Birth Control Options after baby

WinniethePoohsPants · October 2012

Hi Ladies,

I know this is a little early to think about, but I am thinking about getting the Mirena IUD placed 6 weeks after giving birth to my LO. I was just wondering if any of you had an IUD and could tell me whether or not you liked it. (I was on the pill before and wasn't too happy about taking it everyday so that's why I'm thinking of making the switch.) Some of my questions are whether you still had regular periods/ stopped getting a period, if it hurt to have it placed, if your DH could feel it during sex, did it make you gain weight etc. My obgyn also said it was safe to have it while breastfeeding but I'm still a little skeptical. Any information you have would be really helpful as all of my girlfriends are pill users. Thank you so much for your help, and good luck with the rest of your pregnancies!

SoCoGirl · October 2012

I had the Paragaurd IUD before TTC and I loved it. There aren't any hormones so it didn't make me crazy. I'll get another at my 6w checkup. My period was a little heavier and crampier, but nothing bad. My friends that have the Mirena say that they have very light periods.

Placing it was uncomfortable and I cramped some, but it wasn't terrible. I have heard that it isn't bad if you've had children. My DH only felt it during sex once or twice, he could feel the Nuva Ring all of the time and I didn't gain any weight on it.

If you are worried about the pain of having it placed I think they can use an anesthetic. I just took some Ibuprofen and was fine.

Sweeetonpole · October 2012

My mother had an IUD when she got pregnant with me. I guess she was getting it removed, and it was stuck. The doctor checked and there I was. I know that was almost 30 years ago, but I don't trust them now.

jillc2010 · October 2012

I had the Mirena IUD after DD and loved it. I got the Mirena because I have heavy cramping and my midwife suggested the Mirena over the Paraguard for that reason. It wasn't horrible having it placed but I did sleep the rest of the day and had some cramping. DH said it would poke him occasionally but it never stopped him hahahahahaa. I breastfed DD until she was a little over 18 months and we never had any issues with the small amount of hormones. I did however stop having periods. I plan on getting another after this baby too

I will tell you, the "string" was a bit of a shock to me. It feels like fishing line sticking out of your cervix! It isn't uncomfortable in my opinion though and was worth the one day of cramping

shutupanddance07 · October 2012

My sister has mirena, and she's pretty happy about it, if that helps.

CurlyQ284 · October 2012

Sweeetonpole:
My mother had an IUD when she got pregnant with me. I guess she was getting it removed, and it was stuck. The doctor checked and there I was. I know that was almost 30 years ago, but I don't trust them now.nbsp;

I know 3 people who had their IUD get stuck in their uterine wall and got pregnant. They all had to leave it in for the duration of the pregnancy. I'm pretty sure they were high risk pregnancies too. I would like to get an IUD for convenience but this freaks me out.

knjzacher · October 2012

I had the Mirena in for 4 years and 4 months. I felt crampy n shitty the first day it went in, but never felt it after. In that whole time I had 3 very very light periods. My husband could feel the strings with his fingers, and has felt the actual IUD with his penis if we were really, uuuuh, enthusiastically having sex. I loved it and will get another but I don't know if I wanna go two under two yet, so I may hold off on it. I had it placed with no prior pregnancies, and they say it's less crampy if you've already had a child. I recommend!

Jena503 · October 2012

We took the permanent option - DH got snipped. Of course this is our 3rd and his 4th and at 43 he's facing 36 years of being dad to a child under the age of 18 (18 years down, 18 years to go!) So we are DONE DONE DONE.

Mirena is progestin only, right? Just like the mini pill I think. But there do seem to be conflicting reports about it affecting milk supply, especially when you start it early (like at 6 weeks)

erinb82 · October 2012

I had a para guard that worked perfectly for a year and a half- until I thought I had an ulcer, and turned out to be 10 weeks pregnant. Placement was perfect, and I loved it until it didn't work. Of course, we can't wait to meet our son in two months, but I'll have to figure out something else after baby comes.

I didn't think the initial placement was bad, but my periods were pretty heavy after I got it. I always liked the patch, maybe I'll go back to that.

ZoeMay06 · October 2012

I had the Paragard IUD placed when DD#1 was 2 months old. I did have slightly heavier periods when AF came back but it's possible that was just from being PP. Either way, not having any hormones made it worth it to me. The strings curled around my cervix pretty early on so DH never felt them. I'll either get Paragard again or use FAM after this baby.

WannaBMommy81 · October 2012

Had Mirena for almost 4 years and LOVED it. I have several friends that have since gotten it and like it as well. I ebf for 13 months and I never had a supply issue even thought it was placed as 6 weeks as pp mentioned there might be. Mirena has a better effective rate than a tubal ligation. Paraguard isn't as effective. My OB said Mirena has been proven to also help prevent uterine cancer due to the small amount of hormones in it. I got pg the month I had it removed (on purpose... we were TTC) it took almost a year to get pg with DD so I was shocked to get pg so quickly!

bellabluegirl · October 2012

I had it after DD was born almost 7 yrs ago. Got it 8 weeks post partem. I was sick of taking a pill everyday. Unfortunately I hated Mirena from the getgo. I had a lot of pain and very heavy cramping the day the dr put it in. The heavy cramping and pain was off and on for the next 8 months. Sometimes it was so bad I was doubled over in pain. After all of those issues I decided that Mirena just was not for me, so I went back on the pill. My dr said that my body might have seen it as a foreign object and it was rejecting it. Don't know for sure, but once it was removed I felt great again and had no further cramping/pain. DH also said the string poked him during sex.

Sprite2012 · October 2012

I had the Paraguard for about 6 months. My periods were really heavy and I was crampy before, during, and after each period. Then my husband started feeling it and I decided there was no need for both of us to be uncomfortable. I had it removed, went back on the pill, and got pregnant within 3 months.

I don't know what we're going to do about birth control after this baby, but I will not trust an IUD ever again!

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