I didn't want to highjack the tube tying thread, so I thought I'd make a different thread to discuss other options.
What are your plans for birth control/ family planning after baby?
Second time moms, are you doing anything differently this time around, any recommendations?
What other factors influenced your choice? (I.e., breastfeeding, side effects, ease of use, religion, # of additional kids wanted, spacing between, etc)
Most of the moms in my family are Catholic and their answer is "nothing," so I'm hoping the BMB might have a variety of experience.
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I don't know what everyone else's experience has been, but I can't really get a recommendation from my OB. He's great about answering questions and told me my breastfeeding friendly options, but basically says "these are your options, they're all good options, it's a personal choice, I can't tell you which is best."
I haven't taken any in 6 years, I just tracked my cycle. And with two planned pregnancies in that time it worked and I didn't have to deal with the horrible mood side effects I get with the pill. But with a newborn, an oopsie pregnancy would be a much bigger deal! I'm leaning towards nexplanon or an IUD. The whole uterine rupture side effect of an IUD just scares me.
Re: Family Planning after Baby
I have a blood clotting disorder so my OB prefers that I not use hormonal BC though she would prescribe if I chose to use it. We plan to just use condoms for the few weeks that we are waiting for DH's procedure.
Jan17 Sept Sig: Pumpkin Spice gone too far
We want a second child probably and at 32, I feel like I'm old enough that I feel like we should probably get on that sooner than later, so I imagine we might just continue relying on fertility awareness as a birth control technique (temp charting, OPKs, cervical mucus, and using condoms if we do have sex during the fertile window or abstaining during that time altogether) in combination with the fact that breastfeeding helps a little bit in the process. It took us 4 months of actively trying using FAM so I'm kind of curious to see how FAM will work for us in avoiding
ETA: I've also been really "iffy" about going back on the hormonal birth control pill. I conceived twins while on it last year and was taking it perfectly... every day, same exact time, never missed a day... always used a backup protection any time I ever had to take antibiotics... I know that makes me a statistical anomaly and that the odds of that happening again are close to nil, but that certainly was quite shocking information to receive back when we weren't trying to have kids at all!
I was on hormonal birth control for over a decade before we started trying to conceive. Luckily, I had no issues getting pregnant right away after discontinuing the pill, but I have no interest in going back on it for a variety of reasons. I temped and charted for all three of my pregnancies (2 losses, and this pregnancy) and it worked amazingly well for us. I don't expect to have the same level of accuracy with a newborn, like others have mentioned, but I think I will still try it and we will use condoms as well.
I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but we do want to have more children, and I don't see us waiting that long (whatever that means) for a second based on age and our previous losses -- sort of pushed back our whole timetable already.
The idea of an IUD doesn't sit well with me right now. Not to sound like a broken record, but I've been poked, prodded, had surgeries, etc., and I feel like I just want to be left alone down there! I need a break.
BFP1 12/24/14 - EDD 09/07/15 (D/C 8w1d)
BFP2 6/12/15 - EDD 2/22/16 (D/C 10w3d)
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Diagnoses and Treatments
PCOS (myo-inositol, excercize)
Indeterminant levels of APS IgM antibodies (baby aspirin)
Sub-septate uterus (hysteroscopic septoplasty 12/18/15)
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BFP3 05/02/16 EDD 01/09/17 DS born 01/05/17
BFP4 01/28/19 EDD 10/?/19 🤞🙏
I told my mom I'm 99% sure I don't want to be pregnant again, and she thought I should just get my tubes tied (I would absolutely go the adoption route if we decided our family wasn't quite complete). But there are some risks and long term effects that can be involved with that procedure, so I'm not sure it's right for me.
@canavara I have an acquaintance that went for her yearly checkup recently and her gyno was really pushing an IUD on her for exactly those reasons. She's so upset that she might need to make reproductive decisions now based on the uncertainty.
It took 11 months of temping, charting, OPKs, and eventually Clomid, Ovidrel, and IUI for me to get pregnant, so this may be a non-issue anyway, but I don't want to risk it. I will probably go back on the pill until we figure it out.
ETA: I may also go back to charting for a while, but I don't know how well that will work with two infants as pp said.
Married: July 2015
BFP: 5/20/16 | EDD: 1/28/17 | Twin boys born 1/16/17
I'm thinking we'll just use condoms until we're ready for number 2. I don't think me or my husband would really be that upset if we got pregnant again earlier than we were expecting, so I don't know that I want to go through doing birth control again.
After that my husband and I were thinking it would make the most sense for him to get a vasectomy.
Before DD I was on the IUD for 6 years (not the copper one) and it worked wonderfully for me, though it did lessen my sex drive for sure. I'm terrible with pills so regular birth control was never a good option for me. I think once we're done we'll make Hubby an appointment to get snipped and go with that.
Also: it may sound weird, but I talked with my FIL about his vasectomy and he said it really wasn't bad, a couple days sitting around with frozen peas on his junk and he was no worse for wear. MIL had already been through 2 Csections with Hubby and BIL so they knew they were done. He definitely sounded all for it as a good option since it's so much less invasive than it is for women.
