I have tried a few different kinds of birth control since getting married 15+ years ago.
- Pill – liked it before T1. Hated it after T2, it gave me headaches. Didn’t like the hormones.
- Spermicide (love VCF – Vaginal Contraceptive Film – others burn and are uncomfortable for me)]
- Condoms – don’t love these… they hurt too. What can I say, I am sensitive.
- Ovulation charting – done to prevent pregnancy between T1 and T2, also used it to conceive the boys. Was going to use it to conceive a girl once T2 was 4, but got pregnant a month too early. 😉
- IUD – I got a Mirena after T3
Now here I am without an IUD. My OB asked if we were having another baby. I had to say, “No, DH does not want another baby.”
I am open to having a baby, but don’t feel that I am supposed to. I am ready to leave it more up to chance… but not enough to not use any birth control. (I actually think I could maybe do this, but I know DH isn’t ready.) I guess I feel if we use something like spermicide the door is more open then with an IUD. If we are supposed to have one it will happen.
Is that totally crazy?
I liked hearing what you are using. It gave me some new ideas.
Neither one of us feel comfortable with anything permanent.
I don’t want the pill or any other hormonal thing.
I didn’t LOVE the IUD, I had some mild side effects. So I would like a break from that.
I guess I could have asked about a diaphram. That seems like a good option, a little “Safer” than spermacide alond.
I loved the feedback and ideas I got about Natural Family Planning, I have ordered the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I enjoyed looking at the websites people shared too. I will let you know what I think of this after I read the book and gather more information.
I am also checking out the App – P Tracker
For now I have bought 2 boxes of VCF.
It is expensive stuff – about $30 for 18 “uses” That should last a little while. 😉
Any other great ideas?
Also, while not related to birth control, it is related to female stuff – I am excited because I bought a Diva Cup. I will let you know how that goes once I get to use it!
When the money comes in, we will be getting a Lady Comp. It takes the guess work out of NFP.
http://www.raxmedical.com/birth-control.php
I was going to say something like a diaphram. I have no experience with it but surely that or a cervical cap or something could meet your needs?
I believe God has a plan for every person he puts on the planet, and no person will exist if He doesn’t want them to. So if you’re not supposed to have another baby, you certainly won’t! God opens and closes the womb.
Still, I know taking that leap of faith can be hard.
Keep praying about it!
I have the mirena now, but before that we used Lambskin condoms. It is the best option we found that wasn’t painful for either of us. I have some friends with paragard that like it because it doesn’t have the hormones, but I wasn’t entirely comfortable with that option. If having another child would not be disastrous for you all then i would go with the charting method. (my husband despises condoms, and if it wouldn’t be horrible for us to have another child right now, I’m sure he would have gone for this option over the condoms)
if you have any questions about the cup, google the menstrual cups livejournal page – it’s THE place to go for all the info on brands, folds, any questions…
I had a very quick learning curve with the cup and wouldn’t go back.
check out Family UNplanning by Craig Houghton
“NFP is hardly natural if we use it to circumvent the reproductive system that the LORD has put into place. The most natural thing to do would be to let Nature take its course, and once again allow God to be sovereign in this area of our lives.”
also, Birth Without Fear (on FB) just did a status yesterday in regards to birth control..
Whatever you choose and whatever the future holds for you, I’m really excited for you! I enjoy reading about this, and you are definitely NOT crazy. If you were crazy for thinking this way, that would mean I’m crazy too. At least we have company 😉
My mom suggested diaphragm for me. It was great for her, and I thought it was good for me… but now that we’ve been TTC I know it’s just that we have infertility. Anyway, I would recommend it as much as someone who’s struggling with infertility can. I also loved the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Those are the two things I suggest to friends who are getting married, read TCOYF and learn about the diaphragm. I think people need to know about options beside the pill.
God may be the creator of life, but he’s given us stewardship over procreation. I think part of being a good steward over such awesome power is to learn to understand it and make good choices accordingly. It shows him we respect and honor this power, as well as the free-will and knowledge he has given us.
A rhythm is built into our bodies by God. I don’t think it’s a crime to use this gift in order to bring children into the world at the most optimal times in our life. God didn’t just give us a uterus. He also gave us a brain. I think they’re best used together.
NFP has been my family’s method of choice, and has worked beautifully for us.
Those are the only condoms I can handle too. The others hurt.
Takes a lot of faith to go that way. I think I am ready, but my DH is NOT! I think he would rather not have sex than have unprotected sex at this point.
It is nice to know I am not alone. 🙂
Yes, I agree I wish that more women would research all their options, rather then sign straight up for the pill. Of course that is what I did, but I wish I had done more research back then too.
My first-born was conceived using VCF. I don’t trust it any more. 😉
I used that in combination with “fertility awareness,” but miscounted my days. At the time, we used condoms during the most fertile times, and VCF in the quasi-fertile days. I thought we were one day post-ovulation, so *probably* in the clear, but used VCF just in case… and just a few minutes too late, I realized that instead it was *the day* I ovulated.
Unplanned does not equal unwanted and certainly not unloved! 🙂
Right, certainly if we make a baby using birth control, I will be scared, but excited too. I figure there is more of a chance of a surprise baby with VCF than with my IUD. So if it is meant to be, it will be.
I would totally go for a diaphragm. Especially now that you’re using a Diva cup, you’ll be a total pro with the diaphragm since it’s a very similar thing. (Well, not shape-wise, but concept -wise it is, and your Diva cup folds will translate, for the most part, to the diaphragm.) I got a Moon Cup a couple years ago and loooove it, hope you’re enjoying the Diva!