Mirena and Me
I'm going to my OB/Gyn later this afternoon and getting a Mirena IUD (put in, installed...what's the right word here?). I know that I asked for your advice several months ago regarding this, completely chickened out, and decided to go on the mini-pill. Of course, I had a slight adverse reaction to the mini-pill, which caused me to temporarily consider changing my name to Martha Smith, dying my hair black, moving to a non-descript town in the middle of Nowhere, USA, and begin a new life as a convenience store worker.
I've thought alot about this decision and done some research. I think this is the right decision since the current birth control method we're using has a fairly high failure rate, but I'm still afraid. I fear the side effects, especially the possibility of losing my mind again. Googling Mirena IUD yielded both positive and frightening results. Some people have had wonderful experiences and would recommend it to everyone, others have become pregnant or have had painful side effects that doctors claim aren't a result of the Mirena. I'm hoping my experience will be on the positive end of the spectrum.
If you're not sitting down, this may be a good time to do that. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but here goes. The main reason I decided to go with the Mirena is that I'm not 100% sure that we're not having more children. Despite repeatedly telling people that I was sure that our family was complete, now I'm not so sure. In fact. I'd even consider two more. Although I routinely provide evidence to the contrary (like in this, this, this, this, this, especially THIS, oooh and THIS post), I do in fact enjoy my children and love my role as a mother. You may question my sanity and desire for another child, I wouldn't blame you. Maybe I have lost my mind, maybe it's just a temporary yearning to have more children. One thing I do know is this, I am certain I'm not ready to have another baby right now or even anytime in the next year.
**I do reserve the right to retract or alter any and all of the above statements.
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61 People are even more brilliant:
I can totally see you with two more!! Twin boys, in fact.
yeah, I can tell you've been drinking already this morning.
are you out of your EVERLOVING MIND????/
YES
you are
I can answer it for you.
rotflmao
more kids.... you're nuts. really.
Ah, it's so hard to say definitively that we're DONE, isn't it? I know how you're feeling. Good luck getting the IUD today, I hope it will give you peace of mind and absolutely NO problems!
Good luck with the IUD.
We are definitely done with having kids but can completely relate with the "maybe another wouldn't be so bad" pangs.
You know, I went through that right around the 5 month stage baby stage too. Both times. Which is why I almost chickened out of the Vas because Parker was only 6 months old. Had I chickened out, I would be a mom of three. No doubt.
Goof luck at the doctor's today- let us know how it goes!
My doc scared me off the mini-pill b/c of emotional reasons.
Right now we're taking our chances with "abstinence." Heh.
I don't think you're crazy. Motherhood is hard and wonderful at the same time.
And it's hard to NOT want another adorable baby that keeps you up all night. Heh.
I have a daughter and son, too, and people always sort of assume we're done now. But we're not. Even thought they make me CRA-ZA-ZY, I love my kids and I want more. Do what feels right to you, it'll all work out!!! Good luck at the Doc.
Let me just tell you that I got PREGNANT on the mini-pill. And yes, I took it every day and at the same time of the day, and etc. etc.
Good luck with the IUD. Hoping it works out for you.
-HH
Hello my twin. I have spent the past several months swearing up and down that I would NEVER EVER do this again. That babies are the worst thing ever. That I hated being pregnant and pushing the baby out. And lo and behold, on Saturday there Jay and I were while Arlo was charming the pants off of both of us saying that maybe 3 wouldn't be so bad.
Then of course, there's the whole odd man odd thing with 3, so we'd probably have to go for 4. I don't think my house is big enough (or my sanity that unfragile...)
It's your hot bod. Do with it what you choose.
Good luck. Hope it all works well!
I think it's just sad to think there will be no more babies so we hold on to the thought that we could do it again so as not to be sent to tears at our baby's accomplishments.
At least I am hoping that's what it is. I find myself saying to myself that we could squeeze one more kid in before forty if we hop on that band wagon soon and then I wonder who put that thought into my head.
I am no expert on birth control - or kids, for that matter - but it sounds like you're making a good choice if there is a chance y'all will have more kids down the road.
In our house, when the decision is made for sure that we need no more kids ... Scout goes in for the snip snip. You do what ya gotta do.
You are funny. If I was younger, richer (ok, maybe I should say less poor), and could actually get and stay pregnant?
I'd have ten! As it is now I'll be very lucky to end up with two.
gee, i thought i was done with two.
that's why i have four ... and a stepdaughter as well.
I look forward to hearing about your experience with it, as it is something I am considering after we conceive and birth our second spawn. There are days I was a gaggle of children and other days I am sure we will be done at 2 - which is why I plan on this method at some point.
Good luck!!
Oh,and yeah, hormonal birth control makes me clinically insane I think. The only one that worked was the NuvaRing..but even that lowered my sex drive.. and if having a toddler, full time job, and a boatload of house projects isn't enough to remove all sexual desire..why not add in hormonal birth control ?
