Birth Control

abbeylanecb

mummyofsix said:

My husband is getting a vasectomy.

This.

amhah09

ColleenSwerb said:

Condoms and natural family planning.

Eta: DH would never get snipped and I'm not a fan of permanent BC like that anyway. I will consider a mirena/iud/whatever after we decide we're done. But for the foreseeable future it's condoms and natural family planning (which I used to scoff at before I started charting for TTC).

I did this. But now I'm pregnant with a condom/NFP baby. Obviously with a condom during our fertile period (because we can't seem to get to that "avoid" during fertile period) but still. NFP worked for us after DS (who was a BCP baby) and then we turned it around and got pregnant with DD (our only planned baby) so I went back to it after her but somehow managed to get KU trough a seemingly working condom and only 2 months after we stopped BFing.

I would like to go back to NFP but I don't have the restraint to completely avoid during fertile periods (and who is DH to refuse me, really?) so since I don't want to take that risk I'm considering an IUD but I'm not sure. There's LAM for the first 6 months (assuming it's followed appropriately of course). DH really wants a vasectomy but I don't feel great about permanent BC, especially before we're even 30. I also don't feel great about another surprise pregnancy or hormonal BC for me either.

ETA - I didn't read all the comments before replying so I didn't realize NFP/condoms was such a popular notion here. I guess I didn't need to quote you, @colleenswerb !

RocksInTheWater

Since I will be a month shy of my 36th birthday when this LO comes and we want more kids. we will probably use condoms, avoid my fertile window or pull out for a least 6 months.  We'll probably start trying for number 2 around then.  We'll see how this first one goes!  

pete0121

Before DS I was on the pill for 6 years but after he was born the hormones made me terribly sick. At that point I did a Paragard IUD and LOVED it though my period was heavier and cramps a bit more intense, but it was worth it. I had it removed after about 20 months for DD and got PG my first cycle. I tried the Pill again after DD and the hormones did the same as before so I went back to Paragard. Loved it even more the second time....until I got PG. First IUD pregnancy my dr has seen in 15 years of practice...one other that ended in miscarriage at 6 weeks. Therefore DH is likely getting a vasectomy.

BiggerinRealLife

playingonadream said:

I can't use the patch since it isn't recommended for women over 180 lbs. The patch limit is 198 lbs but my doc said some studies show that women over 180 lbs were found to get pregnant on the patch and low estrogen pills despite taking it properly. I wasn't willing to take the risk so I stuck with a full estrogen pill. I had no problem getting pregnant afterwards. I guess i'll go back to the pill afterwards. 

I used OrthoEvra since I got married 7.5 years ago, and never had any trouble. I've been over 180 pounds for the last three years, have an awesome primary care/OB and she never brought up a weight limit nor thought it would be a problem.

spano41

The more I read these the more I am starting to stress. I'm kind of a control freak about reproduction and the only time I've had sex not on the pill when we started TTC I got pregnant so NFP is not something I would do, I would freak out every month. The hormonal methods sound like they can cause complications while breastfeeding and condoms are not fool proof enough for me. I was under the impression that the IUD was for long term use and we want to have a second relatively soon so I guess I will need to talk to my Dr. about options. I guess there is always abstinence?

amhah09

NFP is not the same as the rhythm method. You are fully aware of your fertile days. You can be 100% safe with appropriate charting/temping and abstinence during the fertile time frame as laid out by Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

My problem with NFP (not really a problem because I love NFP but the reason I'm pregnant) is my libido is outrageous during fertile periods and I can't remain abstinent. We used condoms during that fertile period and got pregnant but we knew I was fertile and we could have not DTD and remained not pregnant.

ETA: can't was not the best word to use - more like DH and I lack the self control and restraint that abstinence during that time frame takes to be completely successful.

mamacatTo2

We used condoms after I had DD until we TTC this time, but I want more space between this baby and my next (if we have a 3rd), so I'll be getting an IUD. They last for 3-5 years and are 99.5% effective at preventing pregnancy. Literally the most effective BC on the market (I work in public health and contraceptive advising). The mini pill wasn't for me since I could barely remember to brush my teeth with a newborn, let alone take a pill at the EXACT same time every day! And after we are sure our family is complete, DH will be getting a vasectomy. Way less invasive than tying tubes!

