Post-partum Birth Control

I have had the Mirena IUD for 2 years now, I have loved it the entire time! I went to have it removed a few weeks ago and they couldnt find the strings and think they have gone up inside, now I have to get an ultrasound and go to a gynocologist to have it removed. From the day you get it they say you are supposed to check your strings and make sure they are there, but from day one I could never find them, I had it checked once or twice in those 2 years and it was fine. Also when I first got my IUD we had a problem with my hubby feeling the strings while we were having sex, they were poking him and he said it hurt so I got the strings trimmed just a little bit and that helped. Other than those two problems it has been great, after about the first year I only had a little bit of spotting every few months and most of the time is was hardly anything so I liked that. There are always pros and cons for everything, but you need to pick whats right for you! Congrats on the new baby!

First... they won't put you on birth control right away. They will do that after your 6 weeks checkup, but I guess you know that since you have already had one. =)
Second... I have looked up the IUD online and it's a metal piece that is placed in your uterus and like you said it can last up to 10 years, but I also read that you have to make sure it doesn't come out when you are having your cycle because it can come out. Also, if you get pregant while using it it can cause a miscarrage.
I would look information up online about it more if you are thinking about that option of birth control. To me the easiest and safest thing I have read about is the good old fashioned birth control pill.
Talk to your Dr also about the different options and what his/her opinion is.
Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Well I can tell you from personal experience that my IUD works perfectly!! Although I only have the five year one. I believe it called Meridia (check the spelling). It was eplained to me this way by my OB/GYN, ten year one. heavier. longer, crampier periods. Five year one, lighter, less crampy, not so long periods. So my husband and i chose the five year one. And i have to say i love it!! I hardly have any period and no cramps! The one and only complaint by my husband is that sometimes he will get poked by the strings, during intercourse. Otherwise, we haven't gotten pregnant with it (knock on wood) so far, and I have had it for about two and a half years! I am not sure if Medicaid will pay for it, my insurance did not and I paid about $760 for it. And when it comes time to do it again I will in a heartbeat! It didn't interfere with my milk production, but the doctors recomend to wait the six weeks and get established with the breast feeding first. Best of luck!-A.

The 10 year IUD is copper, but the 5 year IUC is plastic and is called Mirena. This is the one my doc suggested for me. I had a baby 1 1/2 years ago, and I've had a hard time remembering to take my pills for the past year. So, I'm having this put in soon (they suggest you be on your period for insertion). I was told there would be cramping and spotting for awhile, but it would get better and I would only have a light (or no) period. You can get more info. on Mirena at

http://www.mirena-us.com/index.jsp

i got an non-hormonal iud 2 years ago, 2 weeks after i had my secpnd child. it is good for 10 years, has no hormones (which is PERFECT for breastfeeding) and medicaid paid for it 100%. i had no problem with my milk production, i breastfed for 1 year. the iud has been wonderful...i dont even notice it. i recommend it to all of my friends. the insertion is a little painful, and you'll have some spotting, but after that, you dont even know its there.
good luck!! J. s

Sorry to respond so late but I am a breastfeeding mom of a 3 month old and I have the IUD meraina (im not sure if thats how it is spelled) It has been WONDERFUL. I have no side effects, it has not effected my milk supply. It is good for 5 years and is put in very simply and is taken out just as easily. You can also get it taken out at any time and get pregnant right away. I have been on the pill and depo and responded horribly to them so this IUD was a miracle. The only draw back is that it is expensive and Im not sure if your insurance will cover it but I would definately check into it. Congrats on the new baby. :)

Your best bet is to talk with your OBGYN about the proper birth control as everyone is different. If you are breast feeding, you will need to wait at least 6-8 weeks for your breast milk to develop a good supply as most pill-form birth control tends to slow your milk production.

But you'll have to speak with your doctor to find which birth control method is for you. I think the IUDs are expensive and I don't know if medicaid covers that in particular. But have you considered the pill that lets you have your period only 4 times out of the year? Seasonale, is what I believe it is called. Usually woman who breast feed don't get their period back right away. Why not use the usual methods, practice safer sex-condoms, spermicide, and regular bc pills? I think it would save you money.

If your husband doesn't want anymore, but you think you might, just keep your options open!! Vasectomies are reverseable now! He's probably overwhelmed with being so young and having 2 children now. Its a normal thing. He probably wants to just spoil his two and be happy at that!

Congrats again!

I would check out the progesterin (male hormome) only birth controL pill. I found out about this too late. It does not affect breast feeding,which is what concerned me. Talk to your doctor at your 6 week check up.

I was in the same boat you are. I had tried multiple birth controls and wasn't overly happy with any of them. Besides that I wanted something that I didn't have to worry about every day or every week. So I chose the IUD. My husband has also pressed the issue of a vasectomy, which I like you said "lets not go that route yet" because at 25, with 2 children (a girl 5, and a boy 1) I still am not POSITIVE that this is it for me.. and I think that if it really were I would know it. anyway, so I got the IUD last october and a big part of me loves it! I got the 5 year one... because I figured that by 5 years I will know if we are going to have another. My doctor assured me that at that 5 years there should be no problems in concieving, as well as say in 2 years we want another, we can take it out and start trying that next month. The plus side.... I only have to check for the string once a month. I haven't had a period at all, (I had it put in at my 6 week checkup) and I haven't gained any weight.... the minus.... my sex drive decreased... but that may also be due to the fact that my days are overly busy, and my son still doesn't sleep through the night, so I am tired pretty much all the time lol. Also for the first few months I noticed that I got quite a few headaches, which was said to be one of the side effects... it may have been that or it may have been having two very vocal kids, but i dont' get them anymore.
My son was soley breastfed until 7 mo... and then we introduced some babyfoods... but I still breastfed. He just turned 1 on Aug 22 and I am still breastfeeding 5 times a day.... I have never had any problems.
I don't know about medicade. We are a military family, so it was paid for by my insurance... as far as I am aware most insurances cover it (by all means its a lot less expensive to them than another pregnancy)
Overall I am quite happy with my decision to get it. Hope this helps!