Baby Corner

[Jenn! 918]

Thanks Jenn. It's the lack of libido that's bothering me at the moment, and I know that the pill can inhibit your libido, so I'm just trying to consider options to remove that as a factor. So from what you're saying, Mirena may not help me in that regard anyway.

Right. I don't have much of a libido either, but I was on hormonal BC before getting pregnant and it was never an issue. So personally, I don't think Mirena is to blame, but rather being a full-time working mother is. But lots of women do swear that they get their libido back after they get the Mirena removed or go off of the pills.

[TracyTN 237]

Trace, dunno if anything could HELP libido, but I have ParaGuard - the copper IUD, no hormones. Good for 5 years. So far, so good...though the first month's cycle after it was pretty miserable.

Thanks Lisa - perhaps that is an option for us too then. I'm really leaning towards non hormonal methods right now so that sounds like a good option that I could discuss w/ my doc.

Right. I don't have much of a libido either, but I was on hormonal BC before getting pregnant and it was never an issue. So personally, I don't think Mirena is to blame, but rather being a full-time working mother is. But lots of women do swear that they get their libido back after they get the Mirena removed or go off of the pills.

That's sort of what I'm wondering too, Jenn - if its just a lifestyle change that's causing it or what the heck. Before talking with you ladies (and some of my friends), I was starting to think something was really wrong with me - that I was abnormal or something. But it could just be the stressors of every day life. I am going to commit to an exercise routine now too - that can likely only help.

Anyway, I am sort of considering an 'experiment' of removing the hormones from the equation and using condoms or something for a few months, see how my libido does. If its no different, then I may as well go back on the pill as that likely wouldn't be the culprit at that point. Or try Lisa's suggestion upon talking w/ my doctor. It sounds like I have options which is what I want to present hubby with - hence me needing all your opinions.

[Eveline 9]

Hubby and I have a really good relationship on the whole - its just that I'm quite aware of the fact that my libido is also MIA and would like to fix that if I can. I think I'm too scared of getting PG to try FAM. I'm a pretty fertile myrtle from what I can tell so I'd feel better not leaving it to calculations. I'm starting to think that non hormonal options are the way to go - at least to try something else and see what happens. Maybe at my advanced age (39), the hormones are just not the way.

Oh same here, two kids on the first cycle on the first 'shot' . I just have to think pregnancy. Back then I didn't even know when I was ovulating we just tried it and boom...preggers.

Anyway there are rules to FAM. It's not just all up to calculation. It's a little tricky, lots to read and to understand but once you got it going it's pretty fool proof. SIckness or whatever will throw you off though. Like last month fertilityfriend (I have a subscription with them) didn't detect any ovulation (even though I knew I did ovulate, I can feel it, very painful) because my temps were all over the place due to our stomach bug. I had the stomach bug right around the time I ovulated so I just kinda played with the temps and it eventually said that I ovulated between day 12 to 16 (usually it pinpoints the day though and if you know your body you can feel it anyway) and sure enough...14 days after I felt like #######, bloated and just overall miserable I got my period. Then agian, my cycles are like clockwork, there's not much guessing.

[tnh9479 1]

I am happy we knew we were done having kids because I hate taking hormones. Having the tubal was one if the best decisions. I just pray to not be one of the 1% who get pregnant again years down the road after a tubal ligation.

[Eveline 9]

We're done too but I don't want to get my tubes tied. It's just so final. I'm not even 30 yet, who knows what's in store for me a few years down the road. Maybe we'll change our mind? I also don't want Eric to get a vasectomy. I know three women who got preggers again even after a vasectomy AND the thumbs up by the docs that there's nothing swimming no more. Funny thing is, all three babies turned out to be girls. They seem to be some real fighters

[TracyTN 237]

@Eveline: I figured there was a bit more to FAM than I was thinking - but I think it's the unpredictability of when things happen (as you describe with illness, etc) that would get me. Plus I worry about everything so much anyway, that'd just be one more thing. LOL Hubby would probably decide against that right away given my tendency to worry and be slightly OCD.

I would consider tubal if I was completely sure we are done having kids. That said, I heard its cheaper and an easier procedure for the guy to get snipped. Though I think the sheer mention of that to most men makes them bolt to the nearest exit. I've never even breathed that word to hubby so I'm not sure how he'd feel about it. He'd probably be very level headed about it - he's good that way - and that if it would be more $$ and harder recovery on me to have it done, he probably would.

[tnh9479 1]

Hubby and I had a deal. I would get a tubal if I had a c-section and he would have a vasectomy if I had a vaginal delivery. Needless to say, a part if him was happy I had the c-section. We had discussed only having one kid, so when we found out we were pregnant with twins, we knew we were done. Considering how easily we became pregnant with twins spontaneously the first month we tried, we worried about a next time. The odds go from 1 in 80 to 1 in 15 of having twins if you already spontaneously had a set. As much as we love our duo, the thought of another twin pregnancy is daunting for the two of us.

[TracyTN 237]

I should have thought of that deal ahead of time - alas, I did not! If we had twins, we certainly would be done too. As it is now, it's the 'should we give Emily a sibling' thought that haunts me (because apparently its my decision).

[Fandango 1,440]

I should have thought of that deal ahead of time - alas, I did not! If we had twins, we certainly would be done too. As it is now, it's the 'should we give Emily a sibling' thought that haunts me (because apparently its my decision).

Hubby and I just had that conversation yesterday, and I'm happy to report that I'll be having my IUD removed come September.

!!!!!

Regarding the last few pages of convo...we didn't get our room ready either. We did have a cradle in our bedroom that we set up a few days before I delivered, but that was about it. Also, the ped that we went with was actually the one that was on call after I delivered. Funnily enough, she was the one that we had been recommended to go to; we had heard from several parents about her.