Serenla

Most likely I will get the 5 year IUD after some time, more than the 6 week wait for sex. Until then we will use condoms during the FW, I charted to get pregnant so I am pretty boss at timing. 

I was on depo for a few years and then the pill for many more, I would go back to that but I am uneasy about BF. I suppose this will be something I will discuss with my MW later, I honestly cannot think past the second trimester lol.

steph1977

Rrrrrachel said:

I don't think you have to worry about it getting in your milk, but pills other than the mini pill can really impact your supply. The mini pill is less effective than the regular pill and you have to take it at the same time every day or it gets even less effective.

Even the mini-pill can effect your milk supply. I went on it shortly after having my 1st, and my milk almost completely disappeared. According to my doc, this happens to a lot of women, and it took some time and lots of Fenugreek to get it back. Be careful!

Embeans

Rrrrrachel said:

I had nuvaring and I loved it, but FYI if you're breastfeeding it's not recommended because it contains estrogen. If you're breastfeeding it's pretty much one of the iuds, the mini pill, depo (which most hcp are against these days), or condoms, I think.

Yep, this is all true!

fourthnlast

This will be my 4th csection. At my OB appt last tuesday, i signed all the paperwork to get my tubes tied once baby is delivered.

ricekez

I didn't start charting until I noticed cervical mucous. Even then, my temps were all over the place. My first pp period didn't come until DS was 13 months. My cycles didn't get back to normal until DS weaned completely at 20 months or so. Then I got preggo with this baby

amhah09

eme520 said:

ColleenSwerb said:

If you chart/temp and learn your cycle, NFP can be very reliable. Until I did it myself I honestly didn't realize there was such a small window of opportunity to get KU. Abstinence during your fertile window (about a week) isn't that big a deal (to me anyway).
If you were to combine the mini-pill with condoms, NFP, and Abstinence you'd have a REALLY solid plan to avoid an unplanned pregnancy.

@ColleenSwerb. How likely is it that you can accurately chart in the first 8 weeks? I was a charting addict when TTC and I know the temps can be inaccurate if you don't get a solid stretch of sleep. I'm assuming breastfeeding and having a newborn will interfere with that. Did you still get a decent trend if you tried taking it at the same time?


I charted after DD was born and temping was useless. You could still go by CM but I think even that would be skewed with hormones. It would probably be best to use a backup method (abstinence, condoms) until temping was somewhat accurate. We relied on LAM and pulling out for 4-6 months and then back to temping. DD still wasn't sleeping 4 hour stretches but I was still able to see a pattern of temps at that point. I BFed until 11 or so months (when DD refused the boob after I reacted to a bite) and didn't get a period until then. We got pregnant with a condom when she was ~13 months so I think only my second or third cycle, but not because charting was faulty.

Cecilbear

I have no idea! I was on the pill for several years and it started making me nervous about messing with my hormones chemically. (Side note: I am all for women taking BC if it works for them.) For me, it was a big production to get off the pill to try to conceive and I don't want to go through that transition again. I think we'll try natural family planning (I too used to scoff at this!), but I'm not sure yet. 

Sisimama10

Condoms and/or pulling out. Birth control makes me crazy. I might do an iud. Not really sure yet.

rtv3

We used condoms/pull out for 3yrs without getting knocked up. So we'll prolly go back to that. But we want more kids so if it did happen we'd be totally ok with it And now that I know how to chart thanks to TTC, I'll probably do that again to, just to keep myself from having heart failure every month :P

emanresu14

Meh, I really hate birth control. Was on it for 5 years and had some nasty side effects from it. Not to mention any estrogen type BCP is awful for anyone with PCOS. I would say probably just condoms. Since this is our first and it took 2 years and medical assistance, I really don't mind if we are blessed with a surprise.

pineconey

I LOVE NFP! As long as I wasn't being lazy, it was perfect for us. I did get pregnant after having the flu and being thrown off a bit, but that wouldn't have happened if I would have been a little more cautious. I'd been sick for a week so I was desperate to DTD with DH. I told him we would "probably" be ok without a condom. We weren't
Sadly, that was the baby we ended up losing.

I personally like the excitement of having to find alternate "activities" to satisfy one another during the window where even sex with a condom is risky. It's only a few days a month, and it's way better to me than pills or shots!

SeattleMomma

I'm getting my tubes tied.
Three is a good number for me.