DD2: EDD 1/16/17 - Born 1/12/17 at 39w3d
When we decided to try to Baby #2, it was removed rather easily and I got pregnant the next month. I lost that one, but it had nothing to do with the IUD, it was a genetic issue.
If DH wasn't getting neutered I'd do it again. But remember, everyone is different. Everyone reacts to something differently. Get something, try it, if it doesn't work get something else.
Team Blue ~ Jan. 20
DS born 9/4/12
MMC July 2015
MMC January 2016
After this baby, I plan on going on the mini-pill which is compatible with breastfeeding. I also will be monitoring signs of fertility. (CM mostly). I am hoping that the mini pill will even out my hormones, and prevent changes in my milk supply. This is my main reason for wanting to take it, as I've heard it isn't amazing at preventing pregnancy.
I get aura migraines, and while none of my doctor's seemed to care because I was on such a low dose of hormones, I couldn't help but worry when I was on a BCP.
I've been thinking a lot about this, too! This is our first and we do want more babies. We're nearly 30/33. But this pregnancy has been rough with anxiety and bedrest since 24 weeks, and I can't imagine getting pregnant in the near future. I want to work for at least a year before taking any more time off. That said, none of the bc methods seem overly appealing to me. Was on OCP for 13 years prior to TTC. I don't want to take them again due to annoying side effects, like weight gain. It doesn't seem worth it to get an IUD for only a year (or other more permanent forms of BC). Might just end up charting/ condoms, but I'm not sure how to start charting after a baby (since you can technically get pregnant before even getting your period back).
This is our first child and if all goes well we do want more (total of 2 MAYBE 3). So something permanent isn't an option. For about a year before i got pregnant i was off BC and we used condoms around certain times off the month. I guess you could call it natural family planning. We got pregnant the very first month we "didn't prevent a pregnancy." so the natural family planning worked for us and i feel we will use that again knowing it isn't that reliable. Being especially careful our first year or so.
I need to go back and read more responses for other ideas. I would consider non-hormonal IUD but would want to talk to my MD about it.
All in all, definitely recommend the IUD, especially if you want to avoid adding hormones.
I think once I am done having kids I will go on an IUD though, or my DH will get snipped!
*TW*
TWIN LOSS 7.2.15
BFP 9.7.15 CP
BFP 12.31.15 MC 2.28.16
BFP 10.14.17 CP
BFP 3.10.18 D&C 4.13.18
Married: 8/11/2007
DD: Born 2/3/17
BFP#2: 5/3, EDD 1/10/19
I will say I have been on most forms of BC at some point. Both Depo and Merena caused me to not have a period once they were working- which I know freaks many women out- so it's something to consider. I loved Depo. I was on depo for pretty much my entire 20s. This BC option will cause issues with calcium absorption though- and I had to stop taking it when my bone density test showed early signs of bone loss. I was on the pill for about a year after until my hashimoto diagnosis. When it comes the pill I agree with many of the previous posters that I am horrible at remembering to take it- plus I tend to be nauseous when taking the pill (probably because I skip doses and double up the next day). I also need to increase my thyroid medication when on a HBC. I hated my IUD. I started to get eye styes within a month of having it inserted. After the 4th stye I saw a doctor who said I had to be allergic to something- the body is a weird thing and my body hated having a foreign object in my uterus so reacted with eye styes. They stopped once I had it removed even though my OB at the time said they were not connected. I have also noticed a persistent eye twitch with this pregnancy and a few small eye styes- which I assume will stop after I give birth. I know the eye stye thing is a weird anomaly, but if you get frequent UTI/ YIs this could increase with an IUD. Something you may want to bring up with your doctor/ midwife. All BC options have their plus and negatives and will effect everyone differently. Good luck finding a good fit for your needs.
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
We have talked about this and I definitely do not want to take BCP again until I am done with wanting kids (this is our first). I was on the same pill for about 14 years and didn't ovulate until 10 months after stopping and that only happened with hormone intervention! I don't like the idea of hormones at all!
I'm really happy to see that most everyone has had a positive experience with the non hormonal IUD as that is my most logical choice though it does scare me a little. We thought condoms would be the choice but I'm just not a fan at all!
we did nothing to prevent after DS1 I exclusively breastfed so I did not get a period until I started supplementing (1 bottlle a day) with formula CONSIDER THIS A WARNING!!!!! lol I was pregnant 3 weeks later. But that was what we had wanted. To be clear did not get a period at all. NOTHING between DS! and 2, Hubby caught the first egg. I took a pregnancy test bc I was out of breath, and found out I was pregnant.
After DS2 I went on the pill immediately (6 weeks pp) that was healthy to breast feed on bc my dr recommended I did not get pregnant again until a significant amount of time went by. I got a period at around 7 or 8 months pp and stayed on that pill (mini pill maybe) until I stopped breast feeding and went to regular pill. I got clearance from dr when ds 2 was 19 months old and went off the pill. I got pregnant the next month.