After baby birth control?

Norway23 · April 2016

We are all getting so close to having our babies that I've been thinking a lot about what birth control to go with when we get to that point! I've had horrible luck with eveything I've ever tried soo kinda scared to try again. Maybe the Mirena? I know everybody's body is different... But what have you guys been happy with? What has been awful?

PYLWhammy · April 2016

Honestly, we're probably going with Natural Family Planning. That's probably not a popular answer, but I've hated every form of birth control I've used. Most recently I used the copper IUD, which I liked in theory, but it was so painful the entire time I had it (yes, I had its placement checked, more than once). BC is hard, man.

finnybooboo · April 2016

I debated getting a tubal ligation, but just can't commit to the finality of that decision. Instead I think I'm going to ask my doctor about the different IUD options. I'm tired of taking hormonal birth control pills, and honestly, I want something that is more fool proof then me trying to remember to take a pill every day.

This is me after 2 kids and thinking we're 99.9% sure we're not having any more. After my last pregnancy I think we just used condoms until I was done breast feeding, and then I started on the pill again. We knew that we would try within the next year after that anyway, so it didn't make sense to get a longer form of b/c.

kp90 · April 2016

I'm thinking about the Implanon. It's the small device that goes into your arm. I believe it lasts 3 years. I don't want anything super long term... The pill makes me gain weight... And I hate the idea of IUDs. I have a friend who had the Implanon and loved it.

mrstmoose · April 2016

Honestly, we didn't use BC prior to becoming pregnant, just used other methods of birth control (which are not reliable). I will probably go back to using FF and just tracking my cycles. BC was never a great option for me and we both agree that we don't want to use hormonal birth control at this point. So after my ramble, I'm basically agreeing with @PYLWhammy

JoMunson · April 2016

We're using a combination of natural family planning and condoms. We're hoping to have a second baby by next June.

NinnyJean · April 2016

I'm just headed back to the pill, I used the extended packs before and loved only getting my period once every three months. My sister had mirena for a few years and had quite a few side effects, weight gain and bad acne. Her doctor said that they are getting more complaints about side effects from it, so I'm staying away from that

hellogoodbye2 · April 2016

I used BC pills before we had kids and once we started trying with our first I've never gone back on them. I don't like how my body reacted to the pill and how long it took my body to regulated after I got off it. The pill did its job for years, but I'm done with anything hormonal.

After this baby we will use condoms until we either are ready to try again or decide we are done and one of us does something permanent (tubes/vasectomy)

wamam027 · April 2016

My birth control is deployment. It's 100% effective.

cortney626 · April 2016

I'm pretty sure I'm having a tubal ligation. But I had the IUD before and loved it. So I'd go back on that IUD if I don't do the tubal.

kp90 · April 2016

ncm0328 said:

My birth control is deployment. It's 100% effective.

Haha. So true. Sad, but true. I hope he returns quickly!

wamam027 · April 2016

kp90 said:

ncm0328 said:

My birth control is deployment. It's 100% effective.

Haha. So true. Sad, but true. I hope he returns quickly!

He should be home around February/March...so when he does get home we will likely go the condom route since we will be ready to try for another baby not too terribly long after that.

lalala2004 · April 2016

Interesting how popular it seems NFP is! I intend to track my cycles and use condoms during my fertile times. There is obviously room for error in this, and it isn't what we would do if we were permanently done having kids. If we "accidentally" get pregnant, we'd be ok with it.

TinaTho · April 2016

kp90 said:

I'm thinking about the Implanon. It's the small device that goes into your arm. I believe it lasts 3 years. I don't want anything super long term... The pill makes me gain weight... And I hate the idea of IUDs. I have a friend who had the Implanon and loved it.

The implant also causes weight gain as a side effect.

Likely just going back to doing birth control pills... Can't stand the iud concept and I tend to not have a bad response, nor do I have a hard time keeping track of pills.

Norway23 · April 2016

Just read a bunch of online reviews about guys getting poked by mirena strings.... And im also kinda freaked out about something just hanging out in there (that isnt a baby of course

) and just thinking about trying birth control pills after all the side affects i had before freaks me out. There's so many different pills how am I supposed to find one that works! Oh the struggle

might have to just get better at natural family planning!

wsgjmw1 · April 2016

kp90 said:

I'm thinking about the Implanon. It's the small device that goes into your arm. I believe it lasts 3 years. I don't want anything super long term... The pill makes me gain weight... And I hate the idea of IUDs. I have a friend who had the Implanon and loved it.

Same here, co worker got it last year after baby #1 and loves it. Probably will look into this option.

TheThornBird · April 2016

Heh, we switched to NFP from the pill because I have a hard time with birth control pills......and I was pregnant within 2 months. Oops!

PYLWhammy · April 2016

lalala2004 said:

Interesting how popular it seems NFP is! I intend to track my cycles and use condoms during my fertile times. There is obviously room for error in this, and it isn't what we would do if we were permanently done having kids. If we "accidentally" get pregnant, we'd be ok with it.

