Postpartum contraceptive plans?

laylahsmomma · June 2016

Hey y'all, I was wondering what everyone plans on doing for birth control when we all go to our 6 week postpartum appointment?

Opinions on the implant (nexplanon & implanon), IUDs (in ex. Mirena), the Depo Provera shot, & the mini pill? Since those are my only options since I'm breastfeeding. I'm considering the Mirena, but wanted to hear everyone's experience with it.

kaitielynnrichardson · June 2016

Since we had struggled with fertility, my OB is recommending not to use birth control... I guess the thought is that it was hard enough to get pregnant this time, why make it even more difficult next time. I will be curious to see what everyone's plans are though, in the event we do decide to go the BC route.

peps815 · June 2016

I am interested to hear thoughts on IUD. This is my third baby and believe it will be my last so I am thinking of an IUD for the next couple years.

NLewis1 · June 2016

I've had the Mirena twice and loved it both times. The first time I got it prior to having a baby to treat my endometriosis. I took it out and got on the pill once we were close to trying for our first - got pregnant after 8 months of stopping the pill. The second time, I had it taken out in July, got my first period in August, was pregnant at the end of September.... So that was super fast.

I loved that that I didn't have to think about it, I was just protected. It wasn't too bad having it out in after having baby (hurt like a motherf*cker having it put in before having kids though!) and was a cinch to have removed. I like that the hormone is localized to the uterus and doesn't enter the bloodstream, so I never had any side effects like weight gain, hormonal acne or mood swings. I also liked that the only side effect I did have were no periods! (Which is why it's used to treat endometriosis)

goldie987 · June 2016

@NLewis1 I'm glad to hear such good thoughts on mirena! I was on seasonique for endometriosis for 4 years because it was the only pill that thinned things out enough to control the pain and was looking at mirena post baby since seasonique wont be an option. Glad to hear it was successful for you

alitria · June 2016

@NLewis1 I'm another person who was looking for long term options for bc/endo control as well. I did NuvaRing before and I liked it but we're not planning on more babies so I'm all for a longer term solution. I could get my tubes tied or my husband would get a vasectomy, but I'm still going to have endometriosis so there's a lot of appeal to the two birds/one stone approach. It's good to hear it worked well for treating yours. How did you find the insertion after having a baby compared to prior to having a baby? The only thing stopping me was all of my friends said it was incredibly painful, but I don't know anyone who used it after giving birth.

GinnyJ2012 · June 2016

I had a Mirena after DS1 was born. I had it taken out a week before he turned 1, and was pregnant within 2 months of having it removed. . I had it put in at 8 weeks PP, and had some mild cramping after but nothing too bad. Having it inserted wasn't painful at all, though I've heard that varies by person. Removal didn't hurt either, but it was uncomfortable and I had some cramping that day. While on it my milk supply was great, and I didn't have a period until withdraw bleeding when it was removed. After DS2 was born I went on Lo Lo estrine (sp?) and my milk supply was affected some, but I was still able to nurse for 7 months. I had to remember to take it at the same time every day, or I had break through bleeding. I plan on going with a Mirena again this time because I'm pretty sure we're done having babies now, but I'm not ready for anything permanent.

NLewis1 · June 2016

alitria said:

@NLewis1 I'm another person who was looking for long term options for bc/endo control as well. I did NuvaRing before and I liked it but we're not planning on more babies so I'm all for a longer term solution. I could get my tubes tied or my husband would get a vasectomy, but I'm still going to have endometriosis so there's a lot of appeal to the two birds/one stone approach. It's good to hear it worked well for treating yours. How did you find the insertion after having a baby compared to prior to having a baby? The only thing stopping me was all of my friends said it was incredibly painful, but I don't know anyone who used it after giving birth.

Insertion at my 6 week checkup was easy! Waaaay better than the first time I had it out in prior to having a baby! I'm looking for a long term option as well, since we are also done having kids. But I'm going to breastfeed again and will need something that won't interfere with that, so I'm thinking I'll do the Mirena again, and later on will do some laser therapy and my husband will get a vasectomy. I will eventually have a hysterectomy but I'm hoping to put that off until the kids are old enough to be somewhat self sufficient

Rosehip15 · June 2016

Mirena. I had it for about a year before I took it out to get pregnant. My only regret was that I didn't get it years earlier. I have always had 7-day long, very heavy periods. After a month or so of irregular bleeding, my periods eventually dwindled to the point where I'd literally use one tampon for my entire one day "period." It was amazing. Though of course we wanted to have a baby, I was definitely a little sad to have it taken out.

