

We got pregnant using the "Well, you had stage 4 cancer and they said you're infertile" method. And then kept not using anything after the miscarriage. We suck at birth control ;)

And ask away! I like the diaphragm. I had to argue to get it - she wanted me on an IUD. Pah. This was my second one. I suppose I can still use it since I didn't give birth vaginally!

Some people use alternative things for the spermicide - just has to be something that will denature proteins. People use lemon juice and such. There are recipes online, but they'll bring down the efficacy, which is lower than most things anyway.

[Jbouck5]

ugh, yes I am depressed about this too. Before I got pregnant we were charting, and I loved it. I am afraid of just relying on that now though because I doubt my cycles will be regular enough for a while. Hormonal bc turned me into a psycho and killed my libido, so I was thinking of getting an IUD. I guess I will put more thought into this after I talk to the MW as my 6 week pp check up. I don't think I will be ready for another kid for 5 years, so I want to make sure we are really safe from an accident.

[Jennah_Gole]

I ditto all the people depressed about it...I am sooooo not willing to do the IUD.....got an infection every time...I hate pills because they make my migraines even worse than they are and make me gain weight plus the fact that I hate hormones and I know I will forget to take them.

Hubby hates condoms and I hate the pull-out method....don't know what to do but even if the blood stops we are going to abstain until we figure out something.  I'm definitely through having babies....this was number six and it took a real toll on my body.  I could definitely feel a big difference between this pregnancy and my last one which was about four years ago.  Then I had no aches and pains like this pregnancy.  I could swear that bones and joints were falling apart.  Even my tail bone is still sore till now....never had that before.  Definitely can't go through another pregnancy -- I don't want to.

[ursusarctos]

So glad to see this thread! I have the same issues as everyone else here So yeah, no hormones for me either as they make me depressed and give me endless yeast infections. I really don't like the idea of either of the IUDs available. We both hate condoms. Charting is out as long as I am waking up every 2 hours at night. So I think it will be pulling out for us. We used it for a couple years before TTC and it worked for us. And I don't think DH will be comfortable counting on LAM. But eh, I really prefer it when we can just go the whole way! I think it matters even more to me than DH And, since I already have baby fever again (ridiculous, I know) I think we will be relying on his desire to avoid another child more than mine. Even though I know it would be better for everyone's health and sanity if we wait for a few years for another one.

Trying to thwart nature is just no fun at all ;)

[Baby_Cakes]

So, condoms are 85% effective and the minipill is 92% effective.  Why do I feel like trusting either one by itself would be a mistake?  Are those % taking into account misuse, you think?