Birth control options for after delivery?

Jeark1004 · November 2014

Hey mamas -- Has anyone already decide on the birth control method for after delivery? I'm looking into pros and cons for having an IUD put in after birth, and I wanted to hear your general thoughts on this.

Also, for you ladies who's had mirena or paraguard, what were your experiences with these? For you STMs, how long did it take for you to conceive after taking them out (In an ideal world, we're hoping the kiddos might be about 2 years apart).

TIA!!!!

CandEChicago · November 2014

Jeark1004 said:
Hey mamas -- Has anyone already decide on the birth control method for after delivery? I'm looking into pros and cons for having an IUD put in after birth, and I wanted to hear your general thoughts on this.

Also, for you ladies who's had mirena or paraguard, what were your experiences with these? For you STMs, how long did it take for you to conceive after taking them out (In an ideal world, we're hoping the kiddos might be about 2 years apart).

TIA!!!!

Have you asked your doctor what they would recommend? Also an IUD immediately after birth doesn't sound like the best idea to me.

chicorojo · November 2014

I got pregant on the mirena IUD. And i hope you mean you will get it placed around 6 weeks after delivery, a bloody vag is birth control enough for me. This time I am getting my tubes tied within 48 hours of delivery.

Kmm1023 · November 2014

My plan is to tell DH to not touch me!

I actually haven't even thought about it. It will be many many weeks after baby is born before any action will be happening anyway!

MaineMama · November 2014

3 kids 3 and under and a hyperactive 6yo should do it for me...

LaxMOM44 · November 2014

My MIL may come and stay with us during the holidays.....that's birth control.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

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marriedinaugust · November 2014

IUDs can be inserted at your 6w pp checkup if you have no other complications. I had issues so I had Mirena inserted at about 4m pp. It hurt going in because my cervix was completely closed up. I had some spotting after that but no period until I had it removed to start TTC. So I had no period from conceiving X in Aug 2009-June 2013. Mirena is good for 5 years and Paraguard for 10 I think. It took us 9m to coceive after I got it removed but we weren't actively trying the entire time and it took a couple cycles to start ovulating regularly. I don't think I'm going on BC after this one, we will probably try for #3 whenever my period returns.

AllTheTeaInChina · November 2014

Just discussed with my OB at my last appt. We are 99.9% done but I can't bring myself to do anything permanent yet. I will probably go with Mirena. My OB told me she's on her second one and hadn't had any problems and even stopped having periods.

After dd1 I went back on BC pills. I knew we could have second fairly soon and didn't want to deal with anything long term at that time.

Jeark1004 · November 2014

Thanks everyone! @CandEChicago, I just started the discussion with my OB during my last visit and came down to these two options: Mirena or Paraguard. I was mainly interested in hearing from other ladies their experience with them.

Right now, I think I'm leaning more towards paraguard because it doesn't have any added hormones, but wanted to see how many people had heavier periods or more intense cramping with it. I understand that it varies from person to person, but still makes me feel better hearing from as many people as possible about their experience.

PS. And yes, as many of you pointed out, my OB also mentioned having the insertion scheduled sometimes after birth...I'm sure I'll be dealing with enough cramping after birth without adding any extra :P

Cadg0986 · November 2014

MissChristineMarie said:
Getting an IUD. That's the plan. H will get snipped once we officially decide we're one and done or two and through.

That's exactly the same for us! We tell people we are one and done....because we already get the questions as to when we will have another. That irks me, this LO hasn't even arrived yet and you're asking us if and when we may have a 2nd?! Aye. But yes, we too will be IUD and then eventually decide if we want a 2nd. Either way, eventually DH is getting snipped lol!

Apsalartoll · November 2014

I'm pregnant with my first, and I had a Paragard before (I can't take hormonal BC anymore due to an otherwise unexplained blood clot a few years ago when I was on BCP).

I actually had lighter and shorter periods after it was installed. The cramps were a bit worse, especially the day before my period started and the first day, but nothing I couldn't handle.

Getting it installed hurt like hell. My doctor said never being pregnant was probably the reason. But I will absolutely get another one after this baby is born.

And.. it took no time at all to get pregnant after it was removed. I had one period (a SUPER light one, it lasted 2 days), and then the BFP.

ThePregosaurus · November 2014

The morning after I had my LO the doctor asked if I had given any thought to what bc I want to use in 6 weeks. I shuddered lol.

krisleav1130 · November 2014

I'm not sure what I'll be doing after birth. It took my husband and I almost two years to get pregnant this time (FTM here). My DH even said I shouldn't go back on BC. We'll see.

We want two kids. After baby #2, my DH has already said that he is going to get snipped. It's easier for a man that when a woman gets her tubes tied. And he's all for it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

allitor12 · November 2014

Tubes are getting tied and DH is getting snipped. I will probably be on bc pill too bc it helps my migraines.