I tried depo years ago and just bled continuously for months. Implanon would likely have the same effect, since it's also a systemic dose of progesterone, as opposed to the tiny Mirena dose. The mini-pill is much too finicky for me - you have to take it within basically a one hour window every day for it to be effective.

mamabird24 · June 2016

I'm doing the implant. I'm not sure which one my OB uses (I think it's Nexplanon) but I had Implanon after my second daughter and I loved it. I had a Mirena before I even had kids and it was awful so I'm not even considering an IUD of any kind, too scared to have the same reaction. I breastfed for 22 months with my second daughter and didn't have a period until she weaned which was pretty awesome, but man it came back with a vengeance the first couple of months lol.

BPaisley · June 2016

@mamabird24 what didn't you like about the Mirena? After reading some of these, I was thinking that sounds like a great option, but interested in hearing the possible negatives. Thanks!

meggyme · June 2016

@NLewis1 that's the first I've heard of Mirena being a localized hormone dosage. The main reason I was considering the non-hormonal implants/iud's was because I disliked the hormonal side effects of the pill. Mainly how crazy emotional it made me the week before my period. Does a localized dose change those side effects?

I'm planning on at least 1.5 to 2 years before we start trying for #2, is an implant still worth it?

mamabird24 · June 2016

BPaisley said:

@mamabird24 what didn't you like about the Mirena? After reading some of these, I was thinking that sounds like a great option, but interested in hearing the possible negatives. Thanks!

So, I had mine put in and was told it could take a few months for my body to adjust, i.e. get normal periods. I started by having 3 week long periods, would stop for a week and then have another 3 week long period. Sometimes it would only be 2 weeks if I was lucky, but it lasted for 8 months before I said enough is enough and had it taken out. Also, I googled my symptoms and wasn't the only one out there having these problems, so while I don't know statistics, it wasn't an isolated incident. I also feel like it messed with my labido in a bad way. Still to to this day (it's been over 8 years since I had it) I don't have much of a sex drive, whereas before I had it put in, I did. There were lots of people saying it was such an effective birth control because it made you not want to have sex again lol

Just do your research, but know that everyone is different and will react differently to things.

mrsp2213 · June 2016

Natural family planning, I'll be going back to tracking my cycles and temping.

BPaisley · June 2016

@mamabird24 Yeah, that doesn't sound fun! Thanks for sharing your experience. I've been leaning toward SO getting the snip as the best option to avoid anything because I do feel like I'm sensitive to BC and felt better when I went off the pill years ago, so it's sounding like the Mirena may not be a great option for me either.

xc1148 · June 2016

@kaitielynnrichardson Just a heads up...we struggled with infertility (ended up doing IVF after 3 years) and got pregnant on our first try when my babywas 10 months! We did not want to wait a long time in case we had to do IVF again. Of course this all depends on what was causing your infertility (ours was "unexplained") but sometimes it's easier the second time, so keep that in mind.

Also for any first time moms with endo....mine went away completely after my first pregnancy...I hope the same thing happens to you! The best unexpected benefit of having kids haha.

BMD8181 · June 2016

@BPaisley

I got the Mirena 8 weeks PP after my 2nd child. Insertion was not fun, but after just going through childbirth it was not a big deal. I spotted for 6 months straight. My periods became regular and the same flow as I had before the Mirena. I ended up taking it out after 9 months. The piece of string that my OB had left for checking had actually somehow migrated up into my Uterus and there was never any way to check the thing. I had to get an ultrasound to make sure it was in the right position. Was super fertile after taking it out-was pregnant 2 months later! I am the only person I know to have a negative experience with the Mirena/IUD-everyone else I know loves it. It was really awesome to never have to think about doing anything!

alileecam · June 2016

My husband is getting a vasectomy because our family is happily complete. Between DS1 and DS2 we just used condoms. They were effective for us and we didn't have to worry about hormonal birth control or an IUD. If we thought there was a possibility that we'd want another, I might consider an IUD, but we'd likely just go back to condoms.

PBear93 · June 2016

I got the non hormonal IUD and had no problems with it. My period was a little heavier while I had it in, but that was it.

cmac827 · June 2016

It took us 19 months to get pregnant. I spent 15 years on birth control and am done with them. We'll probably use a combination of natural family planning, condoms, and pull out and pray methods for a few months.

Jgar2u2 · June 2016

This is our 3rd and final baby so husband is getting a vasectomy. He volunteered to do that since I'm the one pregnant one / one giving birth. Sort of our trade off I guess.

I was on a low dose pill between #2 and this one. I was not on anything between 1 & 2...which is how we were blessed with #2 so quickly (as someone mentioned-- pull and pray).

bstephens1515 · June 2016

The nexaplon worked amazing for me before my husband and decided to try to get pregnant. I had it in my right arm for 3 years and then in my left for 2 before having it removed. I'll be going back to that for sure. I never had any issues and I'm terrible with trying to remember to take a pill or schedule myself to go get the shot.