I completely understand. We only have Zoe. We insist that we want 2 and only 2. But sometimes I'm sure I can see a 3rd somewhere in our future... even with my insistence that it's just going to be 2. But maybe after we have a 2nd... and that one is 3 or 4 or 5 years old.... I just might need a 3rd.
ummm, yeah, I kinda want 2 more too! haha! I hear ya! twin girls! my husband rolls his eyes...
I use an iud without any hormones... it's been good so far.
If you see this before your appointment - ask your doc about the NuvaRing. I had to replace my Mirena with that after it tried to come out on its own (not a big deal - don't let that scare you) However, the overall side effects are about the same - the hormones stay around the area needed and are not sent ramant throughout your bloodstream. It's also less invasive. the downside is that you still have a period and it has to be replaced once a month.
I have the mirena and it ROCKS! I haven't had a period in years. Best $700 I ever spent (it wasn't covered by our insurance).
After we had BusterBrown I swore I didn't want another. My reasoning: who is going to sit with who when we go out on a ride or something? We're going to have to have one lone kid in the back row of the van - he/she will get lonely back there, where is this third child going to sleep at night, we only have 3 bedrooms, we only have ONE bathroom!
I asked my OB to tie my tubes a little late (I guess you have to make this decision at least 30 days before your c-section, for legal reasons) so I didn't have it done. I'm glad now. I'm considering a third (what's wrong with me, am I crazy?). I'm waiting until BB is 2 before deciding. I have total baby-fever right now. Could be hormonal. I don't know.
I got the Mirena last August. I haven't had a period since then! I love it! Great choice!
Good luck. Please let us know how it goes!
oh man we are tooooooo on the same page !!! i did bunch of research about a year ago (or soon after frass was born) got discouraged and forgot about it. actually i haven't even gone to the obgyn in far too long. we are using condoms and it is getting old as i feel like a school girl. BUT YES i too am not sure about having more. i was done and now the idea of a third creeps in. ....good luck
Let me know how it goes, I have an appointment to get my Mirena (yeah, what do you call it? Installed? geh) next month. AND the best part (sorry magnolia mama) is that mine is going to be FREE!!!! WOO! That was the part that sold it for me. ('course I have something like $1500 in hospital bills to pay from having Lucy and THAT is why it is free, but still FREE!).
I want two more. My husband said no...he mumbled something silly about having to support the family himself and there not being enough money...but I am sure that he meant yes, so we are on the rhythm method for now. In my opinion, the only foolproof birth control, is pregnancy. I just can't convince my husband.....yet
You are totally allowed to be unsure, Sugar.
xo,
OTJ
NFP works amazingly well. I think you are perfectly normal to question. Heck, there are days I want 7 & days I'm happy with my 1.
I have a Mirena and I totally agree that it's awesome. I read all that scary stuff too and still went ahead. I have no hormonal side effects and haven't had a period in way over a year since it was "installed" (Let me tell you how much fun THAT was - since we live in Germany I had a local doctor on the economy do it; let's just say that it's true that Europeans are not shy ANYWHERE - and the doctor's office in stirrups is NOT the place I wanted to deal with that stereotype). The only thing is that once every blue moon I get the "period pimple" that I always got right before my period used to start. It's random, but that's my only side effect.
We decided way before we had our daughter that she was going to be an only child. We're STILL sure of that decision. Yet, I still got the Mirena. There's something about being able to change your mind that's liberating.
Good luck today!
Good luck with the IUD. and I've always secretly (not so secretly I guess) wanted 3. I don't think you're crazy at all. Of couse our first child is only 8 months old. I reserve the right to change my mind when we close in on the terrible twos.
NFP doesn't work well if you're breastfeeding...so that is not a good option for me.
Oh I really, really hope the IUD works for you. I fell into the category of side-effects-that-couldn't-possibly-be-related-to-the-IUD but stopped when I had it taken out. :( It was pretty disappointing - 10 years that thing works, 10 years!
i have had the mirena for over 6 months. i LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
good luck with the installation.
We all go through that, I did and still do. I had my tubes tied, but I still from time to time I want another baby. When I smell that "new" baby smell or find an adorable outfit. Now I say that I can be a grandma and spoil it and send it home. And your comment for my comment....Outlook Express ate it. It was there then it was gone. I can't find it to save my life.
Insertion, the word is insertion ;-) - so my doctor has said both times that I've had IUDs inserted.
Oh, multiple times, you ask? Yes, I had one after my daughter and then removed so we could TTC, and then another put in after my son. They were both the Paragard (non-hormonal) and I LOVED them both.
Oh hon, I totally understand. I swore up and down, after Lillian, that there was no way in hell I would undergo childbirth again, nurse a newborn 14 hours out of 24, deal with colic and insanity and zero sleep, but here I am, now that she's almost 2, wanting another.
So go get that IUD. Keep the possibilities open. I tell myself, in a few years, perhaps! (I jsut have to work on convincing the husband!)
