Yesterday was a good day. We slept in a wee, then woke up and went to our doctor’s appointment. This was the OBGYN, so except for just hearing about Camper is doing we didn’t expect much on the “what’s going on with my colon?” front. But I DID have SOMETHING to ask about.
Birth Control.
Control with a Capital-C. Don’t get me wrong- I am SO EXCITED about Camper coming along. We wanted him, we…more or less…planned him. (That is, if “I don’t feel like taking this pill anymore, it feels wrong. Well…let’s see what happens” and then peeing on a stick every few weeks is considered planning.) And although I had no idea what I was in for, I wouldn’t change the last 8 months of my life and marriage for anything. All that said- it’ll be awhile before we try again. We both want to give my body time to rest and gain nutrition back, especially as the doctors have said that Camper is indeed sucking it out of my bones and muscles to make up for what my digestive track wastes. We also want to find out what’s wrong with me and get that under control (Colitis, anyone?), and most importantly, we both want to give Camper the room he needs in our life to flourish and feel loved and known by his parents. I feel like we followed our hearts to Camper, and now we’re following our hearts to a few years without pregnancy, acts of God aside.
So herein’ lies the problem, how does a woman breastfeed AND control her hormones in such a way that keeps her from getting pregnant? I am NOT naive enough to believe that breastfeeding is a natural form of birth control. I’ve seen far too many babies conceived under just that notion. Aside from barrier methods and natural family planning (no thanks) the remaining options are:
First, (da da duuuuummm) the mini pill, which is a low-level hormone pill that is a wee less effective than say, Yaz, which is what I was on before. It also requires a greater level of accuracy with taking it. So, for instance, that day when we were on the way from the airport in Massachusetts heading towards our honeymoon in Maine and we couldn’t find my birth control….would have been a bad thing on the mini pill- whereas on the chock-full-o-hormones pills give you a little more leeway. (What, you haven’t heard that story? Oh it’s a good one! We’ll tell ya sometime!)
Second option, the shot. When I read about the side affects, though…we moved on. Quickly.
Third option, a little miracle called….Mirena. Mirena is a little device inserted directly into the uterus which delivers an outstandingly low level of hormones directly into the system. The level of hormones used is by far lower than any pill, even the mini pill. As a result, Mirena has few to no hormone-related side affects. No weight gain, mood swings, etc. Even more exciting, when you take Mirena out- it stops working. Right then. You can get pregnant again right away, no waiting game. Even MORE exciting, it CAN work for up to five years. For it to be cost effective (i.e. equal to the value of the pill) you just need to have it for one year. Mirena is intended for women in a completely monogamous relationship (as an STD is basically given an open-door invite because of the placement of the device), has had at least one child, and wants an incredibly reliable incredibly reversible form of birth control. On the little totum pole of effectiveness given in the literature I’ve been reading, Mirena has the highest percent of success rate in preventing pregnancy, even above a vasectomy. Which blows my mind a little.
So yeah- that sounded like a commercial, but I was very, very excited to figure it all out. I had been reading a lot online about various things, and actually a little hesitant to talk to our Doctor about it. I made the choice to breastfeed for a few reasons. Mostly, Camper’s health and my health, cost effectiveness, closeness with my baby, and the fact that Mary Wollstonecraft was an advocate. (Not kidding..haha). But I also really needed to find some birth control that wouldn’t interfere with my attempts to breastfeed- and one I felt comfortable with- and Wa LA. There ya go. Now, living in Provo…(well, and anywhere, really) family planning is a controversial issue. I know many people who I love and respect that would never do a thing to limit the size of their family, except maybe fake a headache. I’ve seen many a stalwart woman send out birth announcement after birth announcement, sometimes at the detriment of her own body, and sometimes at no detriment to anything whatsoever. I believe that the decision to have as many children as time allows is right for some women. I’ve also had friends and relatives who struggle to become or remain pregnant, and I feel the weighty responsibility and tremendous blessing of having a body that can conceive and maintain a baby- even if it does seem to be more difficult for me than others at times. I listen to my religious leaders when they say “Don’t delay your family because of monetary reasons, or because you haven’t finished school!” I’ve learned for myself that that is good advice. But here’s the thing- with all these considerations in place, I’ve also learned that John and I, together with what we feel is right with regard to what God wants for us specifically, have the right and responsibility to make decisions for our family. The feelings that guide us in this way led us as individuals first, and then as a couple, to get married, to commit finish school and try for Camper, to decide to move out East, and now, to wait a bit before we try again. It’s actually quite comforting, really. It’s a pretty good system. Not too shabby.
So yes- I am excited to have a plan. I was excited that our doctor wasn’t only supportive but enthusiastic about our wonderings into Mirena. She said she used it herself, up until recently, as she is about 6 months pregnant. So that’s that, I guess. Sounds good to me.
My sisters all use IUD’s after they’ve had their kids and they work great. They’ve NEVER had problems getting pregnant when they’re ready for it again and they’ve never gotten pregnant on them (which is REALLY saying something in my family). – We have all had “surprise” babies. :)
[...] of health and to be able to move on with life. We will see. We’re also inquiring into Mirena. I may walk away with it tomorrow, I may have to make an appointment. I’m not sure how [...]
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