Lucy Hellein from Fort Mitchell, Alabama, posted on Instagram a photo of her newborn baby holding a defective Mirena intrauterine device (IUD).

The IUD was found behind Hellein’s placenta and placed on Dexter’s hand to take a colorful picture. His mother jokingly called his birth a “Mirena fail.” Experts claim that IUDs are among the most effective methods of birth control, even though Lucy Hellein became pregnant just three weeks after inserting the device. Although Planned Parenthood nurse Laura Ghasseminia believes that Hellein may have been pregnant before inserting the IUD.

Lucy Hellein, IUD Baby
Lucy Hellein’s newborn baby. Image credit: Instagram via @curlykittycrochet.

‘One of the most effective birth control methods’

Dexter’s due date was May 4, known as Star Wars Day. She stated as they took the picture: “The force is strong with this one.” Coincidentally, Dexter is Hellein’s fourth son.

People interpreted the image as if the baby had been born holding the IUD in his hand, just like a trophy. In reality, Hellein knew over the course of her pregnancy that the IUD was inside of her, only that she was not able to locate it.

Doctors removed the IUD as they performed the c-section. They also assure that IUDs cannot be retrieved by babies on their own, as they are usually inserted out of reach of the amniotic sac, which is where the baby grows during pregnancy.

The IUD Mirena is manufactured by Bayer. It is a T-shaped device no larger than a sugar packet that releases hormones into the uterus, avoiding 99 percent cases of pregnancy for up to 5 years. Because it is not a 100 percent effective method of contraception, it is usually recommended only for women who have already given birth.

To make use of Mirena, the patient must visit a healthcare specialist to have it inserted in a simple non-surgical procedure. Doctors advise the patient to have monthly checkups to ensure that the IUD remains in place. On the other hand, Mirena is easily removable, which makes it an efficient and reversible method of contraception.

Neither the woman nor her partner should feel the IUD during sex, although how it feels inside the uterus varies from patient to patient. Mirena is placed inside the uterus, with the larger vertex pointed toward the vagina. Soft threads should pass through the cervix and to the vagina, and they should palpable in regular inspections.

Currently, there are five brands of IUDs approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In the case of Mirena, it is a hormonal IUD, whereas ParaGard is a copper IUD, as sperm is naturally repelled by copper, making it nearly impossible for an egg to be fertilized. The other 3 IUDs are hormonal.

Planned Parenthood assures that copper IUDs can be used as emergency contraception if it is inserted within 120 hours after unprotected sex, claiming that it is over 99.9 percent effective. Furthermore, the IUD can be then left inside to serve as an effective birth control method that may last up to 12 years.

Source: First Coast News