Lyette1206 · June 2016

Abstinence is my birth control, lol! Honestly, it was a long time before we were able to successfully have sex after DD (breastfeeding was a killer for my libido, and hormonal issues led to significant dryness/discomfort during our attempts). After that we used the low estrogen pill, but it was making me get my periods every two weeks which wasn't cool. So then we did condoms (but hated them), and ended up with the pull-out and pray method.

This time I'll be giving an IUD a try, but not at 6 weeks - probably not until 6+ months

BPaisley · June 2016

@BMD8181 oh wow, why did you end up taking it out after your period became regular? So you could try to conceive again? Did they have to do anything else about the string?! That's kind of crazy.

NLewis1 · June 2016

@meggyme I read that in the Mirena pamphlet at my Drs office. He also said since the hormone is localized that it shouldn't have the same side effects as a BCP

WinniethePoohsPants · June 2016

CONDOMSSSSSS

adiaz132003 · June 2016

WinniethePoohsPants said:

CONDOMSSSSSS

Yup same here! Just wrap it up sir!

vulpini · June 2016

We used condoms before DS1 and between DS1 and DS2. I've never been on hormonal birth control, so I don't know how I'll react, but I'm going to try Mirena after my 6 week check up. We're pretty sure we're all done having kids but not ready for any permanent methods.

BMD8181 · June 2016

@BPaisley I had it taken out because of the string issue. It bothered me that I couldn't check it. I don't think that is something that normally happens, though. Just a fluke.

taralynnosullivan · June 2016

I am scheduled to go to a class on tubal ligation this Friday, but am still VERY on the fence about it. Had Mirena after DD and loved it until they had to take it out because it fell down. Then went on Depo which majorly effed with my fertility coming off it. If anything, I think I'll do Mirena again since we're pretty sure this is it and it would cost DH $2k to get snipped (tubal lig is free though - go figure!).

MynaBird · June 2016

For some reason Depo ended up feeling like a huge hassle to me. I don't know why I had no problem going to the OB/GYN every month or week during pregnancy but going every three months to get a shot just felt like the hugest inconvenience. Totally unreasonable of me, especially compared to the effort it takes to get a prescription to the pill filled and refilled all the time and then remember to take it every day.

We're thinking of having another one, so we probably will pull & pray for the time being. When we know we're done, though, it's vasectomy time. No more hormonal birth control for this lady.

BlueJuice · June 2016

I have infertility issues, so I'm wary of doing any kind of hormonal BC because I don't want to risk a long 'recovery' period when we decide to go off it. I'd like at least one more baby if possible, so we are planning to do FAM cycle tracking together with condoms. Since I had a C-section this time I need to leave at least 12 months before conceiving again, but I'm also exclusively breastfeeding, which should help postpone fertility returning.

agradi · June 2016

Lurking from July** I had the mirena after DD was born, I got it because two of my older sisters swore by it. I had a terrible experience with it, periods that were super heavy, and I would bleed 10-14 days with 7-10 days off. Nothing ever regulated and I got it taken out after a year and a half because the dr couldn't feel it during a check up, and we thought it had perforated my uterus and that was the cause of the terrible periods. Went on the pill for 2 months, before trying to get pregnant with this one, and it took us from March to October to conceive.

laurendiaz02 · June 2016

Since I will not be breastfeeding, I am going straight back on the pill (which is what I was on before getting pregnant). My dr already filled the prescription! I honestly don't have plans to have anymore (one and done!), but I guess you never know. I'm still trying to convince my husband to get snipped lol.

fishwife799 · June 2016

We are done as well so my H will be getting snipped. I got the Mirena after my son was born and hated it. I had awful side effects for months. Cramping, dizzy spells, nausea terrible headaches. I put up with it for quite some time and finally after having it in for about 8 moth had it taken out. I won't ever get it again after my experience. I know many have good experiences with it, but I wasn't one of them.

AshleyBKeen · June 2016

I love love love love loved my Mirena before baby. That being said, here were my pros and cons:

Cons:

Having it put in hurt like a mofo. My dr. said I might experience "mild discomfort" so I planned to have it put in and then go back to work the same day -- WRONG. I was down for the count for a day and a half with nothing to salve my pain but woefully inadequate advil and heating pads.

I could still uncomfortably "feel" it for probably about a week or two before things settled down.

You will be irregular for a while. For some people, this means fountains of blood, for others it means missing a month or two AND fountains of blood. For others, shorter periods start right away. It's all very dependent on your body.

Pros:

Eventually you stop having a period altogether. All about that tampon-free life, son!

Eventually you stop feeling it altogether, your body adjusts and you can basically forget about it.

No setting an alarm clock to take a pill at the same time every day or risk an Oopsababy.

No antibiotic-related woes.

Antecdotal, but we had no difficulty TTC after removal.

Want a personalized experience?

Postpartum contraceptive plans?

Re: Postpartum contraceptive plans?

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

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