That's kinda what we're thinking too. We want another kid eventually, so if NFP fails, we'll just figure that it was meant to be

AmmyBelle · April 2016

I did almost ten years of the pill and a further nearly two years of the ring - I prefer the ring to the pill for various reasons, but my SO hated it (he swore he could feel it, so we'd just take it out for sex, which is fine as long as you remember to put it back in). Last January (2015) we went off of BC and just pulled and prayed, and that's likely what we'll do again - P&P/Condoms. I think I am done with hormonal BC, and we plan on having one more kiddo, and then I will likely get my uterus/tubes removed due to my increased risk of cancer. My best friend loved her IUD, she had it for 3 years and went off of it in September and is now expecting a baby in August

missnc77 · April 2016

I have terrible PMDD, and I've tried a variety of birth controls to help, but it always lead to complete emotional breakdowns. My doctor finally said that some women can't take birth control (as in, I'll never find the right hormonal birth control to balance my own hormones), and that I'm probably one of them. My husband and I used the pull out method when we weren't trying to get pregnant. I know, not 100% reliable, but it worked for us. Once we decide we're done trying, he'll go get a vasectomy.

Man, I do not miss my PMDD. I hope that by some stroke of luck that pregnancy changes my hormones in such a way that my PMDD improves.

Spylon · April 2016

I was on the pill for a good 13 years before going off it for a year prior to starting TTC, and I really don't want to go back to any sort of hormonal birth control. We're likely just going to do NFP and condoms, since it worked for the year we were off BC but not actively trying. We want a second one soon after as well, so if it happens sooner than planned, NBD. After that, DH will get a vasectomy.

It's kind of cool to see how many others are planning something similar. I didn't think it would be so popular.

mommar13 · April 2016

I got Mirena after DS and I HATED it. I gained a ton of weight no matter what I did, I had zero sex drive, random breakthrough bleeding, super painful periods, and I was just all around extra bitchy. I got it at my 6 week post partum visit and I had it for about 6 months. I wish I had taken it out earlier. The pill has never worked for me though, I'm sick as a dog when I take it. Hormones really mess me up. I've used the depo shot before, and while I feel like I got hit by a bus for a few days after it, I level out and am good for 3 months until the next shot. I'll probably go that route again after I finish breastfeeding. Until then I just don't feel comfortable taking anything, so we'll use condoms. I'd love to just do the natural family planning, but I think my cycles are too unpredictable for that to really go over well. We might swap to that closer to when we're wanting to try for #3, but that'll be a few years.

proudparent2b · April 2016

I've never done anything but condoms, which has worked well for me. DH and I have considered other options after LO is born, but I believe this remains the best option for both of us.

obryana6219 · April 2016

TheThornBird said:

Heh, we switched to NFP from the pill because I have a hard time with birth control pills......and I was pregnant within 2 months. Oops!

Me too. Either my ovulation got messed up from the pregnancy or I'm an idiot.

Kurrant · April 2016

I've been trying to figure this one out as well. We have tried condoms and didn't really have a fun time with that. I have tried the shot and that was interesting. I never got my period while on the shot but it made me feel wacky so I got off of it then I had my period for 3 weeks. 3 weeks of hell. I'm not a fan of how the pill makes me feel but it's what I have used the most. IUD sounded good till I read some horror stories about using a Diva Cup when you have an IUD.

For now I think we are going to just go with the flow and not use anything since the plan is to have a second baby as soon as we can. Although now MH is talking about 3 which is hilarious since he initially thought 2 was too overkill.

jenl1681 · April 2016

Between DS and DD I had mirena, and at the time I thought I really loved it. It wasn't until I had it removed when we started TTC that I realized all of the side effects that it had caused. I will never go back to that again. Since having DD 5 years ago we used NFP and it worked great, I have a super predictable cycle though, I wouldn't recommend it if yours varies or is hard to chart. We had a slip up and that's how we got this LO! So I don't think we will be going back to that. DH is pushing for a tubal, and I am pushing for the big V. We will see who wins that

Charla1224 · April 2016

I had Mirena before and LOVED it. Nearly 5 years without a period!! I haven't decided if I'd like to go that route again. When I had Mirena removed (so we could TTC) I felt different. I missed being au naturale. So, I might try that again for a while, especially because I learned so much about my body using FF while TTC.

slfezz · April 2016

I'm looking into IUD until DH gets a vasectomy. This is #3 and we both agree we are done after this but I'm making him wait on his appointment because I paranoid that something will go wrong. I've tried lots of types of BC over the years and want something that I don't have to worry about since I always had issues remembering to take my pill or change a patch. The shot isn't an option for me since it made me go crazy.

jhjelmberg · April 2016

I used mirena for one year, my husband had no idea there were strings, and they shouldn't feel them, I just didn't like the hormones. I will use paragard after this LO since NFP would potentially bring baby #4 and we are not ready for that!

