After Baby - Best contraception?

Turtle2010

Maybe TMI, I dunno, if so, sorry!

Totally confused what to do for the best, I had my DS in September last year and hubby and I have gone back to old fashioned condoms, but we HATE them.

I'm scared to go back on the pill incase I regain the weight i've worked so hard to get rid of (although I was on Marvelon for 15 years and didn't gain any weight at all).

I have heard the coil is good, but read what was involved and feel a bit queasy (wimp).

I definitely don't want the injection or the implant....

We would like to have another child but not for another couple of years or so.

What did you mum's do?

Thanks!

masonsmum

I had my second son last May and you sound exactly like me I hate the hormonal imbalance being on the pill or injection gives me, weight gain and mood swings so I went for the plain old simple copper coil 6 months ago, I was asked if I wanted the Mirena Coil but again it releases hormones so I decided against that one.

It was a painful experience but it was over in 30 seconds, my tummy was really crampy afterwatrds but a good bath, painkillers and a hot water bottle sorted me out, dont get me wrong it has its issues too, my periods have only just slowed down as they have been very very heavy for the past 6 months but fine now just need to persevere.

If that hadnt worked for me I was going to go and sterilised, I know my family is complete but its very very final?? xx

ellay864

I now have the Mirena coil. Yes it's hormonal but in much lower concentrations than the pill. Regular coil was out the question for me as I always had heavy periods and coild often makes it worse; with the Mirena I barely have any periods at all, very occasionally I get a tiny bit of spotting that lasts maybe half a day. It does say weight gain happens with it, and I have put on weight, but can also put that down to my age, diet and change in exercise habits. But for me the pluses easily outweigh that anyway

busy_mom_2

I also have a mirena coil, no problems at all, hubby has also had the snip but I like to carry on using it to avoid the said periods every month.
Not pleasant having it fitted but soon over, slightly worse than a smear, a check up a few months down the line then that's it for 5 years.

Sezzagirl

Another vote for the Mirena coil - in fact, I can't recommend it highly enough

After having a baby, the "procedure" to have it inserted is a doddle and that it stops or greatly reduces your periods is just a joy to me!

Also, it is quickly removed if you want the contraception to stop


Good luck whatever you choose

Chaos_Monkey

I've not had kids, but am still looking for the 'perfect' contraceptive. After having the Mirena, I wouldn't have it again (I had it taken out 2 months ago after having it in for 2.5yrs).

As with lots of things, different people react to different things.

I thought it was brilliant for the first year I had it, but then things started to go downhill for me, with heavy, irregular bleeding, bleeding after s3x, and eventually I was only having about 7-10days per month NOT bleeding. Something else I hadn't realised until after was that a lot of hair used to come away in my hands while I was washing/brushing it. Then after having the Mirena out, I've noticed I'm losing about 1/3 of what I was previously, although didn't twig on until I read some reviews online and someone else said they'd had thinning hair. Also, my DH is working away 2 weeks at a time at the moment, and he said he'd noticed a difference in my complexion when he got home the first time after I'd had it taken out. He said I seemed 'brighter' (never really had many spots, so it wasn't that).

From reading reviews online, it would seem my reaction to it wasn't uncommon, so I'd say proceed with caution (if you decide to go for it - after all, not everyone has the same reaction to it), and be aware of what to look for and don't dither about taking it out like I did. I felt wonderful and like a weight was lifted from me as I knew my heavy, almost continuous, periods would be a thing of the past. I wish I'd had it taken out earlier

I'm not sure what we're going to do as we also hate condoms and after researching about the copper coil, I don't fancy my chances with that either.

Good luck, it's not easy finding the right contraceptive sometimes!

Hope this helps
CM

rachbc

I have a standard non hormonal coil, had same beween my kids and when its due out will have another put straight back in

louby_lou

i have Nexplanon - an implant in the upper arm which secretes hormones. its is very discreet and lasts for 3 years, insertion was almost painless and scar free. Apparently many women give up on it within the first 3 months of implant due to irregular breakthrough bleeding however i used to experience that previously on marvelon (which I was on for 10 years). I'm very happy with it and would definitely recommend it

Plus I can't tell you how nice it is not to take a pill everyday :rotfl:

thehappybutterfly

I've tried everything you can think of since the age of 16 - I'm now 43.
The best thing I used was the Depo but I believe they're not giving this anymore? Best thing ever - periods came every ten/eleven weeks before stopping completely after a year, didn't gain weight etc. But because of my age, they recommended coming off it. Tried the Mirena coil - lasted 12 agonising hours before begging them to remove it. Then I had Implanon fitted which was great for the first few months but the next year was a horrendous round of erratic periods and frequent trips to Mood Swing Hell. I decided to come off all forms of contraceptive to get myself back to a normal cycle - now I'm just ticking the days off the calendar to my hubby's snip! Hurrah! No need for me to be solely responsible for a baby free life

You could try abstinence of course - I've heard that's quite effective!

Humphrey10

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

The best thing I used was the Depo but I believe they're not giving this anymore?

Yes it's still available on the NHS. Over the age of 45 it might be suggested you try a different method due to possible loss of bone density, but it should still be available as an option over the age of 45 if you are aware of the risks.

Turtle2010

Having just finished the fifty shades trilogy, abstinence is not an option!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Hubby has said he would get the snip eventually but we're not sure if we've finished our little family yet.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, i'm taking it all onboard and going to see my GP.

Turtle x