Getting Pregnant with an IUD

Aside from abstinence, no form of birth control is 100% effective, including the IUD. Though IUDs are one of the most effective forms of pregnancy, second only to abstinence or having your tubes tied, there is always a slight chance that you could get pregnant. Here, I will share with you my own personal experience of getting pregnant with an IUD to give you an idea of what you might expect if this happens to you.

Getting Pregnant with an IUD: Mixed Emotions

When I found out I was pregnant, I had a ParaGard IUD in place. Although I was sad that my husband and I didn't get a chance to "try" for a baby, and I hadn't fully prepared to become pregnant, I was still incredibly excited at this little surprise. The first emotion I felt when I realized I had gotten pregnant with an IUD was complete shock. I was so shocked, in fact, that immediately took a second test, although the first test was clearly positive (see picture one). Then panic set in. My mind began racing with worries.

I'm pregnant and the IUD is still in there.

We didn't plan for this baby, but I want it so badly.

What if I lose the baby?

I called my husband in tears to tell him the news. My tears were for fear of losing the baby, not of becoming pregnant. I then dialed my doctor's office and they set me up with an appointment the next day.

During the first part of the pregnancy I worried excessively about miscarriage. I figured that statistics didn't matter much anymore. According to ParaGard^[1] there was a 99.4% chance of not getting pregnant with an IUD and I was the .6% whose IUD failed. In my mind I thought that maybe I would also be in the 3% of women who miscarries within the first trimester. Fortunately, as my pregnancy progressed, I was able to relax a bit and realized that our little one really wanted to be in this world, and truly wanted to be a part of our family.

Getting Pregnant with an IUD: OB Appointment to Remove IUD

I felt both agony and relief that my OB didn't get me in straightaway. I felt agony because I had to wait 24 hours to get in to see the doctor. Relief because they informed me that waiting a day would not make a difference as far as the health of my baby was concerned.

I nervously entered the office and sat down with my OB. She informed me that while it isn't terribly common to get pregnant with an IUD, it still happens, especially with the ParaGard. She took me in to get a vaginal ultrasound and my heart beat rapidly with fear. After what seemed like eternity, she turned the monitor toward me and pointed out my baby, a tiny little bean with an even tinier heart beat. Relief poured through me, but it was short lived.

The next step was to get the IUD out. My OB told me that sometimes they keep the IUD in, but usually it is best if the IUD is taken out. The position of my IUD and the position of the baby was ideal. Not only did I get pregnant with an IUD, but the IUD hadn't shifted at all from its correct positioning. My baby had planted herself above the IUD and pushed it downward, so when they took the IUD out, it didn't affect her at all.

Still, my doctor warned me, I had a slightly increased chance of miscarriage for about a week. After the week was up, my pregnancy would be no different than any normal pregnancy.

Getting Pregnant with an IUD: Follow-Up Ultrasound

I worried incessantly about losing my baby and overanalyzed everything in my body. With every cramp, every twinge, I was certain that "this was it" and I was losing my child. I kept record of the days I felt nauseous and the days I felt normal. When I went more than a few days without morning sickness, I panicked. At about nine weeks, my panic was enough to call the OB and beg for an ultrasound. I will never forget the note on my appointment that said, "Questioning Viability of Pregnancy." For some reason, the term "viability" made my fears even more prevalent.

My husband was with me, as well as our almost two-year-old son. I worried that we would get bad news, but I wanted my family there with me either way. The technician smiled kindly and zoomed in on our baby. There she was, looking slightly like Homer Simpson (see picture two), wiggling around and alive as can be. From that moment, I vowed not to worry about losing my baby anymore. She was a fighter, after all, she fought the IUD, she fought the odds of miscarriage after the IUD came out, and she was still kickin.' There were still times when fear would sneak up on me after that ultrasound, but it was usually short lived.

If you get pregnant with an IUD, you may find that you worry about losing your child just like I did. Your OB is there to support you, and while it isn't a good idea to call them incessantly over every little fear you have, if you are truly concerned, set up an appointment or at the very least, speak with a nurse over the phone. Getting pregnant is confusing and emotional anyway, without adding the factor of getting pregnant with an IUD. Another great outlet for emotions is pregnancy chat rooms such as BabyCenter.com or CafeMom.com where you can get support from women who have been in your situation.

Getting Pregnant with an IUD: A Happy Ending

Eight-and-a-half months after I discovered I was pregnant with an IUD, I gave birth to a gorgeous 7lb 10oz baby girl. We had decided that since she was a surprise in the first place, why not keep with the surprise theme and wait to find out if she was a boy or a girl. I had a hunch all along, but I was still in shock when the doctor announced, "You have a baby girl!"

Despite getting pregnant with an IUD, we brought home a healthy baby girl. She is as feisty as her brother, and cuter than any little girl should be (see picture three). I cannot imagine life without her, and I will be forever grateful that I got pregnant with an IUD.

Deciding on Birth Control After Getting Pregnant with an IUD

After giving birth, my OB asked what I wanted to do for birth control. Although I was madly in love with my baby, I was not keen on the idea of getting pregnant with an IUD again, so I searched my options. I was awful at taking the Pill, and not in love with the idea of a shot, and the ring was too expensive. Condoms were out because if we got pregnant with an IUD, we would surely get pregnant using a condom. In the end, the IUD was the only one that appealed to me. My OB suggested trying the Mirena this time, since the likelihood of getting pregnant with the Mirena was even less than with the ParaGard, due to the hormones it gives off. So, I went for it. I was nervous and convinced myself that I had gotten pregnant every month the first few months it was in, but that was all in my head. As a plus, my period was very light and I didn't experience the cramping that I had with the ParaGard. That made me one happy Mirena IUD user.

Important Notes About Getting Pregnant with an IUD

If you suspect you are pregnant with an IUD in place, contact your OB immediately. According to BabyCenter.com^[2], when you get pregnant with an IUD in place, you are at a higher risk for an ectopic pregnancy. This is because IUDs prevent implantation in the uterus, which can lead to the egg implanting itself in the fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies are considerably dangerous if left untreated. It is important to note that according to Mirena.com^[3], the Mirena IUD commonly causes menstrual cycles to become lighter, or even cease altogether. Therefore, you may not actually be pregnant with an IUD, you may be blessed with less of a period! At any rate, call your OB if you are concerned.

It is normal to experience a wide range of emotions with any pregnancy, but in my experience there were far more emotions when I found out I was pregnant with an IUD. It can take a while for the reality to sink in, to prepare your mind that you will be giving birth, even though you were preventing pregnancy. It isn't unusual to feel confused, sad, or disappointed, especially since the pregnancy wasn't planned. But, it is important that you work through these feelings well before your child arrives.

If you become pregnant with an IUD, it is important that you have a good support system in place. Friends or family you can talk to without fear of judgment is ideal. Additionally, your OB should be supportive and sensitive to your feelings and emotions as well. Don't ever feel like you are a bad mom for experiencing some sadness or shock to the fact that you became pregnant with an IUD. Eventually, it will pass!

Disclaimer: Please note that I am not a medical professional and offer this article solely for insight on my own personal experience on getting pregnant with an IUD. It is imperative that you contact your own medical professional if you think you may be pregnant with an IUD.

Sources:

^[1] http://paragard.com/custom.php?refer=ParaGard:%20TouchItNow&search_result=98_1680

^[2] http://www.babycenter.com/0_ectopic-pregnancy_229.bc

^[3] http://www.mirena-us.com/what_expect/index.jsp