Birth Control after Baby

libertymomrn

Is this your last baby or do you plan to have more?

What factors are you considering when deciding what to use after the baby is born?

What types of contraceptives have you looked into?

molosmiles

We don't plan on having anymore.

I want the most effective, long term birth control that won't affect breast feeding. I need to do some research I suppose. 

BitterBetty12

If all goes well with this baby, I would like to have one more - but not for a few years at least. 

We didn’t use anything after DD except for condoms for the first six months - and then I got pregnant 9 months post partum because we can’t control ourselves (though we obviously knew what we were doing, and were going to start actively trying again soon).

I really don’t want to go back on BC at all (I stopped taking the pill when I was 22 and it took a full year for my cycle to become ‘normal’ again. Thank god I stopped long before we wanted to start trying). I also didn’t handle hormonal contraceptives well and my OB said she would not suggest them for me at all. If I go any route this time it would be the copper IUD since it’s non hormonal. 

skilouise

It took us 3 years and IVF to get pregnant this time, so I'm somewhat skeptical whether I'd need BC.  That said, I don't want to risk a big surprise a few months after baby #1 is born, either. 

I think I'll probably use HBC for ~9 months after this kid is born, then maybe NTNP for another 9 months or so before talking to the RE about turning our kidsicle into baby #2.

Jackiemxoxo

This is our last baby.

We have always used the pull and pray method and its worked out for many years. I have horrible reactions to hormonal birth control. 

DH is going to get a vasectomy a month or so before this baby is born. 

snackheart

This is a real dilemma for me.

Like @cait32 I never ever want to be on the pill again. Because I have high blood pressure I can’t do a lot of hormonal things. And, I am terrified of IUDs. I also have a husband who is incredibly selfish and pig-headed about it all, won’t use condoms, and won’t entertain having even the conversation about a vasectomy.

Are there other options? I don’t even know what they are. I’m kinda leaning toward abstinence. Maybe DH will change his tune then

Long backstory:
I haven’t been on anything since we first started trying for DS in November 2012. It took us over a year and a half to conceive him. After I had him I didn't get my period again til 10 months PP but we were not using any protection because I wanted to get pregnant again ASAP. I conceived DD on my fourth PP cycle.

After DD I wanted to take a longer break before #3. After I got my period back last August at 9 months PP, I started charting to avoid. We were planning to start TTC again next month. So basically, what I learned is that NFP doesn’t work! I’m thrilled to be pregnant right now but idk if we’re having 4 so after this one I really do need a plan.

kns1988

I plan to go on birth control pills after this baby. We might want a 3rd, but I want to wait until Baby2 is 2 years old. DS and Baby2 will be 21 months apart, and I can't afford 3 kids in daycare at the same time. Between DS and this pregnancy, we didn't use any BC, but my period didn't come back until I stopped breastfeeding at 10 months (I know you technically can get pregnant while breastfeeding because you never know when you're going to ovulate, but I wasn't very worried about it). It only took 1 cycle to get pregnant, which is crazy because it always took at least 5 months for all of my other pregnancies. 

mrsmang

I was on the pill since college before this baby.  I went off it and we used pull and pray for one month and the second month we used it we ended up here. I definitely need to do something after baby - right now I’m leaning towards a non-hormonal IUD. I think we want at least a year off before trying, possibly more, and I was never the best at taking my pills so I’m sure a baby wouldn’t help my case. Any experience with them, I would love to hear how it worked!

snackheart

cait32 said:

@snackheart can you explain what scares you about IUDs or is it just in general? I used to think I’d never get one and then it turned out to be the BEST bc I ever used (and I’d tried a lot), I know DH won’t do a vasectomy yet (and I don’t want him to yet). Maybe some of us who’ve had an IUD can convince you it’s not bad? Personally, i think it’s the best option in the situation you’re talking about.

Honestly? The idea of putting that little pointy looking thing in my ute just makes my skin crawl a little. I’m a baby, I know.

But also almost everyone I know who has had one dealt with extended bleeding after they got it in and/or random spotting for months afterward.

It sounds like you had a positive experience though! Did you ever have any issues with bleeding (if I can ask)?

KariAnn323

@snackheart I had Mirena for several years and I LOVED IT! Getting it in was painful but I was told that part of the reason for how much pain I had was because I hadn’t been pregnant so my uterus was smaller than most people that get it. My period was light for the first few months and then completely disappeared. My cycles returned within a few weeks of having it removed. I did feel the strings for a week or two after it was inserted but then they softened and I honestly had no idea it was there.

