PP birth control « Back to Group Discussions

[sallyrae17]

Hey everyone- I don't think a thread has been started on this yet, but I'm wondering what everyone else is doing. I decided to get the Mirena IUD at my 6 week pp visit. My partner doesn't want any more kids and was contemplating getting "snipped." I decided to just take matters into my own hands and have an IUD put in. Has anyone else had the Mirena? I had just stopped bleeding before my visit and now I'm having what seems like a heavy period. They told me that I'd have spotting for about 6 weeks or so, but I wasn't expecting to wear tampons and pads. I actually bled so much last night that it got all over my bed - that hasn't happened since I was really young. Grrr. I know that everyone's body reacts differently and that there's a huge range of normal, but I just wanted to hear everyone else's experiences (if you have any). I'm also super crampy, but not as crabby as I usually am with a period. My milk production hasn't been affected at all, though. I've read that some women see their supply go down, but mine actually seems to be going up (and I have no idea how since I'm an overproducer anyway). 

So, what are y'all planning to do? Have you made a decision or are you just winging it for the time being?

Edited by sallyrae17 - 10/5/12 at 7:29am

[midstreammama]

I will admit, we never have been good at sticking to the 6 week rule..ehem. But generally if I'm feeling good and not bleeding then we just take it slow. So, we have just been using condoms for now, as much as we dislike them. He wants to get a vasectomy but it really scares me, altering your body like that. We really don't know the ramifications of doing those things you know? So, I know, it's his body..but I can't help but worry..no matter how many success stories I hear.

[pennywhistle]

I'm planning to get the Paraguard IUD, to avoid any hormones.  I HAD been planning to get it about 11 months ago, but I got lazy, forgot to make an appointment...and then got knocked up instead.  Oops!  So now I have Atticus

[sallyrae17]

Penny - I was planning to get Paraguard as well since I'm pretty anti-hormones, but my doctor convinced me to get Mirena instead. Are you choosing it because you don't want hormones or what is your main motivating factor?

[pennywhistle]

I actually just got the Paraguard 2 hours ago!  I went in for my 6 week follow-up, and she asked if I wanted to get it now.  So, that's taken care of!  I wasn't excited about the extra cramping and heavier bleeding that comes with the Paraguard, but I am adamently against hormones, so I'm going with it.  I also have very light and easy periods, so if they get a little worse it still won't be too bad.

[Ninetales]

We've only done it once since the baby was born but my birth control PP is condoms until I start cycling, then fertility awareness method.  We still want at least one more someday, I won't use hormonal methods again, and I don't want an IUD.

[sallyrae17]

I have always had really heavy periods with a lot of cramping, so the "side effects" of Paraguard freaked me out more than the hormones in Mirena. I guess it also made me feel better that the hormones are localized to my uterus...I'm not taking anything orally or doing an injection that has to go through my bloodstream. I mean, the hormones will still be in my blood, but maybe not as much. It's nice knowing that I can always have it taken out, though. We're 99% decided on not having any more kids, but that one percent is still there. ;) 

[Veritas Vitae]

I had Mirena before getting pregnant and I liked it for two years. But then for some reason I started having soreness inside, like inflammation, and sex was very painful.  It may have been exacerbated by a new relationship...but I ended up having it taken out. For now, I have not had sex since Q was born, our 6 weeks is tomorrow. I haven't thought about what PP we will do.

[LilyTiger]

We're doing the Paraguard starting this week.  Penny, let me know how you like it!  I was a total hot mess on every form of hormonal birth control I tried (like to the point where my husband was trying to get me into therapy), so I'm never ever ever messing with my hormones artificially again.  Hopefully the Paraguard works for me.  My doc and I talked about it and she said with my background it sounds like it will be a good fit, so fingers crossed.  Her other patients who have tried it all had good experiences, so I'm hoping I do too. 

[monkeyscience]

A baby that cries if you get less than 6" apart from each other? That's been our main method so far.

I swear, if he has even the slightest inkling that I might want to get a little frisky later, he will refuse to sleep (or stay asleep) for hours... until I and/or dh are too tired to try anything. We have managed to sneak past him a few times, but never more than once a week. Which is just not that much.

But we are really trying to figure out what we want to do. We've never done any form of BC before because of my fertility issues. And there's a decent chance that there's no need to worry at all, between my PCOS and the baby's breastfeeding. But there's no way to know that until it's too late, and I definitely, definitely do not want to get pregnant right now! I have charted in the past, but it never would have worked for birth control, because I could never get a good read on my cervical position and fluid. I mostly just temped and confirmed O retrospectively. I used OPKs to help us conceive. But I'll be darned if I'm peeing on a stick every day from now till the end of time. Plus I don't think that would give me enough of a heads up to totally prevent conception, anyway.

We both agree on no hormonal BC for me, due to various medical issues I've had/have, and we're definitely not ready for something permanent. I have a variety of reservations about both types of IUDs, too. So pretty much we're left with condoms, which we have actually never successfully used. We tried them a couple of times early in our marriage, and dh insisted on taking them off before we got very far because they were uncomfortable. So we're still trying to figure things out, and so far just hoping/assuming/praying it's too soon for me to get pregnant again.

[monkeyscience]

Well, for better or worse, we have decided to forgo birth control at this time. After much praying and discussion, it's what we feel is right for our family. Not going to say that the thought of getting pregnant quickly isn't still scary, but I am at peace with it. So we'll see what God has in store for us.

[SomethingAnonymous]

I feel like 3 kids is manageable and if I add a 4th I won't be able to care for them like I want to, that I would be overwhelmed. So my partner is going to get a vascetomy. I had all 3 kids while trying to prevent pregnancy with 3 different methods, so I think we need something more reliable. I feel like it's time for our family to just focus on the 3 kids we have, and getting out of debt (which more kids would not help with).

Does anyone know if postpartum bleeding can start up again after 3.5 weeks of no bleeding? Or are my cycles already back?
 

[LilyTiger]

I got the Paraguard last week and so far it's great.  A  little bit of bleeding for a few days, but no cramping and no pain going in.

On that note, has anyone used an IUD with a menstrual cup?  When my cycles do start up again, I'd like to keep using my Keeper, but my doc pointed out a theoretical concern with suction.  She didn't really say not to use it, but pointed out that might be a risk.

[sallyrae17]

Lily - I think it's a "cover your ass" situation with your doc. You just have to make sure that you break the suction before pulling it out (obviously). I have the DivaCup and I plan to use it whenever I get a cycle. It's not "advised" to use a menstrual cup with an IUD, but I think you just have to break the suction. If you don't, there's a chance it could pull on your IUD and get it out of place or something. 

[monkeyscience]

My favorite resource for all things menstrual cups is the LiveJournal community for them. Here's a link to posts on IUDs and cups - there are quite a few, and opinions definitely vary, but there are definitely many BTDT ladies over there.

I'm still having random bleeding, and I'd honestly completely forgotten about my DivaCup. Maybe I should dig it out, and find out if I really can't use the Size 1 now that I've had a baby...