Fossegirl1228 · November 2014

The current plan is just to go back on the pill. My periods have always been short and light when on the pill, hopefully they stay like that.

Eora3 · November 2014

My DH is getting snipped.

Both of my girlfriends that have IUDs are having them removed and having their husbands get snipped. One has the Mirena and has had acne and a constant period for five months. The other has the Paraguard and has had much worse cramping with her periods. (Obviously these are just anecdotal examples and don't predict what you might experience at all).

soulcupcake · November 2014

I had the Mirena placed at my six week check up with dd2. It was quick and painless. I took it out around 11 or 12 months postpartum because I got tired of the breakthrough spotting. Postpartum menses returned at 13 months, if I remember correctly. I got pregnant with ds1 a few months later.

I had the Paragard placed a few years ago. My periods were longer and heavier. I took it out and used VCF for a while.

This time, I am thinking either Mirena or Nexplanon.

RayRay007 · November 2014

I haven't thought about it. We won't be having sex for a while after birth so I'll figure it out then. Before ttc #1 I had been on the pill for 9 or 10 years, so after I had dd I wasn't interested in going back on that. We just used condoms and fertility awareness.

LaxMOM44 · November 2014

I had a copper IUD before DD and after, both times I was pregnant within a month of removing it.

My periods were definitely heavier on day one and two and then normal to light for the last 5 days. The cramping was way worse, but still manageable.

I will likely do the copper again

colliebabe · November 2014

I had a Paraguard before DD. Took it out after about 1.5 years and got pregnant the first month with DD. Had a great experience with that one - no issues besides heavier periods.

Got another Paraguard 6 weeks after I had DD and kept that in a less than 2 years. I did have some random brown discharge with that one so I took it out. We didnt start TTC #2 for a few months, but when we did I got pregnant soon after.

After this one I'm not sure what we plan to do yet.

BayCamp · November 2014

I hadn't thought about it until @allitor12‌ mentioned migraines. I got them quite often while on the pill. Blessedly infrequent since I've been pregnant. Anyone have any experience with migraines with an IUD?

ETA: words are hard

kwikwi8181 · November 2014

We have discussed it-but will most likely get mirena placed aGain. I am a FTM but had the mirena for over 2 years before having it removed to TTC. We didn't TTC right away because I had no periods on mirena and wanted to give my body a chance to get back to normal. Once we started trying we got a BFP within 2 cycles. I liked the ease of mirena-never having to remember anything and will prob get it again. I liked having no periods!

byrne15 · November 2014

We used the 'ol condoms in the past.

since this is #3 and our last, DH is getting a vasectomy.

mgk207 · November 2014

BayCamp said:

I hadn't thought about it until @allitor12‌ mentioned migraines. I got them quite often while on the pill. Blessedly infrequent since I've been pregnant. Anyone have any experience with migraines with an IUD? ETA: words are hard

a I used BCPs for years, and consistently got migraines, at least once a month, sometimes once a week. I attributed them to stress. In February 2010, I had Mirena inserted. I have not had a single migraine since! OP, Mirena was great for me. No period, no symptoms otherwise, and was able to get pregnant immediately after removal.

racheldiaries · November 2014

Not getting on birth control after. However, I did have IUD in for four years. Had it removed in July and received a positive test in December on my third cycle [ended in MC]. I've always had long irregular cycles but was surprised it happened as quick as it did. I had no complications or anything with my IUD and will eventually get it again when we are done with having children.

feeshah · November 2014

I've looked into the merina but I can't get past having SOMETHING in there like that for a long time.
I got on the mini pill after I had DD because I was BF. It was kind of a pain in the ass because it needs to be taken at the exact same time every day or else. But it worked for me and I'll be taking it again after LO.

RaeChay · November 2014

natural family planning or mini pill. It seemed to take a lot of effort and planning to actually catch the egg both times I have been pregnant, so natural family planning seems like it would be a breeze really.

bumpuser10617306 · November 2014

I am staying the fuck away from my husband's penis.

Really though, I will probably look into an IUD until he can get snipped. There is NO WAY I'm having another surprise baby

amieeyoung · November 2014

I had mirena and loved it. Sometimes I had spotting, but usually nothing, it wasn't painful to insert or remove. That is probably what I will do again.

BankerBSN · November 2014

We are going to use the pull and pray. If I ever get pregnant spontaneously it would be amazeballs.

mlee116 · November 2014

feeshah said:

I've looked into the merina but I can't get past having SOMETHING in there like that for a long time. I got on the mini pill after I had DD because I was BF. It was kind of a pain in the ass because it needs to be taken at the exact same time every day or else. But it worked for me and I'll be taking it again after LO.

