Booked in for copper coil... nervous!

[NC866]

I’ve finally booked myself in for the copper coil to be fitted and I’m a bit nervous. I had a Mirena years ago before I had dc, I found the fitting absolute agony. I eventually had it taken out because it made me have very low mood, hence going for the copper this time. I don’t want any hormones, tried loads of different brands of the Pill etc but I just don’t get on with anything hormonal.
My periods currently are very regular, quite light and about 4-5 days long so I’m prepared for them to be worse (and I’ve had worse when I was younger so I think I’ll be ok with that). But I’m nervous about the fitting. Has anyone had a coil put in pre-children then had one after and found it easier? I’m hoping now I’ve had 2 natural births it will be better than the first time and also maybe I’ll handle it better.
I’ve already backed out once but I’m booked in again and I just need to do it!

Good luck, OP! No experience of it here, but considering getting it done after DC2 is born. Everything I've read says it's easier after you've given birth.

Absolutely no comparison after children. Before: agony, bleeding for days. After 2 vaginal births: didn’t even feel it and had a tiny bit of spotting. No worse then a smear test.

Had mine fitted post DD.
First one fitted by GP. Awful experience - couldn't keep the speculum in place and she told me off as though I was doing it on purpose . Horrendous pain throughout and felt unable to drive home for about half an hour. Then the bloody thing fell out a few weeks later. I suspect most of this was due to the twisting and shoving of the speculum, rather than the actual coil fitting. Her surprise smear at my 8 week check had been similar.

Had second one fitted by the local sexual health clinic (luckily got an emergency slot due to first one falling out). Didn't feel a thing. Could have hugged the nurse.

I'll be taking it out when we want to try for DD2 but I know who I won't be asking!

Thanks all, fingers crossed it won’t be as bad as last time then but it seems like the skill of the person fitting it counts for a lot too...

It is very likely to be less of an ordeal. Take some ibuprofen before hand if you can, it works well for this.

A tiny bit worse than a smear in my experience and a bit crampy the evening it was fitted but then all ok. It only took a couple of minutes and was much faster than I thought. I had mine fitted with my one year old crying on top of me as she was going through a real clingy phase, it was something of a distraction 🙈 good luck and don't panic!

I've had two vaginal births and having the coil fitted did still hurt but it has been fantastic, I've not regretted it at all

I've had two fitted and both removed. One got 'lost' in my cervix, had a hysteroscopy to remove it and the other brought on an abnormal discharge that was mis diagnosed as gonorrhoea (don't ask, it was a very traumatic experience!) again, removed during a hysteroscopy.

Don't think they are for me, Husband is booked in for the snip.

Love mine. We can get painkilling pessaries but I can't persuade them to stay up so go without. Takes about 10 seconds. Enough pain (1 second) to make you go ouf. Then it's over.

Just updating this in case it helps anyone searching this topic in future... I had the coil fitted and it was ok! Uncomfortable yes and a few seconds of pain but definitely easier and quicker than pre-childbirth. I felt crampy and a bit rubbish for 24 hours or so afterwards but all in all it was better than I expected.

Now I just have my first period to look forward to and see if it’s as heavy and painful as I’ve read about....!

Glad it went as well as it could. I had mine put in 4 years ago and it took few weeks to settle but I love having no hormones and not worrying about missing a pill. Good luck and if you have any questions please just ask.