Mirena or a Non Hormone IUD - Breast Feeding

I have had a copper (non hormone) IUD since my daughter was born in 2006. It's been fine. The only issue was that at first, my periods were REALLY heavy. The materials for the IUD said that could happen and that it would last 3-6 months. My own experience was that it was more like a year. But it's much better now, and I'm glad to have it.

Watch out for the copper one if you are allergic to nickel or other metals. I can't wear nickel jewelry without itching, and I've read that the copper IUD has alloys or properties of nickel and that allergic reactions are higher.

I get Mirena put in on Friday and A. still BF my youngest. Wish me luck!

AMD

I've read many of the responses and I would say it'a a matter of personal preference and comfort. The only question I have is, if folks want hormone free birth control and they are finished with their family, I would recommend that your husbands/partners get a vasectomy. It's safer in the long run for you and it's not that invasive for them, it can be accomplished in the doctor's office, usually on a Friday so they can return to work on Monday with a minimal amount of discomfort or swelling.

Just a thought and a substance free way to achieve that near perfect (nothing is 100%) birth control once you're done having your children.

Hi,
My doctor is really cool and down to earth and I trust what she says - she told me that if there is any chance at all for anyone to get a specific side effect they have to list it by law, but actually it is more likely it will increase your milk supply a little as your body adjusts to the hormones. I think I got a Mirena in around my 6 week checkup, and never had any problems with milk supply. Also, I never had a period while I had it, although I was exclusively breastfeeding also. I think the first day or two I had a little spotting and cramping, but then it was like nothing at all. The one thing I will warn you about is the string that hangs down from it so they can pull it back out when you want it removed is very stiff and can take a year + to "soften" (or that is what they told me). I had mine trimmed a few times, and even removed it and tried a second one, but both times the string scraped against my husband and was very uncomfortable for him, so I ended up going back on the pill.

I know you didn't ask about the pill ... but if you don't do the IUD I assume you will choose something else. If you are breastfeeding they will put you on the progesterone only pill, which is what I am on again right now. I don't really like it, since it doesn't have the estrogen and the "off" 4th week it doesn't make your cycle normal, and for me anyhow, it doesn't help with cramps and has been giving me a few zits here and there. But I am on it because I had been on YAZ for a few months and realized after having 2 migraines in 8 days, and milder headaches on the other days (I don't usually get headaches) that maybe they were being caused by the hormones. Sure enough, the day after I switched pills the headaches were gone. So it was either the increased levels of estrogen or the variation of synthetic progesterone that is in them. I never knew before that there are several different kinds of synthetic progesterone that are used in different pills.

Anyhow, this is more information than you asked for, but I hope it helps. If it wasn't for the string I would totally have a Mirena IUD, I loved it, and I know that not all people have that problem. Good luck!

I debated a bit too before going with the Mirena. I love it. I am still breastfeeding. The hormones are very local, stay in the uterus mostly. I love my Mirena.

I got my Mirena a couple of months after my son was born and breastfeed until he was just over a year old. There was no problem with milk supply and I did't really experience side effects from Mirena. Although I should mention I've never seen side effects from other birth control either. I really trust my midwife/nurse and she had no concerns with Mirena while breastfeeding. I see Susan Heinz with Samaritan OBGYN if that helps.

I love mirena I needed something and most of the others had too many side effects, I have had no side effects with mirena. I checked into mirena because a friend told me about it, she loves it. I was a little leary a different friend had gotten the copper one and had nothing but problems and had to have it removed. I didn't have as much discomfort getting it and during the adjustment period as I had thought. It has been a good choice for me.

I know that a lot of people have preferred the Mirena IUD. I personally didn't want the hormones even though it is said they are completely harmless. I too was breastfeeding a boy when I had the paraguard IUD. I didn't want to expose my son to more hormones than my body makes naturally so that is why I didn't choose to use Mirena. I never had any problems with the paraguard...had normal periods...even less cramping and bleeding than prior to pregnancy. I would definately recommend the paraguard if you have doubts in any way about the hormones in Mirena. Also, when I had the paraguard taken out prior to our second child, I was pregnant the next month and had a beautiful, healthy baby girl 9 months later.
As a side note, if you read up on soy products and young children there are alot of studies that recommend limiting soy since it contains natural estrogen may be associated with early puberty in girls and slower physical growth in boys. So if that is the case with soy, then I definately didn't want to add manufactured hormones to my body as I was breastfeeding.
Hope this helps you,
M.

I LOVE my copper IUD. And have gone on at great length in the past. I've had it now for nearly 7 years. Here are the highlights for me that the copper-top (paraguard) has the Mirena doesn't have:

- Immediately protection (you can have sex that afternoon, if you like)
- Isn't affected by taking antibiotics
- Same failure rate as a tubal ligation
- good for 10 years
- no hormones *** this is huge for me, since like many women, I get hormone driven cervical cancer

Downsides:
- First 3 periods were gnarly (cramping) ...Mirena...I don't know if that's different or the same.
- My period is the same length it's always been. Mirena tends to shorten periods.

