Mirena after c section

pottermommy

Hey ladies, I am 6 weeks from having my second C section.  The first was 5 years ago.  I am an active poster on the PGAL boards.

I am seriously considering getting the Mirena IUD at the 6 week check up b/c DH and I aren't positive we are ready to make things permanent though we know we need to wait a certain ammount of time before we decide to have another baby.

Anyway I have never had an IUD, the only birth control I have ever used is the depo shot twice after DD was born and it caused 3 years of fertility issues after using it.  I am allergic to latex and DH is not willing to use condoms anyways so the IUD seems the perfect fit.

My question is, how painful is it if you had a Csection, does the scar tissue make it hurt worse?  How long do you cramp after having it inserted?  Can it cause the incision to tear open? 

I am really nervous about it but I know it is the solution we need, neither of us are ready for something permanent b/c we aren't 100% positive that we are done with having children.  Now mind you I am scared of a second C section too so I may just be paranoid and a scaredy cat so... 

Thanks in advance

happyfarmwife

I got the Mirena after my first c-section and it really wasn't a big deal. However, I did wait until 12 weeks pp to get it put in because I wanted to be sure that things were good and healed in there. I only cramped for a day or so and my periods were just light spotting for the year that I had it. I will most likely be getting another one after this lo is born.

JENandJEH

I had my Mirena put in about 3 months after my C-section and it was honestly a piece of cake.  My doc had me take 2 Aleve about 30 minutes before she put it in and I barely felt anything more than a normal pap exam.  She inserts IUDs with ultrasound guidance so I don't know if that had anything to do with it being so painless.  I had mild cramping on and off all day and then it was back to normal.  I think my first 2 periods were about 30 days apart and lasted 4 days and then, I didn't have another period until I had it removed 3 years later.  My experience with it was great and I will probably consider doing another one after this little one is born!

CMM4828

I don't think there was any difference in having it implanted after having a c-section, or not having one.

My doctor knew I wanted it, but we only spoke about it at my 6 week visit. She ended up putting it off for another few weeks because she wanted me to heal a little more. I cramped right after I got it and went home and took some advil. I took a nap and when I woke up I felt almost 100%. 

I have never read or heard anything about it causing the incision to tear or any other complications. It is a small plastic thingy. I would discuss your concerns with your doctor, but I feel confident everything will be okay.

rainydayluck

I never had problems with the incision or anything out of the ordinary side effects. I will say though, that since I never dilated or anything, I was in agony when they were getting my cervix open. 

jcameron2010

pottermommy:

Hey ladies, I am 6 weeks from having my second C section.  The first was 5 years ago.  I am an active poster on the PGAL boards.

I am seriously considering getting the Mirena IUD at the 6 week check up b/c DH and I aren't positive we are ready to make things permanent though we know we need to wait a certain ammount of time before we decide to have another baby.

Anyway I have never had an IUD, the only birth control I have ever used is the depo shot twice after DD was born and it caused 3 years of fertility issues after using it. It doesn't cause any fertility issues.  I am allergic to latex and DH is not willing to use condoms anyways so the IUD seems the perfect fit.

My question is, how painful is it if you had a Csection, does the scar tissue make it hurt worse?  How long do you cramp after having it inserted?  Can it cause the incision to tear open?  The scar tissue doesn't effect it. i was crampy the day of insertion, but that's it. It won't make your incision tear open.

I am really nervous about it but I know it is the solution we need, neither of us are ready for something permanent b/c we aren't 100% positive that we are done with having children.  Now mind you I am scared of a second C section too so I may just be paranoid and a scaredy cat so... Mirena is great if you are unsure. You can  get pregnant 24 hours after removal.

Thanks in advance

I had mine put in about 8 weeks pp. I had a period for about a week and then never again. No spotting or anything. It is wonderful. I did a lot of research before getting Mirena, and the side effects are very rare, it is a great form of BC. HTH

pottermommy

Thank you all so so so much!!!!  

jmcdionne

rainydayluck:

I never had problems with the incision or anything out of the ordinary side effects. I will say though, that since I never dilated or anything, I was in agony when they were getting my cervix open. 

Yikes, you didn't get a shot of local??? I thought it was common practice, you poor thing! I found the freezing was the most painful part, the rest was.... Well, numb! 

rainydayluck

jmcdionne:

rainydayluck:

I never had problems with the incision or anything out of the ordinary side effects. I will say though, that since I never dilated or anything, I was in agony when they were getting my cervix open. 

Yikes, you didn't get a shot of local??? I thought it was common practice, you poor thing! I found the freezing was the most painful part, the rest was.... Well, numb! 

I had no idea that was an option. Hmmm I will have to bring it up when I get it removed since my strings disappeared and they have to do the same procedure to get it back out. 

mbear511

I got Mirena inserted 6 weeks pp and had no issues at all. I had strong cramps for the rest of the day but was fine the next day. GL!

jmcdionne

rainydayluck:

jmcdionne:

rainydayluck:

I never had problems with the incision or anything out of the ordinary side effects. I will say though, that since I never dilated or anything, I was in agony when they were getting my cervix open. 

Yikes, you didn't get a shot of local??? I thought it was common practice, you poor thing! I found the freezing was the most painful part, the rest was.... Well, numb! 

I had no idea that was an option. Hmmm I will have to bring it up when I get it removed since my strings disappeared and they have to do the same procedure to get it back out. 

 

I honestly think my OB was scared to put it in! He's seen my cervix dozens of times, but all of a sudden, when we talked about the Mirena, he looked and just said: "Holy crap! Your cervix is far and tiny!! I don't know about this." I was a nervous wreck, you can imagine.

 

Yeah, he numbed it, dilated it and used an extra (sterile, unopened one!) he had at his office so I wouldn't have to pay the 400$ if he was unsuccessful...

 

Anyway, OP: No, I don't think it affect the incision in any way. The only thing I heard was that after a c-section, you should wait 12 weeks instead of the regular 6 bc the lining of the endometrium can be quite thin after 6w and MAY be a higher risk for migration/rupture.

Mind you, my OB didn't agree with this and did it at 7 weeks or so. 

If you have any complications, they normally happen within the first month.

luvbeingmom

I'm a 4 time cs mom and I got my Mirena about 10 weeks after the last baby.

I didn't have any kind of pain meds before. By the time it started to really hurt, it was over and inserted.

I think what you're referring to as far as the scar tissue is the possibility of the IUD tearing through the uterus wall and from what I've read before, it could happen to anyone, not just those that have had a cs. Even so, the occurrence of that happening is very small.