*Baby Corner*

[TracyLuis 0]

I was thinking about getting an IUD (maybe even Mirena) put in. My husband asked if it was ok for me to have my tubes tied but even though we are done with babymaking I just don't know what to think about that. I mean, we don't want more children but having my tubes tied is just so final. I want something that is easy and doesn't interfere with breastfeeding. I don't think Mirena is an option then until I weaned her off. We'll see. I'd be ok with taking the pill again for a while.

Actually, Mirena is one of the few options that can safely be used while breastfeeding. That was one of the main reasons it was appealing to me.

I took the pill for years at $25 a month. With insurance, Mirena was just a $25 copay and lasts for 5 years. Without insurance, however, it is quite expensive.

On another note...

Drew FINALLY lost his umbilical cord stump today...after 8 weeks and 2 days!!!

I'm pretty sure that's some kind of record

Edited June 3, 2008 by TracyLuis

[chnst 6]

congrats on that Tracy! I've never heard of a stump falling off that late!!

I'm thinking about birth control too... Does the IUD hurt? I was considering that, but it seems so invasive...

[Eveline 9]

I haven't even really read into the birth control after baby thing. For me it was clear I'm going to take the pill but thinking about it...it's a pain in the rear. I have to talk to my ob on my next checkup and see if he recommends it.

[TracyLuis 0]

congrats on that Tracy! I've never heard of a stump falling off that late!!

I'm thinking about birth control too... Does the IUD hurt? I was considering that, but it seems so invasive...

The IUD doesn't hurt, but the procedure is not very comfortable, either. However, it took just 5 minutes and the cramping only lasted a couple of hours. After that, I felt completely normal. It's not any more invasive than a pap smear.

Not having to worry about prescriptions and taking pills every day is a big relief to me. And not having to worry about getting pregnant again too soon is good, as well. It's also supposed to help make periods lighter, or even disappear completely. We'll see...

My doctor gave a very positive recommendation to me, along with some reading material. It certainly can't hurt to ask

[chnst 6]

Chnst - Thanks for asking about the breastfeeding. Still a struggle. It is so confusing because sometime he latches just fine and we have a nice lovely session lasting 10-20 minutes, but this really only happens once a day. I have only been able to get him to latch to my right breast once now (he takes to the left breast easier). More often than not, he may latch and suck for about 5 minutes, then fall asleep. I take him off to wake him up, he does and then becomes absolutely frantic, screaming and kicking and won't latch then. One of the nurses who has been helping me feels that he just gets so frustrated that he doesn't have the immediate gratification that a bottle offers. It is hard when he is so frantic and screaming, because he works himself up so much and I can't get him to latch then. I'm still pumping and taking fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase my milk supply. After a good session, I feel hopeful, but then, when he won't take the next session, I am an emotional wreck again. I do keep trying to remind myself that he is making some progress at latching.

BTW, the pics of Ben in your signature are adorable!!!

And yes, I am sooo glad I had the epidural.

Just curious - how many people's pediatricians see their babies for 1 month old checkups? My doctor and the other 2 in his practice see the babies at 2 weeks and then not again until 2 months.

aww you poor thing! I give you a lot of credit for being so patient! It's so frustrating!

wISH i could help you out with my supply, I'm like Bessie the cow, Igot enough to feed a whole day care center. scary

Ben's pediatrician wants to see him every month for the first 6 months, then every other month until 12 months.

He will start getting his shots next month at his 2 month check up.

[Eveline 9]

wISH i could help you out with my supply, I'm like Bessie the cow, Igot enough to feed a whole day care center. scary

I hear you. I can really wait until THAT starts again. Just the other day my husbands friend's wife told me that she never got any milk in and then there's women like you and me who can support an entire city with their milk. We even bought a deep freeze cause at some times the fridge freezer was full with little Lansinoh bags.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

congrats on that Tracy! I've never heard of a stump falling off that late!!

I'm thinking about birth control too... Does the IUD hurt? I was considering that, but it seems so invasive...

The IUD doesn't hurt, but the procedure is not very comfortable, either. However, it took just 5 minutes and the cramping only lasted a couple of hours. After that, I felt completely normal. It's not any more invasive than a pap smear.

I think her taking it out was worse than the doctor putting it in. She said "WOW, LOOK AT THIS!". OMG, like I had given birth to some bloody alien monster. It was disgusting. I probably could have gone my whole life without seeing that.

It wasn't the most fun thing in the world the insertion or the removal, but wasn't that horrible either. Your mileage may vary, as everyone has a difference tolerence level for pain.