I had the mirena and breastfed my son for the first year. He was just fine. :)

I have the Mirena and I'm currently bfing my 7 month twins. I think the Mirena is fine, but I know when I'm done bfing I'm going to switch back to the pill. I still haven't had a period, probably due to bfing, but I get horrible cramps all the time. I'll cramp like I'm going to start my period but then I don't. Plus for the first three months of having it in I bled off and on. The main reason I'm going to switch is because I like knowing when my period is coming and I can't really keep track with Mirena.

Hi T.,

I have the non-hormone IUD and it's been great. I've had it for probably 6-8 months.

My Naturopath recommended it mostly because I am breastfeeding a boy. She suggests not giving female hormones to a boy if possible. And, since it was possible, I went without hormones!

The IUD for me was a bit painful going in. Nothing I couldn't handle, but I was glad it was over. And, I was glad my patient Dr. was doing it and not someone more rushed.

I did have cramping for longer than usual. I think most of this has to do with my body though and not the particular type of IUD.

I've been very happy with it and I will get it again!

Take care,
T.

I would definitely suggest Mirena (from my experience). I discussed it with my OB before my daughter was born and got mine put in 3 months post partum (sp?) and it has been wonderful. The hormone level is so low that I never noticed ANY hormonal side effects at all. I can't take regular hormone BC (like the pill) due to a blood clotting issue but my OB said Mirena was so low that it would be oK. He told me that the natural hormone fluctuations in my body would cause more issues than those in the Mirena. That said, others have had hormonal issues with Mirena but they must be SUPER sensative to it. My OB told me Mirena should have no effect on my breastfeeding. Unfortunately I was only able to BF for a few weeks so I can't speak directly to that aspect of it. Also, I've had Mirena 16m now and my monthly period has been non-existant from about the 6m mark. I have maybe 2 days every other month when I need a panty liner for some spotting but that's it. No cramps, no PMS, nothing to remember, no preg worries. I LOVE it!

I much prefered the copper IUD. I wanted a hormone free type of birth control because no matter what they say, the hormones have to get into your blood supply to work, and if they are in your blood supply, they are in your breastmilk. Also I didn't want a synthetic hormone in my body in the first place. Synthetic hormones all have side effects, whether you notice them or not, some are rare, but still definitely there. I loved my copper IUD and you can keep it in for 10 to 15 years. I even knew a woman that had hers in for longer, and only took it out when she went through menopause. It is used all over the world successfully and has been for a really long time. If you have the option, my advice would be to go with the copper one if you can. The mirena is just the drug companies attempt to get another one of their products into regular use, when there is a much safer and natural alternative out there. I hope this helps, good luck.

I've had the Mirena for a year and a 1/2. I love it. There seems to be no side effects for me and I have not had a period since before I got pregnant! I just lightly spot for a day or so here and there. I breast fed my son as well and everything was fine. I would recommend it. Just be sure you don't want to get pregnant in the near future.

I had my Mirena with breastfeeding and no problems. Also, no period, which is SOOO nice. That right there did it for me. If you are breastfeeding you will have little to NO period. Also I have been done breastfeeding for 3 months and aunt flo still isnt here. From the ladies I've talked to on here, most have not had their period return while on it. SCORE! =)

I got the Mirena 8 weeks PP and now I am still nursing my 18 months old.
I have been on the pill for years before having my baby and I can say the Mirena doesn't compare to it at all!
I love not having to think about it at all, no pill that you could forget, which is how I got pregant.
I have no side effects. no weight gain, I still get a very light period and my cycle is still intact. On the down side it doesn;t have the positive effect on my skin that the pill had, so I have been battling terrible skin, which I know though is my normal skin type.
It did not interfere with nursing at all and I did not find it painful when it was placed.

It's kind of a hard decision, because it's such a commitment, but I love it!

I had Mirena, while breastfeeding, and didn't have any problems...

I LOVE my Mirena! I am on my second one. Got it after my first was born 4 years ago. LOVED it. I was lucky and didnt have a period. Once I was ready to start trying for #2, I got it taken out and my period started exactly the same time of the month it always had. Got pregnant right away. There was no question for me to get it again. And as far as breast feeding with it in, I had enough milk to feed 6 babies and never had a problem. Both my kids are happy and healthy. Thats my story anyway. I would highly recommend it.

I got the Mirena when I was 6 weeks post from having my daughter. Nursing still went very well and I have had no problems and it has saved me on so many other issues I had berfore. It has been trouble free and I would recomend it to anyone!
Good Luck
PS I nursed my daughter till she was 14 months old and found no issues with my milk supply because of the Mirena. But every women is different and there are many different reasons why you will produce enough milk or not enough. Good luck