Magnificent Mamas (Closed Group)

What do we think about an IUD? I keep going back and forth on it.

Brittony -- TOTALLY just my choice, but I think I prefer substance-free birth control while I'm breastfeeding, as annoying as it may be. We're also *considering* the possibility of trying for another child by the time Maisie is 1-1.5 years old (that tenative plan may very well change! :laugh:) so to me an IUD isn't so practical for me at this time. My husband says "Eh, well, you have to have sex to get pregnant again anyway." Wah-waaahhhhhhhhhhh. :laugh:

Megan -- Oh, we have central AC, it just sucks. The size of the unit is rated for our square footage but the previous idiot owners didn't take into account the 10 foot ceilings which are all throughout the house so it's NOT rated for our *cubic* footage. Also not taken into consideration: Our house is 100 years old & we have single pane glass windows for the most part and yeah, it just isn't sufficient, especially when I'm pregnant.

Ronya -- I don't think it's wrong for you to be tired of birth control being in your hands. I got tired of it, too, and went off the pill like 2 years before we decided to have a baby. Hubby detests condoms, too. Right now, it seems he's all for a vasectomy when we're done having kids (I'm pretty sure 3 is our max).

What do we think about an IUD? I keep going back and forth on it.

If you decide on the IUD I would go with the copper t. It is non hormonal unline the mirena which is what they usually try to get people on. I had the mirena after my second baby and it caused me to get lots of cysts and they would rupture and I'd be in the ER so we didn't get along very well. I actually was considering the copper t for now until he gets his tubes tied but nope, I'm over putting my body through everything, his turn!

Sheri – I’m so afraid of what my boobs are going to look like after I’m done nursing. I lost a lot from them when I lost weight, now they’re bigger than they’ve ever been and I’m sure will get even bigger when my milk comes in. :noway:

I’m not sure what I’m going to do about BC, we want another baby in a two or three years and then I think we’re done. I was on the pill for 4 years and I know I don’t want to be on it for the rest of my life, but I don’t really want the surgery and recover time that comes from getting my tubes tied. Hubby freaks out at the thought of a vasectomy but he hates condoms, so we’re going to have to do something. I never really considered an IUD because I’ll I’ve heard is horror stories, but I know everyone reacts differently to that stuff. If I’m being totally honest, I’m kind of sick of the responsibly of BC falling to me, it’s not like I would get pregnant by myself. Is that wrong of me to feel like that? :indifferent:

Yeah hopefully you'll have better luck than me, 3 kids has turned my body into a war zone I have lots of stretch marks, especially on the boobies since I originally was a B pre babies and am now a D. As far as birth control you can always have him wear a condom or what we did for years was the "pull out" method which has always worked for us. All babies were planned.

Brittony -- TOTALLY just my choice, but I think I prefer substance-free birth control while I'm breastfeeding, as annoying as it may be. We're also *considering* the possibility of trying for another child by the time Maisie is 1-1.5 years old (that tenative plan may very well change! :laugh:) so to me an IUD isn't so practical for me at this time. My husband says "Eh, well, you have to have sex to get pregnant again anyway." Wah-waaahhhhhhhhhhh. :laugh:

They have a hormonal and non hormonal IUD and both can be removed at any time. And um if you plan on another in 1-1.5 years than breastfeeding and lack of a period may be enough to get you by until then. My friend did absolutely nothing and got pregnant with her first period 11 months pp. I still have not had TOM, I've only had spotting after the "deed"

Brittony- I have had such an easy time with the pill I think that is something that I will stick with. We are looking at another in 2ish years.

Ronya- I don't think thats unfair. DH doesn't like condoms and neither do I honestly so I am fine with taking the pill until we are done with kids but then hibby is getting the snip He has already said that me getting my tubes tied is a way more serious surgery where him getting a vasectomy is barely anything and that he wouldn't put me through that. I bet your DH will agree down the road.

Julie- yuck, my AC has been up and on high for this summer!

They have the mini pill for breast feeding moms which is what I was on and what Megan is on. It is progesterone only so it is not supposed to mess with your milk supply as the others can dry you up.

My hubby was against being snipped at first, dummy thought it meant he couldnt climax. Come on now ! Anyways I gave him lots of pamphlets and stuff I got from the class I took to get my tubes tied, since he doesnt have insurance and it was included in my copayment from having Brooklynn I was just going to get it done but since I couldn't get the surgery done there and we can't afford for me to take the time off with it being major surgery and all we've decided he would do it. He did do extensive research before deciding it was ok with him. The way I put it though was I had 3 kids and 2 miscarriages in the last 8 years, he could go through something with his body now.