She didn't do circumcisions though, so we had to find another ped to do them. We asked around to our friends, and to the nursing staff - I actually have become very good friends with one of my maternity nurses. So we asked them all who did the best circs, and everyone - nurses and parents alike - came up with this one doc. He did a great job, but had 0 personality, and there was no way we were staying with him. Our ped also has a partner who is her sister...and as much as I like her too, our personalities blend better with her. We have her cell phone number, she's really attentive, and her plans and ours seem to be in agreement (splitting up his vac jabs, no meds for his silent reflux, etc). So, I guess we got lucky.

[Anna C. 4]

Oh I'm so exhausted, back from Denver, ultrasound shows a 6.5 pounder, which is 20th percentile, but sort of nothing surprising - the obgyn didn't expect a much bigger baby of me with my body built and family history, so she's fine. Fluids are fine, heart rate is perfect, she's in perfect position for birth (head down looking at my spine). Just the placenta is starting to get old, but nothing worrisome, we can check again in a week in case I haven't given birth yet, though they all think she'll be here by next week. I'm tired though of driving early in the morning with Jona through rush-hour downtown Denver... Whenever I have appointments I make them around 10am, then the roads are empty, but if you have to arrive by 9 am I-25 is packed. Luckily I can use the HOV lane.

Contraception... We use FAM with condoms with great success. When we wanted to get pregnant boom we got pregnant both times right away.... I don't do well on hormonal stuff, and after reading more about side effects and potential longterm effects it's out of the window anyways (it not only kills my libido, it also makes me somewhat apathic, like I don't care about anything on that stuff). We are interested in a vasectomy down the road, there are different types apparently some are safer than others, but we are not there yet. I think I'm done with two kids, hubbie wants three, but let's see how the next years work out. We are not ready for permanent solutions yet!

As for the nursery - we never had one. We don't have one now either. The kids sleep in a cosleeper/crib for their first year and then move into their rooms... It depends on their sleep patterns, but Jona was ready by 13 months when he started to sleep through the night, and we will see how it goes with Eloise. Around 12 months we started to sleep in the guest bedroom in order to not wake up Jona in our room which was a sign for him to move on. Our setup this time is a cosleeper on my side of the bed and we'll move the changing table into our room for shorter ways for those frequent night-time changes in the beginning... Next year then when she's ready for her own room we'll have to eliminate the guest bedroom and make it hers... We might finish the basement then for a guest bedroom. We shall see!

We filed our taxes, jippi one thing less to take care off, I then have to go to the store once hubbie is home to buy some evening primrose oil to get things going here...

[tnh9479 1]

Anna - glad to hear all is good. I hope to hear your birth story soon!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Anna, I find out tomorrow how big Salma is measuring. Im guessing 7lbs or so. Im surprised at how small she has measured the whole time after having a 9lber. I will say I wouldnt mind having an average size baby Salma is also head down looking at my spine, no complaints there either. Zaid not only was 9lbs but was also posterior. OB says if I pushed him out this baby should just slide right outta me

[Eveline 9]

@Kelly: Girls aren't usually be expected to be as big as boys. That's what my OB told me. He said he wasn't worried about Allie getting as big as Adam was. Adam was 8lbs 14oz and I couldn't push him out. Allie was only 8lbs 3oz and was no problem at all. BUT then again Adam wasn't positioned right so I guess that was what caused me all that trouble.

Anywho, good luck to the two of you. I remember doing EPO with Allie, oral and up the whohaaa LOL. I guess it helped, I don't know. Good luck.

[Missbollinger 1]

UGH I am definitely in the boat 'I'm not ready to be done' but I can't and won't take anything hormone based, plus if we do have another one it will be in 2 years time so nothing long term so to speak. DH wants a Vasectomy as soon as we are done which that's fine but since we're not done I guess we will just have to bee careful. It took us close to 6 years to conceive DS2 and then DD came along less than 2 years later so I'm going to be tracking my cycles pretty aggressively when it returns.

As for births, DS2 was easier than DS1 but Serena was too easy, I didn't even need an episiotomy and only needed one stitch! BUT she was my smallest one, DS1 was 6lb 8oz , DS2 was 7lb 8oz and Serena was only 6lb 6oz.

[TracyTN 237]

Hubby and I just had that conversation yesterday, and I'm happy to report that I'll be having my IUD removed come September.

!!!!!

Oh Lisa, that's great - how exciting!! :) I'm still swearing off an 'official decision' for a few more months yet, but I'm really leaning towards being done. I'll be 40 in May and that's messing with my head big time as far as thinking about having another. I know women do it all the time, but for me, being a new mom past 40 feels like I'm pushing it.

Contraception... We use FAM with condoms with great success. When we wanted to get pregnant boom we got pregnant both times right away.... I don't do well on hormonal stuff, and after reading more about side effects and potential longterm effects it's out of the window anyways (it not only kills my libido, it also makes me somewhat apathic, like I don't care about anything on that stuff). We are interested in a vasectomy down the road, there are different types apparently some are safer than others, but we are not there yet. I think I'm done with two kids, hubbie wants three, but let's see how the next years work out. We are not ready for permanent solutions yet!

I was on the BCP for YEARS before we tried to conceive DD and I never noticed it effecting me, esp. not my libido!! So its come as a surprise to me to be where I am now, basically no libido. I'm really not sure the BCP's hormones are the entire culprit, but I still think it makes sense to eliminate it as a possibility. Plus at my age, it's probably not a bad idea to ditch hormones all together if I can and let my body take care of itself.