Contraception ideas

[ayearoverdue]

Hello,

I haven't used any hormonal contraceptives for 5 years now. I've had issues in the past with abnormal smears, endometriosis, adenomyosis and hugely irregular cycles. I took the decision with advice from my Dr that hormonal contraceptives didn't suit me and the various issues I've had. Strangely these issues have eased since coming off contraceptives and just using condoms and charting my cycles.

Things have changed though, I had a baby, DC1, nearly 3 weeks ago now. We had a bad birth experience ending in forceps and an EMCS and because of that I don't want to risk getting pregnant for at least the next year (if at all!). I'll be seeing my GP in 3 weeks for my 6 week check.

I want to know if anyone is able to recommend any forms of contraception that have worked well for you? Not just the obvious, not getting pregnant, but ones that don't make you feel terribly hormonal ect.

Thanks

[Musso]

I experienced bad side effects with hormonal contraception but after having my sons I went onto a new pill called quilara that has more natural hormones in and is phasic mimicking ur natural cycle I am pleased with this pill and no side effects

[HettyKett]

I have a copper coil and I love it. No hormones at all and it lasts up to 10 years IIRC. Mine was fitted postpartum (at 6 weeks, or 8 or whatever the minimum time limit was) and as I was BF it had ages to settle in before my periods came back.

Can't recommend it highly enough.

[MotherPanda]

Are you breastfeeding? i found the mini-pill awful before pregnancy, as it gave me periods roughly every 2 weeks-but I'm on the same kind now (cerazette) and have no such problems - possibly as breastfeeding is stalling my periods.

At least with the mini pill you can try it and give up quickly, rather than implants etc which can be taken out, but it's a bit more fussy.

[Musso]

When I was on the progesterone only pill I bled almost constant and I bloated loads

[MotherPanda]

i agree - outside breastfeeding POP seems to be rubbish,

[HettyKett]

mmm, I tried the POP between DC (while BF) and it was horrific. Hated it.

[ayearoverdue]

Thanks for the responses, am very interested in the new natural type pill and the coil with no hormones.

I'm express breast feeding, DC lost the latch after 3 days on a bottle while I was completely dry before my milk came in. Not sure how long my supply (or sanity) will last so not sure whether it'll be a consideration yet.

I've tried the mini pill before and had to come off it before I killed someone it made me that hormonal. I forgot to also mention I used to suffer very bad migraines.

Any other suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated. There are so many different types of pill I don't have a clue where to start!

[HettyKett]

IME, if hormonal contraception fucks you up then even with the newer pills you'll still end up in hormonal hell. The copper coil is well worth a shot, no hormones, nothing to remember and the worst possible side effect is heaver periods than before. Considering many women have lighter periods after their first DC you mightn't even notice a difference. Insertion is rather like a smear, a bit longer but less uncomfortable.

[ayearoverdue]

Do you know if I can have the coil after a CS?

[HettyKett]

Blimey, I have incredible respect for you exculisvely express feeding, what a woman!!!

It is quite likely that a BFC or a lactation consultant would be able to help you get your baby back to the breast (if you'd like to). Cluster expressing (15 minutes expressing every 1/2 hour for a few hours) really helps boost supply when your exclusively express feeding. Do you have a hospital grade pump? That makes a massive difference to how much you can express and really helps maintain supply.

Maybe worth starting a thread in Breast and Bottle feeding if you haven't already.

[HettyKett]

x posts, I don't know how soon after CS you can have one. But, yes you can.

[ayearoverdue]

I did post a thread in feeding. I got some great responses. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get him to latch properly or stay on the latch long enough, he gets frustrated that nothing happens quick enough and comes back off. I've had the BF coach round and we've tried a few different positions, lots of skin to skin (over days not hours), nipple shields and things like that. I think it's because he had a bottle at 48 hrs old for 3 days before my milk came in. In hindsight I should have insisted that we cup feed him and continue to try and get him to latch even whilst I was dry just to sustain the latch until my milk came in. I don't think the MW's thought it would come in though, I had a pretty bad birth and was quiet ill after so I guess they thought it just wasn't going to happen. We are looking at investing in a hospital spec electric pump though. So far the supply is good even on a manual pump I just don't know how long my sanity will hold out for. It's exhausting staying awake for an extra half an hour or so during each night feed to express and steralise the pump for his next feed. I'll have to see how it pans out in the longer term.