BTW we only have a window unit but rarely use it since it only cools the living room/dining room area. I did purchase dual pane windows last year and those help so much! It was the best $5000 I've ever spent and I got money back on my taxes for them $1500 so it was like the best coupon ever !

Great info ladies! Thanks for all of the advice. Yeah. The IUDs sorta scare me, but they sound so easy once they're put in (that is if you don't have any bad reactions). I think I'll probably just go on the mini pill. I was on the pill for forever, so it's nothing new. My husband and I were just using condoms for about a year before we started trying to have a baby. Now that we've gone so long without using anything, it's going to be hard to go back to them. It feels so much better without them, even from my point of view. I know that after our second my husband is getting a vasectomy. He thinks that it's only fair since I have to carry the baby and give birth, and I have to agree.

What do we think about an IUD? I keep going back and forth on it.

I had the Mirena IUD put in when I was 22 in 2007 and had it taken out in September 2010 when I was 26. I LOVED IT! It made my periods so light (just spotting for like 2 days) and no major side effects from it. I got my regular period back right away (after 3.5 years with such a short one... going back to 5 days of heavy bleeding sucked!) and I got pregnant in November (LMP November 5th).

That being said- a lot of women do have side effects and fertility problems from it- but whether or not the fertility problems are the fault of the Mirena is not proven. It's just like the depo provera shot- a lot of women have trouble getting pregnant after that too. It is a very small percentage of people who have any problems when you consider the number of women world wide who have IUD's.

In terms of what hubby and I are planning- I won't be going back on birth control. The plan to is get me back into shape (I am seriously going to work soooo sooo hard) and at a healthy weight before our next pregnancy, which we will hopefully be thinking about trying for next summer. In the meantime we will use condoms... and if we have an accident... well that would not be the end of the world either ;-)

Sheri -- Nope, no way am I going to trust breastfeeding as birth control. An early oops pregnancy does not sound like fun to me. I can't imagine being so sick 1st tri & so exhausted the rest of the time while trying to breastfeed & care for a baby less than a year old. I know people do it, but I have no idea how I'd make it. So, condoms it will be for sure until my cycle comes back & is predictable. Then we may switch to some timing my cycle and also the lovely "pull out" method (which has also been effective for us in the past). LOL about your husband thinking what he did about the snip snip. Men are silly.

I wasn't going to mention this but I guess may as well. My best friend got an IUD put in a few months ago. She had a terrible time with getting it put in and then it worked it's way back out. :noway: Very painfully so, apparently. I felt bad because she had asked my opinion on it before she got it. I told her I didn't know much about it but that it sounded like a good option for her. I also mentioned that I knew a couple of women who had one and really liked it. To be honest, she always seems to have a hard time with anything medical. :laugh: Of course everyone always knows someone who's had a bad experience with anything medical. I will say that I know 2 other women (at least!) who haven't vaginally delivered a child who have IUDs and love them. And from what they told me, they had very minimal pain/discomfort when it was put in. Well, I suppose Rachel makes #3.

Vit K is given to virtually all newborns born in the hospital. Often consent is not asked for, but assumed. I choose not to give my newborns vit K. I take alfalfa the last 6 weeks of pregnancy to boost baby's vit K at birth if baby needs it before he or she makes their own and is nursing w/ mamas milk having come in. Vit K is given to prevent early or classic vit K deficiency bleeding or for late onset HDN. In the case of of prevention of late onset in breastfeeding babies oral instead of injectable vit K can be given. There are factors that increase early or classic HDN, primarily premature cutting of the umbilical cord, reducing baby's blood volume by as much as 40%. Babies cords should only be cut after they have stopped pulsating. The use of vacuum or forceps increase bruising of baby and causing problems and the use of antibiotics reduces clotting factors for baby. My last 9 babies have never had a vit K shot or oral vit K, there hasn't been a need. If one chooses to circumsize a male infant before 8 days after birth, when babies typically start making their own vit K, then a vit K shot has value.http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/vitktop.html



No birth control here, only NFP if we have a grave reason to prevent. It has been very effective when the need has arisen in almost 20 years of marriage.

Remember w/ most IUD's you can conceive, but the baby, embryo, cannot implant, causing an early abortion.

AGH! Just realized I haven't been updating my walking ticker. Today I did level 2 of 30 Day Shred and 1.25 on the treadmill.