My plan is to get Mirena again. I loved not having periods. We plan on being one and done but we’ll probably give it a few years before DH goes in to get snipped. But even once he gets snipped I’ll probably stay on Mirena. Not having periods just makes life so much easier.

achays11

I went off of the pill when we got engaged in 2012. Since then we have only used condoms. This will be our last baby and MH will be getting a V a few months after baby. 

sfgiantsgamerbabe

This is our last baby. I will probably get another IUD for a while then DH will eventually get a vasectomy. I liked my last IUD which was a Skyla. It’s a 3 year version of Mirena. 

libertymomrn

We are done after this baby. (We were actually supposed to be done before this baby...)

I hate hormonal BC and the way my body reacts to it. Also, as a nurse, I’ve had 2 patienata in their 30s who’ve had strokes and their only risk factor was being on BC, and 1 patient who had a pulmonary embolism whose only risk factor was being on hormonal BC. So that’s definitely a no for me.

Of our 3 kids, one was planned, one was a result of the pull-out method, one was a result of sloppy charting when I hadn’t confirmed ovulation before we dtd, and now this little baby (#4) is the result of condom failure. (We were trying out a new brand that month; H wrote a bad review for the condom company.   )

I’ve narrowed it down to either a copper IUD or H getting a vasectomy. H wants to keep charting and using condoms. (Just not that brand)

H is worried about the IUD because I have a retroverted uterus, and because I tend to be sensitive up there, and because of possible copper toxicity issues. He’s also concerned about side effects from a vasectomy such as vas deferents blow-outs above where they snip and lowered testosterone levels. Those things are much less severe and common than side effects from other BC methods, especially hormonal birth controls, but not as low as side effect rates from condoms and charting, as long as you don’t have a latex allergy. (We don’t.) Unless, of course, you include the side effect of having another baby. 

I’m just hoping to make a decision before the baby is born, but we’ve got some discussions ahead of us.

helleebellee

I can’t really say if this is our last. But I can’t do birth control because of my blood clotting disorder. I’ve told the H that if we’re done, it’s up to him to get snipped.  So until we decide, it’s condoms and NFP.  Which only works if you don’t randomly ovulate twice in a cycle.  So there’s that.  

gorgeousariel

@KariAnn323 I feel the same! I loved the Mirena and it took away my periods. When I had it placed I didn't bleed too bad at all and then they were gone. DH is planning on a vasectomy but we haven't discussed timing so I know I will be getting the Mirena at my 6w PP check up. 

DLpanda08

We are Catholic and follow the church’s teaching on family planning, so we will be using NFP after the baby is born until I’m done breast feeding. If another baby happens, then it happens. I’d be pretty happy about that.

I have always wanted a big family and grieved that dream hard when we were told I couldn’t get pregnant without medical intervention. We had planned to adopt another sibling set this summer before finding out we were pregnant. 

Mandamay1414

@DLpanda08 I am also Catholic and DH and I will follow the church's teachings as well. We used NFP very successfully for 2 years before deciding to get a bit more risky (and DD resulted). This second baby was a NTNP. For as much of a control freak that I am, the whole idea of getting pregnant doesn't freak me out. Like you said, if it happens, it happens. That being said, we will be charting to prevent once LO shows up. I was struggling with temping after DD was born (messed up sleep, ugh), but I bought a TempDrop device a few cycles before we conceived #2. I love it! It's an armband that continuously measures BBT all night and then syncs to your phone (I use OvuView). No alarms, no annoying beeping thermometer.. which is good since #2 will be in our room until they sleep through the night. 

PolarBear517

This will most certainly be our last. DH will be getting a vasectomy and I'd assumed he would get one after the birth but he will meet his deductible this year as well & was planning on late pregnancy/Decemberish. After I went off BC to conceive DD, I made it clear that I never wanted to use hormonal birth control again and I'm also not a great candidate for a copper IUD with a history of painful cramping/heavy periods. I'm not comfortable using condoms long term. Permanent was the best option for us. 

pttomato

We haven’t decided if we are done or if we want another baby after this one. I don’t really want to go back on BC again, but I probably will get another Paraguard IUD. 

We would wait a few years before trying again and it’s not good for me to have an unplanned pregnancy. I just hate getting it inserted and it makes my period longer and heavier. There’s no way I would chart consistently and accurately with erratic sleep and I got my period back at 7 months pp last time despite breastfeeding.

