birth control reccommendations?

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...
So, here it is 3 months post partum, and I'm just now starting to consider
my options for birth control.


I'll add to the accolades for the Mirena IUD. I had one for 2 years before
this last pregnancy and I loved it. It didn't hurt going in (except for a
bit of cramping later that day), and while I still had periods, they were
extremely light and very regular (unlike my usual unpredictable, heavy
periods). I loved that I never had to think about birth control once it was
in, and I didn't have any side effects like I used to have on the pill. The
only downside is that DH sometimes claimed that he could feel a bit of
pinching from the strings when we were having sex.

DH is planning to have a vasectomy after this baby is born, but to be
honest, sometimes I wish I were getting another IUD instead, just because I
like having those light, regular periods.

--
Jodi
SAHM to Oliver (5 years),
Arwen (2 years),
and "bubbles" (edd May 5, 2006)

Amy wrote:

I asked both my doctors - my OB and my GP - about an IUD, and both said
that it's not appropriate for me since we're planning on having other
kids within the next few years. Apparently it's too much trouble for
them to put it in for that short a time, and then take it back out.

Uh? Taking an IUD out takes about thirty seconds, and most of that is
warming the speculum. Some people have even DIY.

Lara

I asked both my doctors - my OB and my GP - about an IUD, and both said
that it's not appropriate for me since we're planning on having other
kids within the next few years. Apparently it's too much trouble for
them to put it in for that short a time, and then take it back out.
Grrrr... So, since we have issues with EVERY OTHER BIRTH CONTROL IN
THE UNIVERSE, we're back to the PO&P method, and you know what they
call people who use that one...

how long a gap do you expect to have? I have a Mirena and it has to come out
in 5 years, at the stage I had it inserted, there was certainly a chance I'd
have it out before the end of that time, maybe after 3 years. However if you
are thinking under a year then the doc is probably right.

Anne

I'm probably one of the luckier ones, but I've got a regular Copper-T,
and it hasn't made my periods (except for the first one or two after
insertion) that much longer or heavier at all. I typically get a day or
so of spotting before the period itself gets going, which I actually
like as a kind of early warning system. That's been the only noticeable
difference (again, barring those first couple of periods).

--Helen

Amy wrote:


I asked both my doctors - my OB and my GP - about an IUD, and both said
that it's not appropriate for me since we're planning on having other
kids within the next few years. Apparently it's too much trouble for
them to put it in for that short a time, and then take it back out.
Grrrr...

That is complete rubbish, and putting up with it sounds so unlike you
that I'm wondering whether there is some insurance issue here that I'm
being naive about that means you really can't go to another doctor.
Couldn't you go to Planned Parenthood, or somewhere like that?

Did they specifically say that it was too much trouble, or is that just
what you're inferring? If somebody tried telling me that, I would very
politely and icily ask them to in that case please let me know if they
could recommend a doctor who didn't consider it too much trouble to do a
relatively simple health care procedure when a patient needed it. Or
I'd just go and find one on my own. Couldn't you go to Planned Parenthood?


All the best,

Sarah

--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com

But how do we _know_ that no-one ever said on their deathbed that they
wished they'd spent more time at the office?

Circe wrote:

The downside to the copper-T is that it can make
periods heavier, although mine have always been pretty heavy (I think it's
payback for my going longer between periods than most people g) so I'm not
sure it's had much on an effect on me that way.

Some time back, a poster here wrote that her doctor had told her that
the heavier periods were generally a temporary thing which resolved and,
for this reason, it could be particularly suited to lactating women
because the amenorrhoea meant they missed out on the initial heavy
periods and by the time they started menstruating again the
intra-uterine reaction would have died down and wouldn't be causing them
any problems.

I've never heard this from any other source, so can't vouch for how true
it is. Anecdotally, though, my periods restarted just over a year
post-partum, which was checks diary nine months after I had the IUCD
put in, and they weren't any heavier than before (despite the fact that
I was on the Pill before!).

I've also been very happy with the IUCD. I don't like it as much as the
combined pill, but that's because of the advantages of the combined pill
rather than the disadvantages of the coil - I loved being able to skip
periods and schedule them for when it was convenient. Going back on it
will be one of the advantages of weaning. But until then, I have no
problems with the IUCD.


All the best,

Sarah

--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com

But how do we _know_ that nobody ever said on their deathbed that they
wished they’d spent more time at the office

Leslie wrote:
How about NFP?

I'm not sure how that works when you're nursing and not getting
periods... Any info would be appreciated!!

Amy

Anne Rogers wrote:
I asked both my doctors - my OB and my GP - about an IUD, and both said
that it's not appropriate for me since we're planning on having other
kids within the next few years. Apparently it's too much trouble for
them to put it in for that short a time, and then take it back out.
Grrrr... So, since we have issues with EVERY OTHER BIRTH CONTROL IN
THE UNIVERSE, we're back to the PO&P method, and you know what they
call people who use that one...

how long a gap do you expect to have? I have a Mirena and it has to come out
in 5 years, at the stage I had it inserted, there was certainly a chance I'd
have it out before the end of that time, maybe after 3 years. However if you
are thinking under a year then the doc is probably right.

There are days when I don't even want another one! DD is so intense, I
can't imagine having another one before she's walking, talking, and
potty trained. We're going to revisit the issue (assuming that we
don't have an "oops") when she's 3, and see how we feel then. DH is
reluctant to make any permanent decisions while I'm still sleep
deprived and not thinking clearly. I've always imagined myself with
three kids, but I didn't know that the first one would be a doozy!!

Amy

Amy wrote:
Leslie wrote:
How about NFP?

I'm not sure how that works when you're nursing and not getting
periods... Any info would be appreciated!!



The book I have is The Art of Natural Family Planning but I know there
are others on the topic. This is the *way* short version, but
basically you just observe cervical mucus signs and assume you are
fertile if you see any at all until several days of drying up have
occurred. And I can't remember how old your baby is, but if you are
exclusively nursing, LAM by itself is supposed to be pretty effective
up until six months. I am super fertile and get my periods back early,
so this hasn't been a huge issue for me. Periods do make charting
easier!

At any rate, if you follow the above *and* POAP, I imagine you'll be
pretty safe. And once your cycle starts up, NFP could be the answer
for you.

Leslie

I've never heard this from any other source, so can't vouch for how true
it is. Anecdotally, though, my periods restarted just over a year
post-partum, which was checks diary nine months after I had the IUCD put
in, and they weren't any heavier than before (despite the fact that I was
on the Pill before!).

I've also been very happy with the IUCD. I don't like it as much as the
combined pill, but that's because of the advantages of the combined pill
rather than the disadvantages of the coil - I loved being able to skip
periods and schedule them for when it was convenient. Going back on it
will be one of the advantages of weaning. But until then, I have no
problems with the IUCD.

are you referring to a non hormonal IUCD? I wondered, because though
flexibility in when you have a period can be a good thing, it's not
something I personally have missed (it's about 8yrs since I stopped the
combined pill I think), as though I wouldn't have said my periods were
either particularly heavy or particularly painful, I love having light or
non existant periods, which I had with the mini pill between pregnancies and
will probably have with the Mirena that I have now. A period that is no
issue is better than scheduling a period that is a slight issue.


Anne