During our post-delivery hospital stay, every nurse and intern and doctor and random nobody in the maternity ward asked me if I wanted to discuss birth control with them. At the time, it seemed like a stupid question. After all, a human being had just vaulted out of my vagina. And when that happened, I was pretty much like Sex? What’s sex? Oh, sex is that thing that got me into this? OH. THAT THING THAT I AM NEVER DOING AGAIN?
Then, three weeks postpartum, the strangest thing happened. Maybe it was the hormones. Or maybe it was something I ate. Or maybe my husband wore a nice t-shirt that day, I DON’T KNOW. Whatever it was, I hit the three-week mark and I was all sorts of horny. Teenager horny.
I was pretty sure that this was some sort of mischievous biological ploy to lure me into birthing twenty-nine children, like biology somehow knew that I had SCOFFED at the poor souls who brought up birth control to me, so I managed to resist the urge. I decided to wait until someone who had spent a decade of their life attending dorm parties slaving away at med school gave me the green light.
This has been the longest month of my husband’s life. I mean, that one month when I forgot to buy bacon? He thought that was a long month. But this? This whole thing where I told him HUH, I’M AWFULLY HORNY and then followed it up by telling him that NO WAY, NO HOW was he touching me? This was torture.
Yesterday’s appointment went well. I took the medication in the morning and by the time we made it to the doctor’s office, I was feeling plenty relaxed. A herd of wildebeests could have stampeded through that appointment room and I probably wouldn’t have noticed. After all was said and done, I was like, um, what was I scared about again?
And then the doctor gave the green light.
Of course, before he did, he asked if we wanted to discuss birth control options. And the strange thing is that all this time, I’ve been thinking that I wanted to hold off on sex because I wanted the best birth control money could buy first. I thought that when my postpartum check-up came around, I would be threatening to decapitate the man if his recommended birth control failed.
But instead, he asked if I wanted to discuss birth control and I looked at my sleeping daughter. Then I looked at my husband. And maybe it was the drugs. Or maybe it was that intoxicating baby smell. Or maybe my husband had actually remembered to comb his hair, I DON’T KNOW.
Whatever it was, I said no, no thank you, I think we’re good. Because I think I want another. RIGHT NOW.
How could I not?
(42) -
I’m not calling you crazy. I was thinking the other day I’d rather have them all together! I’m 6 years older than my brother, and that is a really big gap.
Besides, if you keep bringing sch beautiful kids into the world, Eric may give in sooner :) -
I think it was the drugs. Although that is a very beautiful face.
-
You made a great choice. I don’t have kids, and haven’t been prego, so I can’t know where you’re coming from exactly. But I can tell you that I was on BC when I first got married, and it has destroyed my health. Specifically my thyroid function. And let me tell you what, you don’t want to lose that function. It doesn’t come back easy or fast, and in the meantime life is MISERABLE. So do whatever you have to do, but my advice to you is that if you go the route of birth control, definitely DON’T use a drug form of it. Find a natural method (counting days, whatever) that works for you. I wish that someone had told me that reading the fine print that comes w/ the pills is a good idea, and that their statistics of “barely anyone experiences these side effects” claim is bogus.
And by the way, your baby is ADORABLE! :) -
Yep—you are CRAZY. Seriously? Mine are exactly TWO YEARS apart… and that was almost pushing it. I felt like I was not giving myself enough time to enjoy the first…
—umm.. but your daughter is SO Sweet! Glad that your appointment went well :)
-
FIrst off, Charlotte is ADORABLE. How could you not want another with that face? Next time you make big decisions, maybe have her out of the room! Seriously. your page was open the other day and my husband started cooing. Um, no dear, not yet. No babies.
My friend had her kidlets close together and that posed its own problems. But, if you’ve been given green light, it’s your life. You know what you’re doing (well, maybe post wildebeast drugs).
And @Shauna? You’re lucky you can use a natural method. All I can say is everyone’s body is different, and some of us can handle drugs, some of us can’t. All I know is if I depended upon natural alone? My husband and I would have a few unplanned pregnancies.
-
Love looking on here in the morning to see yet another adorable little picture of Charlotte :)
-
I love her. Absolutely, positively adore her.
So woooow you guys are already talking about another? I was on birth control for the first 3 months, and went off it, and have since then mellowed out somewhat. We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do (more bc, vasectomy, etc.?? more babies? probably not), so condoms are our game plan for the time being. They worked until we chose to have a baby, so we have faith!
-
I’m on the fence. I half way think you’re crazy and the other half of my brain says, “Oh, that would be so lovely to have another…“
And then Beanie cries and I kick myself for even having that thought right now!!
