Birth Control?
Posts: 148
With only a few months left of my pregnancy and knowing we don't want more kids I'm trying to decide what to do for birth control after the baby is born. My husband wants to get a vasectomy, but wants to wait until a year after the baby is born just to make sure things are ok with the baby. I want to be on something in the meantime (meaning the year until he goes in) so we don't have any surprises. I have been off & on depo (shot) for about 10 years and it is not recommended to be on it any longer (can cause bone lose). I'm not good at remembering to take pills so that's kind of out. I tried the patch once and it made me an emotional reck for some reason. Oh and tried the ring, wasn't to bad, but once I found out how much it would cost, even with insurance it was way to much. SO I'm wondering about an IUD? Has anybody gotten one of these and do you like it? Any side effects that you have noticed? I'm planning on talking to the doctor on my next visit, but I would also like to get the opinions of people who have actually used it.
If you would rather pm than post it here that is fine too. Just trying to have a plan ready for after the baby.
Mirena
Posts: 1960
I have Mirena and like it. So convenient because obviously it's totally maintenance free. Our insurance doesn't cover birth control at all, so it was very costly! I did save about $200 by ordering it direct from Mirena (have your dr give them an rx for it), then they sent it to my dr. And it's good for 5 years, so in the end it's more reasonable than any other birth control method for us without insurance coverage for it. We weren't really planning on more kids, but didn't want to close the door completely, so this is nice because we still have a few years to make a final decision before my husband goes in for the fix :) However, my dr didn't want me to have it put in till after Shawn was a year old, but I have a friend who got hers 6 weeks after baby.
I have mixed feelings on side effects. A couple drs I have talked to say there are really no side effects at all. I had postpartum depression after I had Shawn, was on and off of medication for it, and got Mirena at the same time, so I can't say on what caused my current health issues. I've struggled with so many "side effects" since Shawn was born, and my dr isn't able to directly pinpoint it. He "has a feeling" he knows what it is, but it's not showing up in the bloodwork they use to screen for this condition. If he is right in his thoughts, it is not related to Mirena, and it would explain all of my issues. Otherwise my bet would totally be on hormones, but hard to say if it would be directly from Mirena. Like any medication, I'm sure it totally depends on each person though.
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
Implant
Posts: 6
I also have the Mirena implant. I absolutely love it!!!!!! I just entered my 3rd year of having it and have not had any periods or side effects from it. It doesn't bother me or my husband. Very convenient and effortless on my part. I like the fact that it is not a permanent fix, I can take it out if I decide that I want more kids.
Good luck with whatever you decide and your new baby.
Veronica
Mirena
Posts: 306
I also had the Mirena for 3 years and absolutely loved it! I had not had any periods or side effects from it. I just took it out last January because we are trying to have another baby, the doctor ask you to wait 3 periods before trying so the blood circulate normal again. I recommande it very much.
Thank you :)
Posts: 148
Thank you ladies for letting me know your opinions. :)
I have one more question for you all. I talked to the doctor about it today briefly and he said there is a 5 year & a 10 year, which I didn't know. He said the 5 year has hormones, I believe progesterone, which would be the same hormone as depo, and the 10 year does not have hormones, that's why it can stay in longer.
So I guess I'm wondering Jessica if you have the one with hormones? And the other ladies are yours with or without? I guess if the other ladies are without hormones & they have had no side effects I would be more likely to go that route than the one with hormones only because I know from being on depo with the progesterone my mood(s) just kind of flat lined. I don't know if I want pay for something that should be in for 5 years only to find out it's making me feel the same way, only I wouldn't want to take it out & waste all that money.
Violet
Katie's mom & new baby girl (no name yet)
5 year
Posts: 1960
I didn't even realize there was a 10 year one! From my understanding, the hormone in the 5 year one that I have differs from other birth control because the hormone is directly absorbed by your cervix, therefore fewer side effects because less hormone is traveling around your body. I was/am exactly like you...I thought many times about yanking this thing out, but we spent way too much on it so I decided to hold out and give my body a fair amount of time to adjust. I would definitely look into the 10 year one if it doesn't have hormones, especially if you have had issues in the past! I wonder how the 10 year one works? Interesting!
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
5 years for me
Posts: 306
10 years is new and i did not had the chance to have the choice then but the Mirena (5yrs)gradually releases a very small amount of levonorgestrel(one of the hormones commonly found in the Pill) every day to prevent pregnancy for 5 full years nothing like a pill that goes all over your system. I am not sure with the 10 years because it's so new but if you plan or not sure to have more kids I would do the 5yrs, I am sure the cost of the 10 years is higher of course but normally in 5years you know pretty much if you want another or not. I am sure your doctor can see with you what's best for you & past expriences you had with other methods.