I liked it mostly, but had to have it removed. It had a side effect for me that wasn't particularly heard of or normal. It would have been great if it had worked out though. There is nothing like the freedom it provides. Same for the vasectomy.

[Anna C. 4]

What are the side effects of IUDs? I definitely don't want to take the pill again, it makes me kind of zombie. We are looking into natural family planning & mechanical methods... Once we are done DH will have a vasectomy, he even offered it. But that will be not for another 10 years or so, we'd love to space them out every 3 years (3 are planned, though he would like more, we will see about that!!!!)...

[chnst 6]

I think her taking it out was worse than the doctor putting it in. She said "WOW, LOOK AT THIS!". OMG, like I had given birth to some bloody alien monster. It was disgusting. I probably could have gone my whole life without seeing that.

haha ! I don't know, I think I'll stick with the pill for now.... I will ask my doc at the 6 week postpartum check.

ugh I think Hubby finally passed his cold on to me. I feel yucky. Is it ok to keep brastfeeding when I'm sick or should I pump? I don't want to pass anything on to Ben.

[Eveline 9]

Keep offering the breast. You cannot spread illness over breastmilk. Just make sure you wash your hands and don't touch your nipples. Other than that, you should be fine.

[Autumnchik 6]

New Orleans Bound - Not sure why Declan prefers one breast. I am left handed so I have been thinking that maybe that side comes easier for me to position him.

Chnst - Hope you feel better soon.

To Chnst and Eveline --- Please send some of that magical milk producing dust my way!!! I do think that the fenugreek and blessed thistle have increased my supply, but I still don't seem to have quite enough to feed my hungry kid ... we are supplementing with formula for 2-3 feedings a day.

Tracy - Wow!!! Can't believe Drew's cord lasted that long. You should frame the cord remnant for posterity!!! LOL

Couple of questions for anybody to answer:

About birth control - I read somewhere that certain hormone methods can cause milk production to decrease. Of course, I can't remember what methods and can't remember where I read that. I am super protective of the milk I have and don't want to take anything that would decrease supply. Anyone know what methods definitely do not decrease supply?

About bottles - Are the Playtex Nursers with the drop-in liners BPA free? I have been looking at various bottles and am thinking about getting the Born Free brand, not Medela as I initially thought, but I will have to order these and I need a bottle to use in the meantime.

[BelwinMills 0]

autumnchik thanks for sharing your story. I love how your moms experience was like yours. It is so neat to read these stories. Having a C-section isn't as exciting.

[BelwinMills 0]

wISH i could help you out with my supply, I'm like Bessie the cow, Igot enough to feed a whole day care center. scary

I hear you. I can really wait until THAT starts again. Just the other day my husbands friend's wife told me that she never got any milk in and then there's women like you and me who can support an entire city with their milk. We even bought a deep freeze cause at some times the fridge freezer was full with little Lansinoh bags.

Wow I pumped for the first time in awhile and got 7 ounces in 15 minutes and had to threw it away. Gee ish I have never get that much at a pumping session. Ugh I went to my post pardom check up and then the dentist. I had to throw the milk away due to bacteria that could get into the milk. No more Oby gyn for awhile yeah. My feet are back to normal and no more carpal tunnel in my hands. I could dance that I can do normal activities again. Oh and a plus I am on a birth control that won't effect my milk supply and I won't get a period. Whooo.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

What are the side effects of IUDs? I definitely don't want to take the pill again, it makes me kind of zombie. We are looking into natural family planning & mechanical methods... Once we are done DH will have a vasectomy, he even offered it. But that will be not for another 10 years or so, we'd love to space them out every 3 years (3 are planned, though he would like more, we will see about that!!!!)...

They are a long term form of birth control, 5-10 years, depending on your model. There are a long list of pros and cons for either the copper or the hormonal model. This site does a decent job of explaining them.

I had a copper IUD, but it was one approved for use in Germany and not the United States, so I have no idea how helpful my information would really be about it. It just did two things I eventually got fed up with:

1) It compressed my entire 5 day bleeding saga into 7-8 hours of just river flowing mess that could never be predicted exactly beyond looking at the calender. When this happened to me in the passport control line in Copenhagen and all of my pants were on the connecting flight, I decided that was it.

2) I had a lot of problems with yeast infections.

Both of these problems went away within two months of removal. No idea why it would do that. And given that being the case and my side effects seem to have been confined to me, I would still recommend the IUD. A lot of women have a good experience with it, particularly the hormonal IUD because it lightens or stops periods. I would have liked it too if not for the weird problems I mentioned.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I don´t like vasectomies and things like that