LCRbelle

I would like one more but I don’t know if my husband will be up for that!  It took a year and a half of trying then fertility meds to have my DS!  After my son was born we just used condoms and the first time we didn’t use one I got pregnant.  So crazy after actively TTC our first for so long! 
We will probably go back to condoms after this baby is born because I have always had negative reactions to birth control. 

katethemom

I was only on BC for about 3 months after we got married. I stopped taking it because I didn't like how it made me feel. H and I have always depended on the pull-out method, and it has always worked. The only 3 times he didn't pull out are the 3 times that I've gotten pregnant. Breastfeeding didn't help as a birth control for me, unfortunately. My periods returned only 6 weeks pp. (I was hoping for a much longer break!) I hope to have at least one more child after this one, but not for at least a year or two. I'd like to lose some weight first. So I guess we'll just resume our normal arrangement and hope that it keeps working until we decide to try for another one.

luckymay2x

I got a mirena IUD at 6 weeks post partum. I barely felt anything - your cervix is still wide open at that point so the pain some peopme told me about just didn't happen witb me. I had some cramping a day later, like menstrual pain.

I had oversupply issues with breast milk, so i wasnt worried about my supply. I did not notice a change in supply until going back to work, when it slowly dried up over about 6 months no matter how many times I pumped during the day. Pretty sure the pump just wasn't as good as baby for keeping up supply.

I didn't get a period until almost 1 year after having DD and my periods were so light I didnt even notuce them some times. Without mirena i had heavy, painful periods. I didnt think it was possible to "not notice" your period until I had mirena. Also, i noticed my moods were more stable on mirena than when they took it out before we TTC.

I'll probably get mirena again this post partum period. DH will probably get snipped, but mirena was such a great improvement in my life I think I will get it again even tho we won't need it for bc.

ncbeachgal10

I am thinking of getting the Paragard IUD because it is non-hormonal.

LauraK33

For our beliefs, we stick to NFP. (This is our fifth child). Back when we first got married before we settled in on what we believed I did have Mirena and had a terrible go at it, apparently I don't react to hormones well, so, big family it is

knottie538d132d556bf58d

I did a copper IUD at 6 weeks with the last one. That is the perfect time to do it like the one girl said because your cervix is still open and you feel nothing. I kept it in for a year but got tired of the snot like discharge and sometimes I could feel the two ends of the T. I read horror stories about getting it taken out with rough doctors so I just felt for the stings and pulled gently on them. The string got longer and it popped right out. The T shape inverts so it can be pulled out easily. I liked that it had no hormones. This time I will just use NFP. It’s always worked for me.

merostomata

I’m pretty certain this won’t be our last, I’d like to have one or even two more.

We wouldn’t want to get pregnant again right away though. Before this we tried several brands of hormonal BC, and I had problems to varying degrees with them all— mainly depression and low energy, which I struggle with anyway. After deciding to give up on BC we used condoms, then NFP with condoms once I got the tracking figured out. I’d like to return to that again after baby. 

MrsDho11

This will likely be our last kid, but I’m definitely not willing to close the door permanently. I had a copper IUD before DD, and I bled a little more heavily and had more cramps with it, but it was absolutely manageable (and I had heavy flow and cramps anyway). When I had it after DD, I bled A LOT more and ended up having it taken out after about 9 months PP when I bled for 30 days straight.

I’m not sure what I’ll do this time. Hormonal BC (both pill and nuvaring) gives me very frequent, long migraines. In the past my OB has mentioned that she thinks that’s unlikely to be a problem with Mirena, so I may give that one a try even though it does have hormones. I can always switch back to copper if needed, I guess.

alexandraseattle

@snackheart another person here with an amazing IUD experience! I was initially hesitant to get one but I had a doctor convince me to try it and I’m SO happy I did. I have never felt better than when I used that method, had no bad side effects and never could feel it. I had it in for 4 years before taking it out last summer. Definitely give it a shot!!! I have convinced several of my friends to get IUDs now and not a one has gone back.

bdream0916

I've never wanted to use hormonal birth control because of all of the side effects. I also don't believe in using IUDs. I use a really simple, non-invasive cervical cap that you place before doing the deed. It's really easy to use, painless and completely effective. DH and I either use that or just pulling out. After baby we will do the same.

tosh24

I don't know if this is our last or not. We have 7 frozen embryos left so the option is there.

I hate hormonal bc and have only been on it once about 15 years ago for a couple of months. It makes me so sick. I've never used any form of bc since. Actually, DH and I used condoms (God, I hate them) for a year after DD was born because I had birth injuries that needed to heal and I didn't want to risk getting pg again. Joke was on us since we've been dealing with Seconday IF for the 9 years since deciding to TTC #2......

Because of my endo, my OB suggested the Mirena. He said it's unlikely to cause me illness like the pill. I'm not a fan off putting anything in my body that doesn't belong, but am interested in suppressing/controlling the endo while we decide if #4 is a possibility. Also, since getting pregnant naturally isn't totally impossible, I want to prevent it from happening since it feels wrong to get pregnant while I already have embryos in the freezer.