-
I felt this way at about 6-10 weeks after both of mine. I was all, “I could do this again! We should totally have another!“ I think it’s something in my hormones.
But for me, that feeling wore off as the sleep deprivation added more weeks and my logical side of my brain kicked back in a bit. So now, at 3 months, I’m thinking we’ll just stop at 2 kids. Of course, the hormones may swing me the other way again at some point.
You aren’t crazy, though! Plenty of people have kids really close together. You do what is right for you guys. :-)
-
SO funny. She’s ridiculously, illegally adorable…how could you not want another?!
AND, excellent that it went so well yesterday!!!
-
Mine are three years apart. It was the soonest I felt able. I liked getting to really enjoy the babiness of #1 before #2 came along. I had a lot of morning sickness both times and with baby #2 I was put on bed rest for 6 weeks early on. Just something to consider. A second pregnancy could be really rocky and interfere with your time with Charlotte.I was also told that it takes a full year to recover between babies, I don’t know what your doctor thinks. That said, it is your life, you know it much better than I ever could. God bless you and yours in what ever choice you make.
-
Having NEVER actually birthed before…I do know I still wish I would have FATHERED more children.
-
I am looking forward to having another - not particularly looking forward to the 9+ months of sobriety again, but definitely another baby.
Everyone I’ve talked to says having them closer together is actually easier, because you’re still in the routine of doing diapers, being up at night, doing the whole baby shabang, you know?
I think we’re planning our next one to be born about a year and a half to two years from now. :)
-
C.R.A.Z.Y. I am just now thinking it might be fun to have another baby. You know, now, almost two years later, when we’re finally getting the hang of this thing. Why not mix things up a bit? Of course, it’s difficult to be sensible when you’re looking at a face like that! Cutie patootie!
-
Lady, that’s one cute kid in your arms! I guess I would want another ASAP too.
Glad you didn’t hurl at this appointment.
Cheers to you and the family!
-
Good for you Sarah! Power to you. I think having them close together, if your body can handle it, is a great idea. Plus you have a SERIOUSLY gorgeous baby there!
-
I have said this so many times I can no longer remember where I have and have not - so if this winds up to be repeating myself, here, I apologize, BUT - The thing that amazes me most about women is that once having given birth to a child, they will turn around and DO IT AGAIN. Do you guys FORGET?
-
Your daughter is a DOLL and I love reading your blog although this is my first actual post. Yay me for no longer being a stalker **gasp** lol
-
Yeah, you’re crazy. Don’t get me wrong, Charlotte is precious and all. So is Hannah, and I love her to pieces and I’d love to have 86 billion kiddos just like them both, BUT. Brian is nagging already for a second baby and I am still firmly in the WHAT NEXT BABY camp.
Lou - I have not forgotton! :)
-
Who could blame you?! Seriously, now that I’m past the morning sickness and feeling pretty good, I can’t help but think the same thoughts. Of course that might all change once I go through labor, we’ll see. :)
-
Uhm yeah, me too. (I seem to say me too an awful lot over here)
I wanted another one, right now, straight away. Sure I was breastfeeding and then it took until Amy was 20 months old to actually get pregnant again (hideous. awful. stressful).
I’m really clucky again. I want another, but Nat says not until Isaac is sleeping through and weaned and I’ve had a rest. Sucks.
-
Ha! Isn’t that just the funniest thing!!!
-
I totally felt the same way until my son hit about a year old. Then it gets really busy and tricky. You’re dealing with your “perfect”, sweet baby now having attitudes and temper tantrums. Never mind the fact that they can run and get into everything. I can’t imagine doing all of that while nursing a newborn.
It goes by so fast. Just soak it in and enjoy it. Your daughter is beautiful! Congratulations. -
My God…she is GORGEOUS! How could you not want another???
My birth control? The reflux. The spitting up that goes hand in hand with the reflux. The four outfit changes a day that go hand in hand with the reflux. The smell that both daughter and I emit due to the reflux / spitting up that goes hand in hand with the reflux. Well…you get the idea.
Birth control? Yes PLEASE! Mine would like to be an only child! Thankyouverymuch!
-
I felt the exact same way around that time. Like, let’s go for round 2! But believe me when I tell you, you must first experience toddlerhood before you can decide if you want another or not…
-
I had that feeling soon after #1 was born but held off until just after his first birthday, but that unfortunately ended in a m/c. Was then pregnant a few months later and now have two that are 2 years apart, perfect in my mind. Thinking of #3 is a little trickier for me, I know I want another, but can’t decide if I should enjoy all the baby and toddlerhood #2 has to offer before getting pregnant again, or just jumping in the ring again now to see what happens.