I have the Mirena. Had it since I was 6 weeks post partum. I didn't try the mini-pill because the thought of having another scared the begesus out of me. (Not that there has been much opportunity for that anyway.)
It has worked well so far. I did have a fair amount of cramping and bleeding right after it was put in but other than that it's been okay. I recently experienced a mini period which they tell me is normal. We went with the Mirena because supposedly you return to fertility immediately. Since we had issues getting pregnant in the first place I did like that part.
The whole something inside me all the time part creeped me out too but I guess I just got over it after weighing everything else.
I think it's totally okay not to know and to keep your options open. Lord knows I am, I don't even know if I want a second but I'm not ready to take away the option all together.
The way I see it, even one kid drives us totally batshit crazy, so why not keep going? Kids are awesome, they keep us alive and young - the crazy part is kind of an added bonus.
But what do I know. I had insane thoughts of a fifth the other day.
You know the old saying (Ok maybe it's new) Once there are more kids then parents in the house, you might as well give up and live in the garage!! We have 3 kids and are now looking for a house with a 3 car garage. HA HA!! I hope your appointment goes well..
You are a much better woman than I. I am SO done I want to get the snip. Gavin says no. He's still clinging to hope that we'll have another. And another. And another. Clearly, the man is nuts.
But seriously, if there is any doubt, don't do anything drastic.
okay...i'm seconding Andi here...as crazy as it sounds (especially after reading my post from yesterday!)...i've been thinking lately that i might want to have another...not right now! maybe in a couple of years...if hubby goes along with it! ;-)
hope the Mirena thingy works out better for you than the mini pill!
My husband and I thought we were done after our third. He got the big "V", and I had an endormetrial ablation. Three years later, we changed our minds. Mine was not reversible. I totally regret making that decision at age 30.
My point...don't do anything permanent!
you are funny. how many times do I tell you that? are you sick of hearing it?
I had my tubes tied and was recently late for my period. I know there is like 1 percent chance I could be preggers but we were both kinda sad when I wasn't........
hmmmm.
not sad enough but it was telling....
I think the IUD is a great idea if you are not completely sure your done, and even if you are.
I think the IUD is a great idea if you are not completely sure your done, and even if you are.
Everyone I know who's had an IUD has loved it. I have to admit that while I can't see myself intentionally getting pregnant again, I would be happy if I found out I were pregnant.
Girl, I totally hear you even though I already have a set of twins (I can't believe I'm saying this out loud) I too couldn't do anything "permanent" because...well I'm not sure. I mean most days I know I don't want anymore...but I can't say for sure.
Hey...as for Mirena...just hope to god you're a candidate. I was all excited about it only to find out my uterus was too big ...it sucked.
I'm the one who's making baby/truck deals. I so understand what you're saying!
Good luck and really hopes it works for you. My husband and I have been using only 'withdrawal' for our eight year's of marriage and when we did want to conceive we got lucky first try, both times! We're now at the stage where our second daughter is approaching two year's old and I'm beginning to think - another two would be great!
On my experiences with contracepion to date: I hate 'the pill' as it makes me go 'loopy' and condoms are urgh - but totally appropriate and a MUST when not in a serious relationship!
I'm with you. I just can't say FOR SURE NO MORE. Totally with you. Hope the installation goes well. Please share.
I have five--FIIIIIIIIVE--children, and STILL don't like to say "done for sure." I think it's smart to leave the door propped open, as it were.
I think it is a survival thing...you spend a lot of time thinking you don't want more kids (because if you had anymore at that time you would kill everyone in a 5mil radius) and then when your kids move into the toddler not-quite-self-sufficient-but-able-to-at-least-talk-to-you-stage you
want more (to continue adding to the human race).
I vowed no more as soon as they wheeled me into the recovery room...but here we are thinking of one more. But I will say one is the last and already planning to get my tubes tied (and DH is thinking of a Vas.).
Either way, good luck whatever you choose!
Tate should wear a raincoat.
1.) you were pregnant for 18 months
2.) you gave birth- TWICE!
3.) didn't you have a 'little' problem last pregnancy with kidney stones?
4.) breastfeeding
5.) you went on the pill, and wacked yourself all out.
6.) Tate= condom!
BLAME IT ON HIS TESTICLES!
Your disclaimer- sums up my life!
Holy crap! I had the Minera put in literally 3 hours ago! I shit you not!
But mine was to control my period.
How are you feeling? All good?
I had the copper T IUD placed last week and my doc said, "either you love it or you hate it. There is no middle road." I can understand this and currently am pleased with my decision. Hope the Mirina works for you.
i'm going in tomorrow for my IUD placement. and i completely understand your disclaimer. here i'm DROWNING with 4 kids five and under, and yet i just can't shake the feeling that we're not done yet. i would pretty much DIE if i had another baby in the next 2 years though.
Mirena actually looked really scary to me (I saw it in my dr's office during my last pap).
And Please tell me why it's always OUR responsibility to worry about birth control? Why can't our husbands just wear condoms?
Ribbed for our pleasure of course.
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