BF's What contraceptive are you using??

[TamTam29]

posted on the health forum but got no answers!

Had mini pill with DS1 - hence DS2 LOL, was useless at remembereing to take it at same time every day! thought bout injection but know a couple of people who had problems with it.

GP recomended coil but for some reason feel more comfortable pumping body & DS2 with hormones than a bit of metal, also heard it makes periods longer and you cant use tampons??

So what do you reccomend???

[norktasticninja]

If you can't remember to take the pill regularly than obviously your looking at some sort of longer term hormonal contraception. TBH I've not heard much good about either the injection or the implant. Side effect stuff mainly. Not sure if they are ok when BF either. Do you think you might get on with condoms or a diaphram?

I have chose to have a copper coil in the end. It seemed like the least worst option IYSWIM. Mind you, I can't tkae hormonal contraception because of the hefty side effects I get. I've not had my first PP period yet but as they have always been relatively light an increase in flow isn't an issue for me. Never heard about not being able to use tampons why wouldn't you be able too?

It's great to know contraception is sorted for the next 5 years without having to do anything at all or being all fat, depressed and spotty

[norktasticninja]

Erm, sorry, that wasn't actually very helpful at all.

Maybe someone will come along with some sensible advice in a mo!

[TamTam29]

supposedly they can catch on the coil & dislodge it> dont know if this is true- just something a friend said.

[TamTam29]

we cross posted LOL

no that was helpful, thankx

[sambo303]

tamtam I use the coil - you get it fitted and dont think about it for 5 years, fab. You can use tampons, I think the dislodging the coil thing is an urban myth. So, no fake hormones swilling about in your body, nothing to remember to take, cheap for the NHS, no repeat appointments to get more pills...couldnt be simpler. Periods can be heavier, mine were not noticably so.

[WidowWadman]

Minipill (Micronor). I've set an alarm on my phone so I remember to take it on time, as the 3 hour window is a bit tight.

I used to take Cerazette before pregnancy, but when I was put back on to it after pregnancy it didn't agree with me anymore.

[norktasticninja]

Nah! THe coil is in your womb not your vagina! There are some fine nylon threads that come out of the cervix but I really don't think a tampon could catch on them. Neither DP or I can feel the threads at the important moment BTW!

Good luck finding something to suit you

[jimbobsmummy]

Copper coil is fine during periods with tampons. If you have heavy periods anyway it might make them a bit more so (but remember if pregnant then breastfeeding you probably haven't had a period for a year anyway so it might just be you forget what they are like!). Lasts up to 10 years depending what type is used. Very easy to put in, much like a smear.

If you do have heavy periods you could always have a Mirena ('hormone coil') instead, most women on that have no periods at all. Lasts up to 5 years.

The injection can be good, most people have no periods on it and no problems with it. Downside is it can take up to a year for your periods to come back, so not recommended for short term use if yu want to try and get pregnant again in less than 18 months to a couple of years or so.

Implant, similar to injection but can be removed, unlike the injection. Downside, about 1 in 4 women have persistaant bleeding for up to 3-6 months on it. But fab if it suits you.

Or Cerazette - minipill that has no need to take it dead on time, you have a 12 hr window to remember it in.

Loads of options!

[staylucky]

I'm watching this with interest had my 6 week check up with docs today and I ummed and ahhed forever over the options.

my doc says exl bf is a fairly reliable form of contraception, is that true??? I thought quite a few ladies on here had caught on that way...

I had the depo injection after my last baby and seems was one of the 1 in 4 who had persistant bleeding (uses same hormone as implant) so def not going thre again, yak.

I think i'm gonna go for the copper coil too anyway, although I do for some reason feel a bit squeamish about it.

[DontQuoteMeMisogynistBastardDM]

According to Kellymom...

Exclusive breastfeeding has in fact been shown to be an excellent form of birth control, but there are certain criteria that must be met for breastfeeding to be used effectively.