This. It just gives me a weird feeling to have something in my uterus for that long. Last time we did condoms and NFP and it worked fine. We didn't get pregnant until we planned to and it took one cycle. However, since I'll have two kids, I'm much more paranoid about having an unplanned pregnancy this time around so I'll probably use the mini-pill. Maybe even with condoms and NFP, lol.

Eventually DH is going to get snipped, but we are thinking we might like one more.

abcmom12 · November 2014

I had the mirena before getting pregnant with DD #2, and when I got it after DD, it took a while for my body to adjust but I was coming off birth for the first time. My OB will put it in on my 7wk checkup baring any issues and I didn't even feel it when it was in. My periods went down to nil, just spotting or nothing and I felt safe with it.

My 3rd month I did have pregnancy-like symptoms but it was negative. This can be common during the early months of the mirena from what I found out, but more so if you're coming off BC pills too.

nolanova85 · November 2014

I had the mirena prior to getting pregnant with LO. Had been on BCP for 12 years, then mirena for almost 2. So the 2 months between getting mirena out and getting pregnant marked the first time in 14 years that I wasn't on some form of hormonal birth control. And I felt SO GOOD. So DH and I were just talking about this yesterday morning. I'm considering another mirena...but more strongly considering natural family planning. The hard part is that if I'm successful breastfeeding, I understand there is a chance my cycle won't regulate for some time (though I would still be ovulating). So during that window, we'll probably use condoms since it would be harder for me to track my cycle and no for sure when it's safe to be intimate without getting pregnant.

diz1313 · November 2014

I thought about getting my tubes tied as we are done having kids ..... but I will probably just go back on the pill as it helped with a lot of my PCOS symptoms.

lionyloo32 · November 2014

I had the Mirena for all but 5 months before begging my gyn to remove it. Insertion was excruciating and from day one I could feel it inside me. I couldn't exercise or even vacuum without having pain of some sort. My H could also feel the string poking him during sex, so that made things super weird. Dr. checked and it had not embedded or anything, my body just simply did NOT like having a foreign object in there. Another side effect of Mirena is also cysts, which I got. Removal was pain free, thankfully. It took 4 years after removal to get pregnant, but I have very low AMH.

Not really sure what the plan is for us. Dr. told us this LO wasn't even a possibility, and obviously they were wrong. We definitely don't want a surprise baby but I get migraines with aura and therefor can't really take bcp's. Definitely don't want to do anything permanent if there's a chance we could have, and would want, another LO. I know our bodies change and become super fertile right after babies, so don't want to risk no protection either.

MariahV · November 2014

I had the Paragard for 7 years before this, and I loved it! It hurt getting inserted, but not that bad. My period cramps were maybe slightly worse, but I already had pretty bad cramps. It did make my period 1-2 days longer too. My husband said sometimes he could feel the strings during sex but it didn't bother him.

I got pregnant the same month I had it removed!

mlee116 · November 2014

vcl2008 said:

A lot of people have mentioned the pill and only a few have said anything about the mini pill. I read somewhere (I think an N14 thread) that you can only take the mini pill while breast feeding - not regular BCPs. Anyone know anything about that?

Based on what my doctor told me after I had DS, you should not take regular BCPs if you are BFing. The difference between the mini-pill and regular BCPs is that the mini-pill does not contain estrogen.

The mini-pill is slightly less effective than regular BCPs and you have to be careful to take it at the exact same time each day. Also, once your child starts weaning, the effectiveness decreases so have to be careful to use a backup method and let your doctor know immediately so you can start another type of BC.

Again, this is just based on what I remember from talking to my doctor, so if you are considering it, I'd talk to your OB.

desertsun · November 2014

Keep in mind that some insurance plans only cover one IUD insertion within a 5 year period. So if you get one after this baby, then take it out after a year to TTC again, then want an IUD again after that baby...your insurance may not cover it. Just check your policy to be sure.

Hormonal birth control (pill, mini pill, Mirena) can all have some impact on breastfeeding. The mini pill and Mirena are the options least likely to impact your milk supply.

For me, I prefer to use condoms until my period comes back, then chart and use condoms during fertile window.

Shortstack06 · November 2014

My sister had an IUD put in around February, evidently her cervix was tilted enough that the doctor actually tore her cervix without knowing it and she bled for a few hours (the bleeding was assumed from the procedure). She had to have an emergency hysterectomy and had complications due to massive blood loss. I know this is one bad experience, but it's enough I will never look into IUD's as a source of birth control.

AllTheTeaInChina · November 2014

vcl2008 said:
A lot of people have mentioned the pill and only a few have said anything about the mini pill. I read somewhere (I think an N14 thread) that you can only take the mini pill while breast feeding - not regular BCPs. Anyone know anything about that?

After DD1 I went on a low dose combo pill. I waited until BFing was established and had no problems. She self weaned just before her 2nd birthday.

My OB is not really a fan of the mini pill. It's not nearly as effective.

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