I was at my six-week check-up after having my baby. I was feeling good with the exception of the sleep deprivation. I was so tired that I nearly fell asleep on the exam table when I laid back to have the doctor check how my body was healing. (I was THAT tired.)
My body was recovering wonderfully. Then my doctor asked me about birth control and what options I was considering. I almost fell off the table in my paper gown. “BIRTH CONTROL!” I exclaimed, taken by surprise. My baby was only six weeks old and the memory of the painful contractions, the birth and recovery were still clear in my mind. Not to mention, if I had any extra time for sex, I would have gladly traded it for sleep.
Still, my doctor reminded me that a woman can get pregnant while she is breastfeeding and it was wise to make some decisions until we were ready to have another baby. Only, my husband and I were pretty sure that this would be our last child. We already had three boys, which left the two of us outnumbered. Yes, our family was already the perfect size.
So I found myself wondering, what should we do about birth control? Although I knew that there were birth control pills that I could take while breastfeeding, I didn’t want to take anything while I nursed my son. Was it time to make a permanent decision? I was given some information on Essure. The Essure device is a new, permanent birth control method that does not require an incision or general anesthesia. A vasectomy was another permanent option. It had been a long time since I had even thought about birth control. I was overwhelmed with all the options. It was going to be a decision that my husband and I would make together and I wanted to be informed about all that was available.
I have found that it takes a long time to make a decision about something that could be forever.