Lets talk birth control

[JustVanessa]

I have decided I am DONE having kids. My original plan was 3, but dp and I are both feeling done after 2.
I had pp amenorhea with ds until I weaned him at 17 months but I am so anti-pregnancy right now I don't want to trust that.

What are you doing for birth control?

I am considering going on the pill when ds2 is 3 months old, or maybe the Mirena IUD.

I have used charting very succesfully in the past to avoid pregnancy and to conceive, but I feel its too risky while nursing.

[*Karen*]

I'm getting a copper IUD at 6 months PP or when cycles return, whichever comes first (probably 6 months PP.)

[JustVanessa]

Originally Posted by *Karen*

I'm getting a copper IUD at 6 months PP or when cycles return, whichever comes first (probably 6 months PP.)

I tried a copper IUD and had break through bleeding for 4 months....I bled every day until I made them take it out. Also one of my best friends just gave birth to baby in March that was conceived with one in. Not an option for me. Have you tried it before?

[sunmamma]

I got the paraguard plain copper iud eight months after ds1 and it was great for me. Never had any problems at all.....but everyone is different! I would probably do another one when I was sure I was done having kids but may do this again in a couple years so.....there's a book my mw was talking about....the garden of fertility or something like that. A nfp approach but has info on how to effectively do that while breastfeeding. We used fertility awareness for a year after I had iud removed, but obviously a bit more tricky with bf.

[christinespurlock]

-these are my birth control for not.

That and very sore girly parts.

[mandalin24kd]

I used nothing after ds1 and the mini pill after dd1. The pill was horrible. I would bleed for weeks and then go off it and then bleed for weeks when I'd go back on it again. So I stopped using birth control at all and didn't get pregnant again until we wanted to.

I know we don't want to have anymore, and until his vasectomy, I not sure what I want to use. We haven't started having sex again so I'm not too worried.

I know in the UK a lot of people use ovulation predictor kits as a contraceptive. I just forget which one. Theres a little monitor and little strips you pee on everyday and put in the monitor.

[mandalin24kd]

Oh yeqah, there is also one my chiropractor used that was saliva based. I dont know how that works.

[Kendra_]

I'm too lazy for any kind of birth control.. I'm just not having sex for the next 5 years.

[mandalin24kd]

LOL

Can I jump in that boat?

[kltroy]

My first PP ovulation after having James was at 16 months, and that was with me taking Vitex for about 7 weeks to try and coax it back into existence (I got preggo with Claire with that one, so I've had no period since summer 2005). I'm planning on doing a copper IUD at 6 months PP since we have no real plan for #3. If the side effects are rotten I will reconsider....

I was on the pill in college and do NOT like hormonal BC so pill and Mirena IUD are both out for me. Have used FAM to get preg and to avoid but don't want to long-term, esp. with wacky BF cycles.

[halaroo]

We decided 2 was enough for us, so since I ended up with a section again I had the doctor tie my tubes. If I'd gotten my vbac, dh was prepared to get snipped.

I hated the pill. I didn't realize how much it messed with my moods until I stopped taking it. I also gained weight when on regular tri-cyclen, but lost weight on the mini-pill.

[*Karen*]

Originally Posted by JustVanessa

I tried a copper IUD and had break through bleeding for 4 months....I bled every day until I made them take it out. Also one of my best friends just gave birth to baby in March that was conceived with one in. Not an option for me. Have you tried it before?

Nope, I haven't tried it. I've heard it just doesn't work for some people, but I'm willing to give it a try. If I conceive with it in, I'll just count it as a bonus kid. I'd love to have more, but I really want to go to school first which would be 7 years.

[PiesandAbrosmama]

Well because this was my bonus baby so to speak. . .we are going all the way I am going in two weeks for the Essure permenant method. I will be happy to let you all know how it goes after the 28th appt!

[Nimbus]

I had the Mirena IUD after ds and, although I had intermittent spotting/cramping for about 6 months, I had no periods after that. I'm thinking about going w/ the same thing again. I've also tried the Nuvaring and liked that okay -- except it came out while dtd a couple times and I had to search the sheets to find it. We've also used FAM to conceive and to avoid, but I don't want to rely on that while breastfeeding and getting up many times each night.

Anyhow, I think the Mirena is the way I'd like to go -- pretty sure we're set w/ two kiddos, but not with vasectomy or tube tying certainty.

[BirthFree]

I did bcp and it made me insane (barely a joke), I used a diaphram and got my second son, I got a Mirena IUD and my immune system crashed after trying to get rid of it by bleeding for 3m straight - sucky exp.!! - then I got that out asap and did NFP/FAM and it worked great!

Had another (planned) baby and used condoms until I was sleeping long enough chunks to temp. - then I had one drunk night with DH and we have Jade , so we are 99% sure DH will get a vasectomy...

I get AF back between 3 and 5m pp (that is SOOOOOOOOO unfair!!!) every time, even without supplementation or pacifiers... bleh! So I can't count on breastfeeding at all.

Anyways... we'll use condoms and then the permanent course... we just can't chance another surprise, I don't think DH or I could survive it - we have FOUR kids just barely 6 yr and under! We're insane enough to last our lifetime AND theirs!

[StacyL]

I don't use any form of birth control. (I have spacings of 20 1/2 mos., and 25 mos. on my three children.)

I regained my fertility at 5 1/2 mos. and 7 mos. postpartum on the first two pregnancies with exclusively breastfeeding on demand. I am also able to accurately see my ovulation every month while breastfeeding (my boys weaned at 18 months and 21 months, respectively).

Two excellent books on this topic are: Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing, by Sheila M. Kippley and Unavoidably Dangerous, by Dr. Mayer Eisenstein.

Kippley says the effectiveness of EBF'ing for the first six months postpartum is 98%. And after reading Eisenstein's book, it would most likely scare you off of hormonal BC permanently.

[bean's mama]

I'm getting the Mirena IUD on Friday. I had it after Bean was born and it was great. My periods were super light. Also, if you change your mind about #3, I got pg with Rex 2 weeks after I had it removed.

[JustVanessa]

I don't want to read anything that will scare me off the pill. What I don't know......

I have always used Marvalon. It works awesome for me and no side effects except it takes away premenstral cramps.

[RainRaven]

Originally Posted by bean's mama

I'm getting the Mirena IUD on Friday. I had it after Bean was born and it was great. My periods were super light. Also, if you change your mind about #3, I got pg with Rex 2 weeks after I had it removed.

did you have any problems with nursing/supply with it?

[bean's mama]

Originally Posted by RainRaven

did you have any problems with nursing/supply with it?

None at all. He just turned 2 and we are still going strong. I think he wants to nurse more than the baby lately.