Wade has been a nightmare lately. He is laying on the floor next to me screaming because I finally had to take him out of the bjorn carrier. If he isn't being held he isn't happy, including in the truck! Never had such a whinny baby. He goes down about 9:30pm and wakes around 4:30 only to be up EVERY 1/2 to an hour later the last two nights. I might as well wake up and stay up at 4:30 because once I fall back asleep he is right back up.

Great job keeping up with the exercise. I am sorry that wade is so fussy 9:30-4:30 sounds okay... but if only he could make it a couple hours longer I am sure it would be very nice for you!

Happy friday ladies! Heading to my dr. in a bit then to pick up my parents from the airport :happy:

Question for all you mama's.... What is your FAVORITE thing about your little one?

Julie - My babies both had vitamin k. I had my first in NJ and my second in MD.

Ronya - I'm glad you found a dress you are happy with! I was always miserable trying to shop while pregnant, I felt like nothing looked right. I don't think it's too much to ask that dh be involved with birth control - it takes 2 to tango

Megan - wohoo, first night in the crib is a big step! I haven't even bought Hayley's crib yet, lol.

Sheri - I have actually been considering mirena so thanks so much for saying that. I didn't put as much research into it as I should have so I'm going to have to poke around google before I decide on anything. Pull out didn't really work for us which is why we have miss hayley lol

Megan ~ how did Annabelle do in her crib last night? Hopefully it all went smoothly and was a nice transition.

Annabelle ~ how are you and your family doing settling into Wisconsin? You moved to be closer to family right? Or did I dream that one up We will be heading through Wisconsin a week from tomorrow. We are going to Northern Minnesota to spend time at our cabin. It will be interesting traveling 12 hours with the four kids in our F150, but we had a fairly smooth 6 hour trip to St. Louis over Memorial Day. Hope you are doing well.

AGH! Just realized I haven't been updating my walking ticker. Today I did level 2 of 30 Day Shred and 1.25 on the treadmill.

Wade has been a nightmare lately. He is laying on the floor next to me screaming because I finally had to take him out of the bjorn carrier. If he isn't being held he isn't happy, including in the truck! Never had such a whinny baby. He goes down about 9:30pm and wakes around 4:30 only to be up EVERY 1/2 to an hour later the last two nights. I might as well wake up and stay up at 4:30 because once I fall back asleep he is right back up.

We are doing well, lots of adjustments, but fun too. I miss my NM, miss my stores, friends, etc. We moved here to have more land and more rain. We were paying almost $10 for a bale of hay in NM and cow and horse are out to pasture now. The girls planted an acre of pumpkins for fall and we have an acre garden growing, so that is wonderful. Jeff's family is in IA, but since dh's mom passed last June we havenot heard much from his dad.

I hate when they wake like that. Esca is a pretty good sleeper, wakes once in the night. I hand him off to dh around 7am so I can sleep longer. I need like 9 hours of sleep. I was doing the marathon evening cluster nursing, but decided that was driving me nuts so I put Esca down at 7pm and he slept, after fussing a bit until 9pm, then I nursed him before bed.

AGH! Just realized I haven't been updating my walking ticker. Today I did level 2 of 30 Day Shred and 1.25 on the treadmill.

Wade has been a nightmare lately. He is laying on the floor next to me screaming because I finally had to take him out of the bjorn carrier. If he isn't being held he isn't happy, including in the truck! Never had such a whinny baby. He goes down about 9:30pm and wakes around 4:30 only to be up EVERY 1/2 to an hour later the last two nights. I might as well wake up and stay up at 4:30 because once I fall back asleep he is right back up.

Great job keeping up with the exercise. I am sorry that wade is so fussy 9:30-4:30 sounds okay... but if only he could make it a couple hours longer I am sure it would be very nice for you!

Yeah, the first stretch is really nice, it is what follows that isn't so nice. I guess I should be thankful for the 7 hours up front

Rachel- I’m surprised they gave you mirena, maybe its because you’re in Canada and things are different here? One of the requirements is that you must have had a child here in the states, it did do wonders for my cycle because they were only 2 days but I just had too many problems with cysts.

I know actually. I was talking to my SIL about it, she had told me she wanted one and could not believe I had one- as her dr would not give her one because she has not had kids. (this was while I still had mine). It made me a bit nervous. I think it might have been also because I lived in the city and did not have a regular dr so there was no continuity of care. I got the prescription for it from a "pap clinic" from the dr who did that, and then filled the prescription myself, and took the IUD to a planned parenthood type place for insertion.

Not once during all of that did someone warn me of the possible negative side effects. But in the end I got very lucky.

