For those TTC#2 - birth control question....post #1

Pankers

Hi all, I've recently had a baby and now we have the dreaded birth control question. It took 3.5 years to conceive this one and I was off the contraceptive pill the whole time. I'd been on it for 19 years. I'm reluctant to take hormonal control again in case this was the issue, DH or I aren't fans of condoms and the risks with IUDs seem high (1 in 1000!!!)

What worked for you who've had issues TTC and then moving onto #2 or #3? FYI, I was diagnosed with explained infertility, but we conceived this one naturally somehow just before the scheduled HSG.

Jmaddiso

I had an IUD removed (unexpectedly due to sudden issues 4 years in) in the fall of 2012. My cycles you can almost set your watch to, so i got an app. Well to be fair i got several and widdled it down to my favorite to track it. We haven't used any protection or birth control in a year and a half. Which is helpful now since we are TTC.

Jmaddiso

Ugh. There's something wrong with my connection....anyway.... Basically, we would skip sex during the ovulation period. And that worked for us. Makes things nice and i feel like a normal person without excess hormones surging around unnecessarily.
Good luck! 

danieleandwayne

IUD. All the way. It's local or no hormones. Most people don't experience complications. Easy to start TTC once it is removed. I've had many friends use an IUD in between their children and they got pregnant much faster with the second child (like 3 months instead of 14 months, or 5 months instead of 2 years, etc.)...

URMySunshine77

I had a Paraguard IUD before TTC#1. I was really happy with it and we started TTC immediately after removal. I had taken hormonal BC in the past and wasn't happy with the side effects.

Periods can be heavy and crampy with the copper IUD. Also, insertion was painful for me, but it's not supposed to be as painful for women who have had children.

lcwed

I was on BCP for about 14 yrs and then conceived DD 2nd cycle. After, I did the Mirena for 9 months because I hated remembering pills. I didn't like it because I still got my period only every 3 weeks instead of 4. We've been TTC #2 for 4 months. Seems like it was easier after the pills, but I am also 3 years older so that may have something to do with it.

CaraH

I tracked my cycle and avoided my most fertile days. But, we did so after deciding we'd be okay if baby #2 came along more quickly than planned. Given that we've now been trying to conceive baby #2 for over two years, we probably weren't really at risk for an unexpected pregnancy. So, I don't know if you want to use our method!

Pankers

@CaraH‌ that's what I'm afraid of too

Samuelismomma

We used natural family ....fine with # 2 coming early and with my age 42 in July probably won't have to worry about #3 but won't care if it happened...lol

Pankers

I've said the same to my husband, if #2 comes quick, we'll cope. I'm breast feeding with supplementing so that might stave off ovulation, and I'm about to start Domperidone which can delay the ovulation too. I'd just rather not get pregnant straight away!

Davie813

My husband and I just used condoms, so I can't help you with that part!  I just wanted to say that I took Domperidone, too, and my periods stopped completely while I was on it (I'd still had them, although not very regularly, while BFing on my own).  So if you react to it like I did, I think you'll be fine as far as not getting pregnant goes.  It probably won't help with the cycle-based birth control methods people are suggesting, though.

The Domperidone also made me gain weight like crazy, sadly... >:P

Radiantly

Ironically I just erased the part in my siggy about my Paraguard, which was a disaster coming out... I just wanted to not have it come up every time I saw my posts. That said, I was one of a small fraction of people who it was not great.  Before I had it in, I didn't think much of it, but when I wanted to take it out, I realized I had this FOREIGN OBJECT in my body and it felt like the wrong thing.  Still, it was the right decision at the time b/c I hate condoms and anything hormonal, but in the end I hope it didn't cause any damage. Read below if you want the details.

My story (Note - TMI?!)  Insertion was incredibly painful, and then my boyfriend at the time could feel a little prick! So I went back and she pushed it in further (ouch), where it stayed for 4 years. Seemingly trouble free, I didn't have stronger periods, seemed normal.  However, part of the draw was that it was so easy to remove. Well - not for me - I went in last Feb a few months before the wedding and my gyno couldn't see the strings.  I had to get an ultrasound which showed it was in my cervix, not in the right position. Who knows how long it was there for?  It had been 2 years since my previous visit.  When she tried to pull it out, it broke?!?!! Which she had never heard of. The plastic snapped into 3 pieces. She could get 2 out but not the 3rd. Had to go to another Dr who had the ultrasound next to his table for him to find the 3rd piece. Had to take antibiotics b/c of the bleeding. He said it should be fine, but still it makes me worry slightly in the back of my mind.  I'm going in to the gyno next week - first time since that awful ordeal.

krapp

I had an IUD (Mirena) for 5 years after DS. I had it removed, and after one crazy month my cycles are back to normal. I highly recommend the IUD- I would spot occasionally but had no periods, and no other side effects. GL!