Oh and as far as birth control goes, haven’t been on it since I got pregnant with #1(I loosely follow NFP), we’ve resigned ourselves to any sort of accident would be a happy one.
-
Girl I don’t blame you. You should really check into the fertility awareness method, there is a great book called “Taking Charge of your Fertility” by Toni Weschler. I have been doing this method for 3 + years with only one planned pregnancy. I would never go back to hormones again.
-
Wow, really?! I’ve got a best friend just like you. She’s now got 3 under 4 yrs old. Think about that….that just jump in !
-
That was me…
I had 4 ages 4 and under at one point. Then we slowed down.
I loved it and still do.
-
Good for you! I can totally see that mentality. I’m not pregnant yet, but when I am, I plan to love it, and savor it, and do it many times.
Birth control seems to meddle with peoples’ plans…
-
That picture of Charlotte in the white knit hat is breathtaking. I know how you feel, how could you not want another one after you see your beautiful daughter? In all honestly I really cannot wait to be pregnant again, as much as I bitched and moaned about it. I loved my big huge belly, I loved feeling my baby kicking me, I loved seeing her for the first time, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a mother. I really do thinks mothers are the most blessed beings on earth.
-
Damn you guys make pretty babies. I’m not having any so you can give birth to my share, okay?
-
Part 1:
First of all, I have Crohn’s! After dealing with a flare for nearly 9 months, I decided on a whim to go off my H.B.C. I immediately noticed a difference in my symptoms….. and for the first time after many many attempts to taper, I was FINALLY able to get off steroids. Also, for the first time in a LOOONG TIME, things are more or less under control!There are no studies that indicate H.B.C. is a trigger for Crohn’s, and my doctors think I’m crazy (and maybe I am!), but I’m not going back on H.B.C. if I can help it! Besides… there are other methods for family planning….
I wish you’d write more about your Crohn’s with regards to planning your pregnancy and your experience throughout. I think it would be good for all us female Crohnies! I have a million questions. But maybe I should email them!?
Part 2:
My mother became pregnant with my brother when I was almost 3 months old in spite of her breastfeeding. She and my dad had wanted to get pregnant again, but never imagined it’d happen so quickly. Long story short—she ended up going into labor with him at 24 weeks! He was less than 1 lb at birth and didn’t come home from the hospital for 6 months. Docs suggest that her early labor was due to her becoming pregnant so soon after delivering me. -
Huck - Go ahead and e-mail the questions. I’ve been thinking about writing about Crohn’s, but I never know where to start because I feel like I have to explain how Crohn’s operates, and even though I have a pretty good understanding of how it works, I’m not a doctor and I don’t want to give out the wrong information about a disease just because I’m a little mixed up on the details.
-
Um, I hate to break it to you, but we all know you’re nuts. But I say go for it! (Then again, I don’t have to change all those diapers. Or (insert scary music here) mastitis.)
-
I think that is my favorite picture of Charlotte yet. She’s adorable.
My Hubby and his older brother are 10 months apart and all was well with them. If you are ready, go for it.
-
So, previously, you threw up when your doc was going to check out your lady bits.
And now you’re horny as teenager, and can’t wait to have another one.
You are crazy. And hormonal. But it’s all good.
Good luck!
ciao,
rpm -
I distinctly remember thinking the exact same thing when Avelyn was about Charlotte’s age. Then she started sleeping more, and I was getting more sleep, and she just got more and more fun, and I still got more sleep, and I thought to myself “Hey, this kid is amazing and I want to spend every freaking second with her. And the other seconds I want to be sleeping.“ Now she is 17 months old today, and I’m back to getting exciting about having another. Charlotte is just adorable.
-
So, does that mean you guys are not not trying to have a baby?
-
I just read this post, and I’m so there! I had my second child 8 weeks ago, 16 months after the birth of my first. And if my husband was up for it, I’d be workin’ on #3. I LOVE babies.
Oh, my husband doesn’t read your blog (no offense - he doesn’t even read mine), but in case he does stop by, don’t mention this to him. I don’t want him freakin’ out . . . just yet.
-
Ugh. She is RIDICULOUSLY cute. I love your blog!
By kim on September 16, 2009
CRAZY…. stop it was the drugs talking!!! Just kidding… i have to agree, with a face like that who wouldn’t want another 29?
i waited 6 years to have the urge again between my sons, and totally regretted the difference in ages… after the fact of course!