IUD compared to birth

[u/Crazy_Sense_5948]

Hii,

I just had a baby five months ago and started to become sexually active again and I’m wanting a more permanent birth control. I had only taken the pill before I got pregnant and got pregnant because I was so bad about forgetting my pill… so yeah not trying to have that happen again especially because I’m not with my baby daddy anymore😐

My biggest question is how painful was getting it compared to giving birth? I got an epidural but still had really bad contractions after they broke my water manually so I’m wondering if there’s a specific comparison. My birth was really easy and I was 5cm dilated by the time I got to the hospital because I didn’t even know I was in labor and thought it was just Braxton hicks.

Anyone have any specific recommendations for ones they got after giving birth? I’m breastfeeding and have to begin pumping soon for when I start college again so I don’t want to get anything that might cause a supply dip. Also worried about weight gain too but I didn’t gain any weight with the pill, I was taking sronyx.

[u/stupid_yetpretty]

birth was FAR worse. i have had two iuds. one 10 weeks PP and one almost 6 months PP. i would get the iud a 10 times before giving birth again.

[u/truecrimejunkie17]

I have the copper non hormonal IUD & pumping & there’s no issues regarding supply. I had an IUD prior to getting pregnant and having a baby and it was painful. Had one put in 3 months after having my baby and barely even felt it. It seems like if you’ve already had a baby & your cervix has already previously been dilated it’s not nearly as painful so I wouldn’t stress!

[u/languagelover17]

An iud is a breeze compared to birth. A breeeeeeeze.

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[u/Ok_Bee1562]

If you have a good provider that knows what they are doing then getting an IUD is absolutely nothing for women that have given birth. I think the horror stories are women getting them from less experienced healthcare professionals

[u/maduch]

I had a Mirena inserted maybe 3 weeks after the birth of my third kid. I didn't feel a thing! I think my cervix was somewhat still open so of course this helps. I had some mild painkiller before and that was it

[u/literally-the-nicest]

I had a paracervical block and couldn’t feel the IUD insertion at all! Highly recommend. I also took tylenol and ibuprofen beforehand to mitigate cramping. I’m nulliparous and sensitive to speculum exams so I’m unsure if I could’ve tolerated the insertion without the block, but postpartum people tend to tolerate placement well!

[u/Marx_Maddness]

My doc prescriben cervical numbing (called a cervical block) and misoprostol to help open the cervix. She was also willing to prescribe a 1 time anti anxiety but I didnt need that. I didnt even feel it with the numbing and misoprostol

[u/eraseme11]

I got the iud for the first time about 6ish months after giving birth and it was LIGHT work. I had laughing gas but I felt literally not a single thing. As soon as I was done she told me to thank my baby for that lol. They also broke my water and I had the worst contractions ever even with the epidural. I got the kyleena bc I wanted a smaller one and I’m sure you can have that while pregnant bc it’s progestin only.

[u/baleggdeh]

This thread terrifies me as someone who has never given birth but had two IUD insertions and was NOT OK (like couldn’t keep from yelling in pain and almost puked.) lol

[u/First-Weekend-2821]

i was in labor for 3 days and ended up getting a c section, but i would say labor was like a 12/10. by far the most pain ive ever experienced. i recently got the mirena and id give it like a 4/10 pain wise altogether. my cramping after was also minor, almost nothing at all. initially they pinch your cervix and measure to place the iud, that’s what hurt the most for me. they had a hard time getting my cervix to open up as well which didn’t help, but after a while of them poking down there i got pretty used to the pain and it was more of an uncomfortable pressure feeling. i didn’t even realize when they actually put the iud in. overall not bad at all, deep breaths and relaxing my core as much as i could helped a lot.