When are you going to try again?
Do you want more kids?
Those questions that us parents always get asked during casual conversations with others.
First thought
I have a toddler. That means a walking time bomb that needs constant redirection, wants to do things on their own but still wants help, angry because you made my peas touch my pasta, wants to ride her trike outside at 10PM, has to be provided with outlets for energy, Elmo craving, socks on socks off, laughing, giggling, screaming, bundle of joy.
Second thought
What would it all mean, how, when, what’s the right time, the age gap, time off at work, childcare costs, my sanity, and the list goes on and on.
Third thought
As a busy parent with a million things to do there are millions of obstacles before sex.
I’m crossing my legs, palms sweating, mouth dry, just pondering discussing this with you guys. But, here it goes. No one told me I would actually have to think about birth control. I know silly right?
Do we use contraceptives?
If I am breastfeeding can I technically still get pregnant? Do I get an intrauterine device, go on the pill, how soon is too soon, and hormones?
Oh the hormones. Many nights were spent googling, searching blogs, reading articles about this topic.
I chose an IUD which probably wasn’t the best option for me, it made my hormones wonky, gave me hormonal acne, and my husband could feel it during relations. However, it provided me with the freedom of not having to remember to take a pill every day and prevents back to back pregnancies. Which as stated before I’m still not sure about. It’s a highly effective method of birth control. I actually ended up having periods right away once on the IUD.
Not to mention the implantation of this device was said to be easy. Ok it was easy but it was painful. I mean it’s basically piercing your cervix. Everyone’s experience is different I know that but this is just my story. Getting it removed was like a walk in the park. But I had such anxiety over it I took a pain killer, arrived in sweats, Dutch Bros in hand, and my mom bun. Five minutes later I felt a little silly.
I made the decision to be birth control free about five months ago, as I knew I wanted more children. My hormones were out of whack and I was having side effects when I was on my IUD. I consulted with my Doctor, Husband, and my best friends and ultimately decided to not use any sort of contraceptive at this time.
Right now we are currently utilizing the pull and pray method or the if it happens it happens method. It’s the easiest solution and takes all the over thinking out of the equation for me. It keeps that anxiety filled over processing thoughts of my brain at bay.
My mom tells me I’m too old, society will label me as a geriatric pregnancy, but when it happens I know my family will be complete. I was somewhat of an only child and I know that I want my Lena to have a sibling. I want holidays to be filled with love and laughter. I want to be a soccer mom and drop my kids off at their events.
Final thoughts
When is male contraception going to be approved?
How did you guys know when was the right to expand your family?
