When You Want This Baby To Be The Last: Family Planning Tips For You

15 March 2016 by Brent Woods

When you and your spouse or partner are expecting a baby, it is an exciting and important time in your lives. However, if you are also hoping for this child you are expecting to be your last, you may wonder what you can do to make sure that your goal is the reality. There are many different ways that you and your partner can go about family planning. Get to know a few of the ways that you can be sure you stay in control of how many children you have so that your family can be complete, happy, and healthy.

Long-Term Birth Control Methods

Many couples who want to stop having children after they have had one or several would prefer not to go back to using condoms or other such disposable contraceptives as they can add up in cost and may be inconvenient. As such, you may be looking for longer term birth control options.

One such option is what is known as a IUD or intrauterine device. These birth control devices are inserted directly into the uterus and are T-shaped devices that prevent a woman from becoming pregnant. They block sperm from being able to join with the egg through preventing the egg release or causing the cervical mucus to thicken so that the sperm cannot get through. These devices can last anywhere from three to ten or more years, depending on which IUD you choose.

Another long-term birth control option is a birth control implant. This device is implanted into your arm rather than your uterus and releases hormone signals that have the same effects on your reproductive system as an IUD. The implant is effective for three years and is a good long-term option for women who may have adverse effects to an IUD like cramping or the IUD not staying put and slipping out.

Permanent Female Sterilization

One of the ways that you can be sure that this child is your last is to undergo a sterilization procedure. For women, there are two ways to go about this, but both function to seal off the Fallopian tubes. The Fallopian tubes are the part of the female reproductive system through which an egg from the ovary travels to the uterus where it can then latch on and develop if fertilized by sperm.

The first of these sterilization procedures is a surgical procedure that involves making small incisions in the abdomen while the patient is under general anesthesia. Through these incisions, an OBGYN will laproscopically place two clips on the Fallopian tubes that essentially cut or close them off.

The second of these procedures is known as the Adiana method. This procedure does not require general anesthesia because no incisions are made. Instead, the OBGYN approaches the Fallopian tubes through the vagina and places two implants into the Fallopian tubes that close them off. The implant eventually fuses to the tissue in the Fallopian tube, creating a more natural closure to the tubes. Both procedures are considered permanent, though if a woman changes her mind, it may be possible to reverse the procedure and reconnect the remaining Fallopian tube tissue.

Now that you know a few of the methods you can use after you have the baby that you are hoping will be your last, you can be sure that you make the right choice for you and your partner going forward. Contact an OBGYN clinic for more info.

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