Postpartum Tubal Liagation or Essure?

Hi D.~
I had a tubal done the day after having #3. I too had very minimal help when I got home, and I had a lot of pain for the first week, maybe a little longer. I choose to go the tubal path instead of Essure, because with Essure, you start off by getting the Depo shot, then getting Essure put in at 6 weeks. If I remember correctly, there was another follow up a month or two later, to make sure it was in place correctly. With the tubal, it was all finished by the time I left the hospital. As for scarring, I have a 1/2" scar in my belly button, which I couldn't even see for the first 10 months.
I really recommend if you get a tubal, to do whatever you can to take it easy and rest that first week, or it makes the whole recovery that much harder. I've been told by some women who had it easy the first couple weeks didn't experience much for pain at all.
Good Luck with #4- I feel for you having all those boys under one roof!

I'm really not sure why you were told by a member to practice abstinence! Gee, someone having a bad day? That's pretty harsh. I'm glad you also got some real, non judgemental advice as well. I vote for the tubal. Good luck & have fun with that last baby!

D.,

I would say go with Essure, it is safe and very reliable, It's been a year since i ha it done and there is nothing to worry about the spring being in your fallipian tubes. they do an x-ray 3 months after the procedures, to make sure that the body closed up around it. There is no scarring because they go in the vaganl area. You are up and running the around the same day. I heal quickly and i was runnig around with my 2 little one. Go on there website and it gives u a video on how it works. It's the best thing. I hope this helps. Good luck let let me what u decide.

I would say tubal ligation. I too was considering Essure until I did a search and found websites with message boards where people wrote about their experiences with Essure. I remember reading one woman's post in particular because the coil somehow came out of one of her tubes and ended up attached to her bowel. Another woman ended up with one of the coils in her abdomen. This procedure is too new.

I had Essure done about a year and a half ago now. My youngest was around 6 months old when I had it done. There is a lot of prep that has to happen prior to the procedure, but recovery was very easy. I was down for a day but went sledding with my son the next day. They wanted me to go on some type of birth control in the three month waiting period between when the Essure procedure is done and when the follow-up test is done (an HSG). This is the time it takes for the tubes to scar over as a result of the inserted springs. I hate exogenous hormones and refused to do Depo or oral birth control. They gave me a stern warning to use a condom and fit me with a diaphragm as well. I had a few very mild occasional pains in the first few months after the implantation but now I would never know they were there.

There's nothing that says you have to have either procedure while you're in the hospital having the baby. You might consider having them done a few months down the road after you've recovered from birth. However, if you were to end up with a C-section, I would have them do a tubal ligation at that time if possible.

I am in favor of tubal. I had it done after my fourth which was an emergency C-section. If you have it done while still in the hospital at delivery it is much easier. They just do a super tiny incision uder the belly button now so very minimal scarring. I had some pain but that goes with the c-section. It is your choice but I too am leery of things that are very new.

I had a tubal after the vaginal birth of my son and since it was done laproscopic there is no scar. There is the tiniest hint of one so far back in my belly button you can't see it. It has made life so much easier!!!!! No more worry about birth control!! (that mostly did not work anyway. We had three kids in five years all with birth control!) I did not have any major side affects and was back to yself in a few weeks. The only long term affects have been exta pain ovulating and some localized pain during my periods (which were always bad even before that).
I was terrified to do it but I am so glad that I did!!! Hope this helps.Feel free to email me with any other ?'s.

My sister just had the essure done and it did not take - one tube is still open. The doctor told her she could either get a liagation or her husband could go for the big v - she was very upset that she went though it and it did not work!

I don't know anything about the essure option, but I had a tubal after my fourth baby. Having a tubal after delivery is the best time (according to my doctor anyway) as the falopian tubes are pushed closer to "the surface" due to the pregnancy. They go in thru your belly button, so there is no scar to worry about. If you are having an epidural, they can take you in for the surgery before it wears off and you don't have to endure general anesthesia. For me it was uncomfotable afterwards but not a big deal at all. I was able to pick up my baby and care for my other children with no difficulty at all. Good luck with whatever you decide and congrats on the new little guy!

I had a tubal done years ago with no problems.

I just had the Essure procedure done on April 24th and can say I was running around doing normal activities that very afternoon. There was only minor cramping, but I expected that since I was due to start menses within a few days.

I researched for well over a year until I came to my decision and it was based on my personal need to not go under the knife, recovery. insurance coverage and not wanting anything that had hormones. Go to http://www.essure.com and read up as much as you can. There is even a comparison chart for other procedures. As with any other option there are risks and those who it did not work for; albeit, much less with the essure.

I hope you are able to come to your personal decision without much stress.

I had a tubal ligation 16 years ago after my 2nd cesarean and 3rd child. It has worked like a charm and the scar from both of my C sections were the bikini cut so you can not see the scar line, it just blends in. Recovery from a C-section
was easier for me than a natural child birth, since I had an episiotomy.