Sex & Romance
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
anyone doing NFP?
Not sure where to post this...I think I may have posted something like this on the Bump, but it did not get any responses. Just wondering what other couples' experiences were about natural family planning. We took our 1st class for the 2nd time. We have a DS, but he was unplanned. We want to make sure that if we want another one it will be when we are ready. TIA
Re: anyone doing NFP?
I am not yet but I have been reading about FAM, which is similar to NFP. I suggest you get this book: Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Also, I am not Catholic, but I have seen on the TK that the Catholic Wedding board has a number of posts about NFP. They might be able to help you.
Good luck!
chart
BFP: 6.13.11 - EDD: 2.20.12 - Natural M/C: 6.22.11 at 5 weeks 3 days
I used FAM for a long time before we decided to have our first child. The method is very effective if (only if) you do it properly. Reading TCOYF is a must IMO.
Also, if your baby is not consistently sleeping through the night, then the method will not work. You need to take the temperature at the same time each day and you need at least 3 hours of sleep. I have two children and I have not used FAM since I had my first because I do not get consistent or uninterrupted sleep.
Um...no. We took the class because we are Catholic. Didn't bother to learn the techniques. We didn't really plan on getting pregnant, but did. We are so happy to have our DS, but we want to control if and when we want another one.
*PCOS bio* *Cold Hands, Warm Heart*
We use FAM to avoid. PP FAM is a little different - some women's temps are heavily affected by the amount of sleep they've had and breastfeeding can have an affect.
It's highly effective when used properly. In FAM, if you take a risk it is a high risk because if you take a risk you know it's during your potentially fertile period. Personally, I like knowing what my body's doing and having the ability to make an informed decision. I like the freedom of not having to put chemicals in my body or alter the way it's meant to function.
Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a must read - they also have a website (tcoyf.com) with forums where you can get a lot of good information.
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over!
My husband and I have been using NFP for over a year to avoid and we LOVE it. I was on birth control before we were married to try to control some migraine issues, but life without artificial hormones is fantastic. Charting and using NFP has also brought us a lot closer in our marriage. I know a lot of catholic couples will say this, but it is really true.
We took CCL's class and got the kit that comes with the class. Our instructors were really helpful and don't be afraid to ask ANY kind of questions that you have--that's what the instructors are there for. We pretty much read our manual cover to cover in addition to the classes, and I read Marilyn Shannon's nutrition book pretty thoroughly too. It's great! I also picked up a copy of Taking Control of Your Fertility and we read that together. Once you are informed, the method is MUCH easier to use. Both my husband and I love knowing my body's cycles so well and it really helps us to communicate and make the best decision for our family each cycle.
CCL also offers classes on charting PP, through breastfeeding, and into menopause too (once we get to that point in our lives). Just ask your teaching couple about them. I know ours were extremely helpful.
As opposed to hormonal BCP which makes you NOT ovulate, and therefore never feel in the mood? Makes perfect sense.
Tons of women begin using NFP to diagnose cycle irregularities. It works great for women with irregular cycles.
Oh, and being engaged with your body is a good thing.
I'm sorry I just had to respond to this because it is so completely false. As someone who came to NFP very skeptical, I did my research and everything you just stated here is completely a myth and based off of outdated information. It's the proliferation of rumors like this that give NFP a bad rap.
Yes, because of hormones your sex drive usually picks up during "phase 2" which is when you are supposed to abstain from intercourse if you are trying to avoid pregnancy--but this choice is entirely up to each couple. This choice is really emphasized as a part of Catholic teaching and responsible parenthood. The choices you and your husband make are entirely up to you.
In addition, NFP works BECAUSE you become in tune with your body. The more in tune you get the better it works, ESPECIALLY when your cycles are erratic and irregular. I've had a few issues with my cycles that I've been able to diagnose and treat with my doctor that were very easily detected because I was charting. If I hadn't been charting I would never have known what the issue was and how to solve it.
NFP is not the rhythm method and it takes less than 5 minutes a day to start using. If you can remember to take a pill everyday at the same time then you can take your temp in the morning and check your cervical mucus when you go to the bathroom. Heck, my husband even writes everything down on our chart, and sets and shuts off the alarm in the morning. It's WAY easier than I every thought it would be, and the more you use it; the better it works.
HA! It's bad for women's libidos! That's hilarious! Please go through the first few pages of this forum and see how many posts there are about "I have no libido!" or "I don't want sex anymore" and count how many are complaining about hormonal birth control. The very nature of hormonal birth control kills libido - it's artificial chemicals that messes with your body's natural hormones. And everyone is SURPRISED that their libidos are gone. Wow.
Here's the real deal: Fertility Awareness works and works extremely well as birth control if you are smart and responsible. Also, nothing says you HAVE to abstain during your fertile time. Many people who practice FAM use barrier methods during the fertile time with no problems. You get to choose how you want to use it. Now personally, I NEVER want kids, but I am very opposed to putting artificial hormones into my body. So since DH and I are extremely motivated to avoid pregnancy, we never go unprotected before ovulation, we do abstain during the fertile time, but then can go unprotected after ovulation is confirmed. It's been over 3 and a half years with no problems whatsoever. This method is the only birth control I trust, simply because it makes the most sense! If you know there is no egg to fertilize (because the egg only survives for 24 hours max) then you don't have to worry. Yes, we abstain for about a week out of the month. But there are plenty of other things to do in the bedroom at that time. And really, abstaining for a week is really not a big deal at all. But like I said - you don't have to do it that way. It's up to you - YOU are in control!
OP - best of luck. FAM has some different rules postpartum so make sure you educate yourself accordingly.
You can still use condoms during this time if you'd like to have sex. It's just a reliable alternative to being on birth control or using condoms REGULARLY. It's also helpful for when you begin planning to conceive because you know your body and cycle very well.
I am not using it currently, but am looking into starting it. It sounds like one of the best methods since it avoids hormones and condoms AND it allows you to truly know your body.