I was so annoyed at Gabriel this morning. (not really, but....) I had my new WIC apt (yay for having all the right paperwork this time!) and so I put him back to sleep around 8:30 and we got home at 11. He slept THE WHOLE TIME. (Which means Hubby got to sleep the whole time.) He had me up every 20 mins 11 -2, then at 3, 4, 6, 7 and then he sleeps 3 hours straight the ONLY three hours that hubby has to watch him? He's like - oh he fussed twice so I rolled over and gave him a binky. :grumble: :grumble: :grumble: Some nights he sleeps OK. Usually I hit bed around 11 or 12 and he has me up every 2 hours, or 3 times overnight. Some nights though - he'll be up every 30-60 minutes ALL night long. I think he hit a little growth spurt and the home nurse told me cardio babies need to eat less more often than normal babies who eat more fewer times. I'm usually fine tiredness wise myself until about this time of day - 5/6 pm then I get tired. I stayed up last night with hubby to eat a nice dinner and watch a movie and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. My head was hurting so bad from exhaustion. Then of course when I finally got into bed Buck woke up and had an up almost every hour night. No better surefire way to wake a baby then to get into bed! :laugh: He sleeps GREAT during the day, which I'll take, because it makes it easier to work. So catch 22 I guess.

I was saying on the preg board that he seems the most part a normal baby (just lots of dr apts and daily shots and the occasional semi-heart stopping (mine!) blue-tint spells) but now that I am feeling better and actually up for maybe going a few places I am noticing one big factor - we're not supposed to take him in public. Like, she said avoid taking him to the grocery store if possible... (if he catches anything, even a cold, he'll likely have to be readmitted to the hospital.) Hubby has the older one at a Bday party at the pool right now. I couldn't swim anyway, but I would have tagged along usually. They went to the grocery store yesterday. Hubby wanted to go to the movies, but we can't both go so he went with a friend. We'd been planning for months to both of us take the boy to see CARS 2 this weekend but... maybe I'll take him and leave Gabriel with hubby, but most likely I'll just send hubby to take him (hmm... I wonder if it's playing at the drive in?!). No movies, no grocery, no bringing him into school when I pick up or drop off my son, no pool, no gym nursery (probably not for the next year at LEAST - which puts a damper on my workout plans), no Wal-Mart, no restaurants (We did go out to eat on Sunday, but picked a hole in the wall Mexican place we like. It only has like 8 tables.) etc... I've always "hated" parents who were so overprotective that they wouldn't take their kids out in public for months, provide anyone who wants to hold them with hand sanitize.... etc... go figure fate would deal me one that requires it! (I had my first out being passed around at the horse show at 2 weeks old! :laugh:) We also did go to the park for my lunch break one day because it's so big you can easily find a swing off to the side to watch the boy from.

Jamie-Mirena works real well for many, I just seem to have issues with everything

Julie- I read on their site and it’s “recommended” I have an HMO so they would only offer if you have had a kid. The commercial also mentions having a child, I think it’s the doctors choice as sad as that it but the do push it hardcore. And yes I had real loose stools this time around for like 2 weeks before. Supposedly it’s the body’s way of prepping for birth.

Bethe – nothing is better than baby nursing and “cuddling” the booby! Brooklynn makes noises it’s precious

Rachel- It works for many, I just seem to have problems with any hormone stuff

Ronya- Let him do the research, you don’t want him to feel “pressured” into it. But IMO we go through enough having babies that unless we get a c section and they can just tie the tubes right then and there then I think the guy should have to. Alarm on cell is so my style! While I was on these pills my kids would tell me it’s medicine time. They had no idea what or why I took pills but just that I did at 7pm every night.

Mel- I’m so sorry that you have to go through this. I am the type who takes baby out right away, funny how people look at you like you're crazy, but I do carry hand sanitizer but my boys touch everything. It has to be really rough not being able to go anywhere at all. I think you need to talk to hubby and tell him that if he does not step up and help you out that you’re going to lose your mind! I have hubby to help all of the time and I still get overwhelmed with 2 of us and 3 of them and ours have no special requirements. I hope that he can at least trade with you to give you a break and time with David every once in a while.

My oldest go into advanced studies! I am so proud, I worry too though that I may push too hard and he'll hate school. I actually kind of feel like a mean mommy because since I work for a book distributor I brought home workbooks for both of the boys so they can keep busy over the summer by doing homework. Naturally I also brought them each 4 reading books so my oldest can read to his brother everyday. Am I horrible for pushing them to learn all they can and perfect what they know whether school is in or not?