Now there’s a question! My story is actually a little different than the ones you’ve heard so far this week. When my husband I got married, we weren’t really sure if we even wanted to have babies let alone how many. Now, two beautiful children later … one boy, one girl … we feel very blessed and certain that our family is complete. Throw in a fairly rough recent pregnancy on top of a mid-to-late-30’s body, and I feel pretty confident that I will not have that longing for a third baby down the road.
So now the question becomes, what do we do to make sure we don’t have any little surprise blessings in the future? I’ve been on the pill pretty much my entire married life so it only seemed natural to accept that prescription from my doctor at my post-pregnancy follow up appointment and run right into the nearest pharmacy. But it got me thinking … I am terrible at remembering to do anything daily. I even had to buy one of those “days of the week” pill boxes to remember to take my prenatal vitamins regularly!! So am I chancing fate that I may forget one day to take that tiny little BC pill?? Is it time to do something ….. permanent? My husband and I haven’t even broached that subject yet and I’m not sure I’m ready to. Again, don’t get me wrong, we both are certain that we don’t want any more kids, but there’s just something about the permanence of it that has me so hesitant.
I know the decision of when and what we do is a very personal one and something Matt and I will figure out when the time is right. But I would love to hear your stories of how you took the plunge and decided if and when to do something permanent.
15 comments
My husband is still not ready for the snip, snip. I have gotten pregnant twice while on bc pills, so we needed a better solution. Honestly, I love kids and would have more if they were not so expensive! I opted for the Mirena IUD after my twins were born, I have had it for 3 years and have not had any problems, it is so easy. Jennifer, mommy to:Alexis 7, AJ 5, Carson & Dylan 3.
I got pregnant with my first son while I was on the pill. Knowing that I wasn’t very good at remembering I thought the once-a-week patch would be the solution – say “hello” to my second son! Finally, I decided on the Mirena IUD. It’s fantastic! Nothing to think about and it’s good for 5 years. Evelyn, mom to Domenick 6, Nico 3
Go with the Mirena IUD! It has literally changed my (sex)life! Instead of being constantly freaked out if I was going to get pregnant! We have no worries and it is good for 5 years, and if you decide to go for #3, they can simply remove it, and you can start trying right away!
I 100% agree with the Mirena IUD. I used it after my first pregnancy and plan on getting it again right away after our baby # 2 is born. I had no problems and NO WEIGHT GAIN like the pill!
Question for you Mirena users, what about the whole “string thing” that comes out of you? That part of my doctor’s explaination kinda unnerved me. Can you see it? Feel it? Is it freaky? What about tampon use? Personal questions I know but I bet you mommies can help me out.
The Mirena is great – and my insurance covered mine, so it was only $35. Not bad for 5 years. I don’t feel the IUD or the strings at all. Your doctor can shorten them if they are a problem.
I agree with the Mirena, got it after #2, love it, and have essentially stopped having a period and if I do get one it lasts for a day and all you need is a panty liner. For the post with the question about the strings, the strings are coming out through your cervix but the are still inside your vagina and not actually hanging out of you, so to check it you have to insert two fingers to find your cervix and make sure they are still there. Hope that helps. I have had 2 friends that had it and did have problems with bleeding and ended up taking it out but I think they are few and far between and when I asked my ob about that she said that what they probably needed was a round or two of progesterone pills to thin out the lining of the uterus and then it would be back to normal. Also love that the minute they put it in you are protected and that as soon as they pull it out that you can start to try again if you want, good for me as we think we are done but not 100% sure.
Just another thought – my ob said that if you have the Mirena put in while you are still nursing, you will have really good results in terms of long-term bleeding. I did, and I have no periods at all.
I know that I can do some research on this but… have any of you all had any side effects or heard of any through friends while having a Mirena IUD? In particular thinning of hair?
yes, there are several risks. See the bottom of this website.http://www.contracept.org/iud-mirena.php
My gosh, Mr. Tracy S. you are getting off the hook too easily. Everyone please stop this Mirena talk. Marinas are for boats not birth control and IUD sounds like a type of military weapon/missile. I think it is time for you to step up and take one for the team. Your wife has had the responsibility and side effects for many years. Give her a break, it is now your turn. According to Jen P. it takes 11 minutes and a bag of frozen peas and your good to go. How bad can that be? I think guys are just freaked out by the thought of another man touching their “special purpose” and not of the alleged pain. Do guys think women enjoy dropping trou, jumping in the stirrups and having a woman or man probe around? I am sure the “pain” is not even on the same chart as labor or delivery pain. Give me a break, snip it Mr. S or does “S” stand for sissy?
I have to agree wholeheartedly!!!!! Guys are becoming more and more resistant to helping in this birthcontrol area because women are letting them!!!! Give me a break. Thank God I’m not married to a whimp and he didn’t even need a bag of peas, it was a breeze. He’s never looked back. And there’s no better sex than after that!!!
I got a Mirena after my second daughter was born almost 2 years ago. I’m one of the lucky women who wound up with no period at all once it was put in. Since I don’t have a period, I have absolutely no intention to have my husband go in for a vasectomy. He’s no wimp- he has volunteered to have it done. I am 187% willing for me to take that “responsibility” (which involves no activity at all) if it means I don’t have to deal with a period every month!
My friend got pregnant on an IUD less than 6 months after a ruptured uterus almost killed her during labor with baby #2. It set her up for a very high-risk pregnancy. Just like any other birth control, an IUD works great for some and not for others.
I had the mirena and breastfed with success and no periods! I really liked it but always felt it while doing situps…wierd. I will not get one placed after the birth of my daughter. I had a friend that just had to have surgery to remove hers after it slipped and lodged into her uterus. She can no longer have kids. This made the risk no longer worth it to me bc I know I would love to have more.