If we decide we are done after #3 I will likely be getting a hysterectomy (because of the endo & adeno) so then I'll really have no pregnancy worries lol!

ladystout08

DH is getting snipped. I may or may not get an IUD as backup until then. 

dragonette505

We will just do FAM until i hit menopause, i guess. We are very good at being strict when we need to (condoms during fertile window) and i love charting in general. I'm pretty old (45 this weekend) so i probably wont have too much longer to wait for my ol egg making system to call it a day

lovesclimbing

snackheart said:

>snip<

Are there other options? I don’t even know what they are. I’m kinda leaning toward abstinence. Maybe DH will change his tune then

>snip<

*lurker*

@snackheart

My H and I use the diaphragm with spermicide. I know it's old school, but I've had no issues with it. We used it for four years and then got pregnant within five months of stopping. We then used it for one year after having our daughter, and I got pregnant the first month after we stopped using it.

It's kind of annoying, not gonna lie. It's not fun to put it in every time, sometimes stopping sexy time in the middle to go put it in. And if I put it in before hand and we don't end up having sex, I'll be a little itchy from the spermicide for awhile. I wish there were better birth control methods besides hormonal ones with potentially crazy side effects (tooooo many horror stories, some already mentioned up thread, for me to ever try hormonal BC), annoying ones like condoms and the diaphragm, expensive ones and ones with still potentially awful side effects like the copper IUD, ones that are super easy to mess up and require either abstinence or another form of BC on this list like NFP, and permanent ones. When we're done having children, H will likely get a vasectomy, but that's quite a few years down the road. 

All in all, the diaphragm works fine for our purposes, and I don't mind it that much. 

jandd2014

Before we decided to try to get pregnant with DD, I was on the pill for a few years and then the nuvaring for a few years. After DD, I started on the mini pill when she was about four months old. I have PCOS and rarely get my period if I’m not in hormonal meds (either BC or infertility meds). I never got my period on the mini pill and didn’t get it again until I started on regular pill again when DD was 10 months old.
We’re not sure if this is our last baby, so I’ll probably go back on the mini pill after this baby is born until we decide what we’re going to do. Long term, I would want DH to get a vasectomy but idk if he will go for that. Plus I generally have to take hormone meds to have a period so it’s not that big of a deal right now to continue doing that. 

emmaaa

We are 95% sure this will be our last. I do not like HBC so after this baby is born we will use condoms and temping until we know we are done for sure. Once we know we are done, DH will get a vasectomy. 

Rachel2066

@jandd2014 curious - what is a mini pill? I've never heard of that.

jandd2014

@Rachel2066 its a BC pill with only progesterone (instead of progesterone and estrogen like the regular pill). I hadn't heard of it either until my doctor talked to me about it at my postpartum vist. She said it was less likely to interfere with milk production while breastfeeding than the regular pill. I was on Falmina, which I think is a generic. Its more sensitive than the regular pill, so there's only like an hour window to take it each day instead of three-ish hours like the regular pill. 

joniandtoe

I struggle with PCOS and actually fare better on the pill than off of it. Will use condoms until our breastfeeding journey ends this time, then go back on ortho tricyclen lo- but to be honest, having a 2 yo and a newborn in the house and being two working parents,  I don't think we will need to buy in bulk...

We decided to keep the door open for a possible third child (if we can afford it!) Until DH turns 40 in two years. If we decide no more babies, he has volunteered for a vasectomy. My dad is very vocal about his decision to have one ( for better or for worse!) Which I think helped lessened the taboo on the subject for DH. 

skilouise

@joniandtoe I'm with you HBC helping with PCOS.  I had such a hard time coming off of the pill 3 years ago.  The hormone swings were ridiculous... I really missed my nice, medicated even keel!

karaszoo1

I'll be getting a mirena put in again.i just read about having it put in immediately after birth or C-section so I need to talk to my OB next time I see her because I'm intrigued by this. 
 I had one after my son (now 4) and lived not having to worry about bc then just took it out when reaud to strat trying again.took 6mos and we got pregnant with our now 2yr old .we did tracking cycles & pull n pray  after her and ended up with current pregnancy. thanks late ovulation and a little too much excitement on hubby's bday lol  I love the mirena and would recommend it to anyone who asked 

hlb8179

After DD, I also went on the mini pill. This one is our last and will be a scheduled c-section due to a gigantic fibroid blocking baby’s exit, so I will have my tubes tied during that procedure. Easy peasy.