TXmamatobe · April 2016

I'm the odd one out and I'm not trying to be rude, I promise. I never even considered using condoms long term with my DH. I hate condoms and so does he, I can't imagine it. I guess I'm out of the loop and didn't realize people did that for long term birth control. Anyway, I learn something new every day!

PYLWhammy · April 2016

Kurrant said:

IUD sounded good till I read some horror stories about using a Diva Cup when you have an IUD.

That's another reason I didn't like the IUD - I love mah Diva Cup!

Norway23 · April 2016

TXmamatobe said:

I'm the odd one out and I'm not trying to be rude, I promise. I never even considered using condoms long term with my DH. I hate condoms and so does he, I can't imagine it. I guess I'm out of the loop and didn't realize people did that for long term birth control. Anyway, I learn something new every day!

I feel the same way!! We both hate them, so finding a birth control method that works is key!

Kurrant · April 2016

PYLWhammy said:

Kurrant said:

IUD sounded good till I read some horror stories about using a Diva Cup when you have an IUD.

That's another reason I didn't like the IUD - I love mah Diva Cup!

Did you experience badness with using both or did you hear bad stories like I did? I'm really curious if there is any truth to the badness. I mean really, as someone who has always had extremely heavy periods, the diva cup was like heaven. After not having to go and change a damn super heavy flow tampon every 1-2 hours for the first few days I was sold.

Charla1224 · April 2016

Kurrant said:

PYLWhammy said:

Kurrant said:

IUD sounded good till I read some horror stories about using a Diva Cup when you have an IUD.

That's another reason I didn't like the IUD - I love mah Diva Cup!

Did you experience badness with using both or did you hear bad stories like I did? I'm really curious if there is any truth to the badness. I mean really, as someone who has always had extremely heavy periods, the diva cup was like heaven. After not having to go and change a damn super heavy flow tampon every 1-2 hours for the first few days I was sold.

This is interesting to me because I never had a period with my IUD and neither did friends of mine. Now, when I'm without birth control I love my Diva Cup.

amberraysofdawn · April 2016

I was on the ring for several years, and it was fantastic while it lasted...but I'd rather be on something more long-term after LO is born, so I don't have to worry about BC for awhile. Definitely interested in an IUD, but I'm not sure yet which one would be best. The copper one doesn't have hormones in it (from what I understand), but it gives you heavier periods. Mirena has hormones, which I'm reluctant to go back on. Has anyone out there tried Skyla, though? It doesn't last as long as the other two and from what I understand is smaller so that women who haven't had children can use it, but it also works for those who have given birth.

Pregghers · April 2016

This is a frustration of mine. I can't handle hormonal birth control, the migraines are crippling when I am on it. I have incredibly irregular cycles, so NFP is out. I guess I'll try a copper IUD, but I'm not thrilled about it.

TXmamatobe · April 2016

On this topic, I really like the bedsider.org website for those who want to explore different types of BC. Of course you want to talk to your doctor and do further research but it's a good site to compare popular methods.

KidShrink · April 2016

Has anyone been on the mini pill (progesterone only I believe)? I have very severe endometriosis and any period I get will increase the risk of my left ovary crapping out on me (because I have a blood filled cyst in it). The endo was also severe enough to have led to damage to other organs (bladder, gallbladder, liver, etc). So I essentially need to not have a period until we're ready for baby #2, otherwise I'm likely looking at trouble conceiving again. We were going to just let things happen, but given that I'm self employed and need to work for a bit, we're thinking of trying again when baby turns 1.

folamij · April 2016

I've had the Mirena in the past but I honestly wouldn't choose it again. When it was first implanted I had bleeding and heavy cramping. The next few months I had a very light period before it stopped. Yes it was nice with no period, but I had random spotting throughout so a liner was always a must. It also took awhile after having it removed (which was pain free) to get my cycle back to normal which was to be expected. I guess the main reason I didn't like it was because although I didn't have periods, the constant random spotting was annoying. I could spot for one week and a few days later, spot again and then no spotting for 2 months.
TMI WARNING:
although I can't verify it was the Mirena, MH said he always felt like something was scratching him during intercourse, and hasn't felt any discomfort since the Mirena was removed.

TXmamatobe · April 2016

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had Implanon or Nexplanon. How was your experience? Any side effects? How long did you have it? Etc...

Bltbear82 · April 2016

@KidShrink I was on it before DS1 and between pregnancies as it's the only pill compatible with my bp medication. The first time I had a great experience, no period for 3 years and no side effects. After DS1 was born I went back on the same pill and I got my period every month (sometimes twice) and also found my skin to be unpredictable, which vanity aside isn't that big of a deal. I've been off of it since June 2015 when we started trying and my skin is totally back to normal. I'm not sure what to do after DS2 is born.

Also the mini pill requires you really adhere to taking it at the same time. The directions say if you're off by 3 hours to use back up. I didn't think it was a big deal because I was religious about taking my pill, but after DS1 was born I found myself missing them because my alarm would go off while I was nursing or rocking him etc. it became a less reliable method for me.

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