I’m 3 weeks postpartum and things are starting to feel a little normal again physically. After a planned c section recovery can take 6 weeks and I’m doing pretty good, to be honest. In a few weeks, I’ve got my postpartum checkup at the doctors and one of the big things I did to discuss is contraception. Hooray. Not.
Ever since I was a teenager I’ve been on the pill. It’s worked pretty well for me when I took it properly. That’s right. I’m rubbish at sticking to routines and missed my pill far too often. But it’s easy, isn’t it? No injections etc. But now, with two kids, things are a little different.
Firstly, I don’t have the time to keep going back to the doctors every few months to get another prescription. It’s hard when you’re working full time, let alone with 2 kids to get a doctors appointment. I mean these days things have changed and you can use places such as LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor to get prescriptions. All above board of course. It’s basically like an online doctor. It can take the inconvenience and awkward conversation out of getting contraception.
So now I need to think about what I’m going to do. We really don’t want any more children but never say never! So getting sterilised is out of the question for now. I feel like that’s far too final for my liking.
As for the pill, I really need to wise up and take it properly if we choose this. But if I’m putting my adult head on, I know I’m far to flaky to take it properly and accidents happen. VERY easily with me may I add. So I’d really like to see what other options are available. These are the ones I’ve narrowed it down too –
The Injection
The injection releases progesterone into your bloodstream. Depo-Provera is most commonly given in the UK and lasts for 13 weeks. Occasionally, Noristerat may be given, which lasts for 8 weeks.
It’s more than 99% effective & is apparently injected into your bum. I’m not fussed about injections. I’ve had enough over the last couple of years and I’m slightly immune to the pain of them! What puts me off this type of contraception is that it only last for 13 weeks before you need a top up. That might sound like a long time but it will fly by!!!!! It’s just the inconvenience of having to go to the doctors. But, I guess it’s a bit more convenient than the pill and the side effects are generally the same. Possible weight gain, headaches etc.
The Implant
This one scares me a little. The implant is a small flexible plastic rod that sits just under the skin in the upper arm. It releases progestogen into the blood and lasts a whopping 3 years! Now that’s more like it.
The implant is inserted using a local anaesthetic and removed the same way. It can be removed any time by a trained nurse or doctor and has the same side effects as the others. The implant is known to cause acne as a side effect too.
What scares me about this one is having a foreign object left in my arm. But I guess, thinking about it, that’s what I’m doing with the pill or the injection. But at least with the implant, I can get it removed if the side effects are too bad. What really swings this one my way is that it lasts for 3 years! That’s a long time! I hope I remember in 3 years that it needs to be removed!
I’ve read through lots of different types of contraception. There are over a dozen to consider if you’re a woman so make sure you do your research. But I’m going to think about the above two in more depth.
It’s really important that we talk about things like contraception just to try and get rid of the ‘hush hush’ stigma around it. It’s vital for most people and there’s no embarrassment in talking about it. The more we talk about it, the less embarrassing it becomes.