Exclusive breastfeeding (by itself) is 98-99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy as long as all of the following conditions are met:

Your baby is less than six months old
Your menstrual periods have not yet returned
Baby is breastfeeding on cue (both day & night), and gets nothing but breastmilk or only token amounts of other foods.

[Febes]

My DS is 13 weeks and I haven't yet done anything about contraception. I would like another DC at some stage but my DD is 21 months so might have a bigger gap next time. I am EBF and we make sure DH withdraws in time but would like to get something sorted. I will go for mini pill or copper coil I think but am scared of coil- don't know why...

[staylucky]

That'll do for me!

[Sassyfrassy]

I've got the implant and am very happy with it. Haven't had any side effects and no bleeding at all in the 9 months or so that I've had it. Getting it put in was really quick and painless.

[oneopinionatedmother]

it has taken me up to 9 months of breastfeeding until conceiving again with DD, and 8 months and counting with DS - i think it was going back to work that made me 'catch' last time. If you don't mind being Pg again eventually, not a bad choice.

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

I had to give up BF (at 14 months) in order to fall pg with DD2.

However I would never rely on it as a form of contraception.

I've got 6 weeks check weds - am considering coil...

[oneopinionatedmother]

if i was acting as an egg donor would i have to stop BF, or would it be likely to interfere (slight hijack sorry)?

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

How do they get the coil in? Does it hurt?

I'm a bit squeamish

Does it make any difference if you've never given birth vaginally?

[jimbobsmummy]

Well I wouldn't rely on exclusive breastfeeding as a contraceptive. Yes in theory it is effective, but in practice I have seen far too many women get caught out that way. Bear in mind that one of the crtieria is that your periods have not yet returned. But you ovulate before your period returns...

You could use it if you wouldn't mind being pregnant but aren't actively trying, but I certainly would not rely on it if you definitely don't want to be.

By the way, withdrawal is NOT a contraceptive. At all. In any way shape or form.

[jimbobsmummy]

I fit coils and they are truly no big deal. It is a very similar procedure to a smear test although it takes a bit longer. Maybe 10 mins altogether. I use local anaesthetic to numb the cervix, but to be honest most women don't really find it a problem. You get a little bit of cramping, like a bit of period pain when it is fitted and sometimes that goes on for a day or so, but thats it usually. Take a couple of paracetamol before having it done and you'll be fine.

It is a bit easier to do it if the cervix has been opened during a delivery, but it really isn't a problem if not - I fit them in anyone and very rarely have a problem. The modern coils are so small and narrow that they really can go through even the smallest opeining in the cervix.

[treedelivery]

I'm in the same situation as you!!!

We should get a thread.......

[treedelivery]

That was for oneopinionatedmother btw

[LoveTheCarbs]

I exclusively breast feed and went to get the coil fitted. My DS1 was 14 weeks old at the time. A bit uncomfortable but nothing compared to vaginal delivery! Unfortunately my womb is too small and soft to fit it and they do warn that if you exclusively breast feed and have not had a period there is a higher risk of perforating the womb, although I think it is still quite a low risk. I think we're stuck with condoms for the moment and then back onto the pill.

[LoveTheCarbs]

Oh and I should have said, go somewhere where the person who fits the coils does them all the time. Like a family planning centre. Some GPs don't do them very often and they won't be as good.

[TamTam29]

Thanks you guys...

looks like it is the coil then - dont want to rely on condoms or BF as pretty sure my family is done, (although having 2 blue it is tempting when i see the pretty pink things in shops!)

still dunno why the thought of it still makes me cringe though!

My GP should be good at fitting them - she has a weekly clinic for Mums & babies, ante/post natal checks, family planning, and specialises in that type of thing, the other doctors would only see you if you were unable to get appointment with her.

Any brands to avoid or ask for??

[Febes]

I got a prescription for the mini pill today so I will see how I get on with it and when I run out in 3 months I will reassess. Let us know how you get on with the coil tamtam