My husband had been working toward an accelerated nursing program so we decided to wait to have another child until the program was complete. With only one income, finances were already very tight. I had my ParaGard inserted in June of 2015. Per my OB it was in place at my 6 week check up. During the first four months after insertion I had frequent moderate to severe cramping and I was informed that the cramping was normal. In June 2016 I returned for my annual OB appt. At this time the IUD was no longer visible in my cervix. An ultrasound was scheduled. Four days later I had a positive pregnancy test. The ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy and the IUD was not visible. It was assumed that it had fallen out. Despite hyperemesis and many missed work days, I carried a healthy pregnancy to term and gave birth in February of 2017. An X-ray immediately after birth showed the paragard was still in my body, but a hysterostomy failed to find the IUD in my uterus. It was determined it was in my abdomen. Although a simple laparoscopic surgery was expected, the arm of the IUD was found lodged into the outside of the uterus, while the body of the IUD had perforated and was in my intestine. Recovery was routine until I started having severe abdominal pain about 2 weeks after surgery. I was found to have an abscess behind my uterus that required an inpatient admission, IV antibiotics and the insertion of a drain to remove the infectious fluid. The cost of missed work hours, the insurance payments for a pregnancy and delivery, and the cost of surgery and an additional admission for complications is beyond what we can afford. I’ve had no interest from a few attorneys but still think ParaGard should be accountable for their product and what it has done to my life, my family and my body.