NFP...anyone?

jescgrl

Ok I've been on minipill for a week. for this long week I've had a pretty constant headache that turned into a Migraine on Monday. My supply has also gone down. I'm gonna stick with it through this pack but if it stays this way I'm looking at other BC methods. I don't want an IUD, and the shot last time made me bleed heavily for the whole three months.

Does anyone do Natural Family Planning as their BC method? Where is a good place to go for information on it? I have read some about it but not nearly enough. I plan to EBF till atleast 18 months and we're looking at TTC #3 after DS2 turns 2.

Meg 'n' Eric

Try www.fertilityfriend.com  There's lots of informtaion about charting, if you read the tutorials, and then you can use the site to chart your temps, CM and other stuff.  I used the site to TTC, but I think it would be helpful when TTA as well.  GL!

anna7602

I would love to do this, but do not want to risk it before I am done BFing. My cycle was pretty regular for the first 4 months or so after I started getting AF again and then it started doing kind of crazy things, getting longer one month then shorter the next, etc. I don't feel like I would be able to accurately predict when I'm ovulating based on how erratic my cycle is now.

eschall

I've used NFP for the last 10 years.  I used it after both my boys and my loss to prevent getting pregnant.  When I was BF, I would keep track of my mucus for fertility signs.  I didn't start temping until AF returned and LO was sleeping more regularly.  During any of the "questionable" times DH and I would use condoms or "pull and pray" method for back up.  I would check out some NFP websites and fertilty friend.  I learned NFP through a class put on by the "couple to couple" league and still use the book from that.

webMistress0609

Not sure how this will work for you with BFing - it makes things trickier.  Ecological (not exclusive, ecological) BFing is supposed to be pretty effective for at least the 1st 6 months though, but it's still not 100%. Of course nothing is but abstinence, blah, blah. 

I used FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) for TTA for 4 years prior to TTC with success. We were extra careful & used a backup for the 1st few months as I was coming off a BCP that had really done a number on my cycle. Going off hormonal BC was the best thing I ever did though, seriously. I tried the mini-pill after Ari was born & quit w/in 2 weeks - I was b!tchy & had headaches every day. If you think it's affecting your supply & giving you headaches I'd quit now, but that's JMHO. I've read posts from ppl who had supply issues from the mini-pill & had a hard time getting it back - the sooner you stop the better. 

I haven't started charting again b/c DS is up too much at night for me to temp accurately, so I'm just checking CM & my cervix. I thought for sure I was ovulating a month ago but false alarm!

Oh & Fertility Friend is great!

webMistress0609

anna7602:

I would love to do this, but do not want to risk it before I am done BFing. My cycle was pretty regular for the first 4 months or so after I started getting AF again and then it started doing kind of crazy things, getting longer one month then shorter the next, etc. I don't feel like I would be able to accurately predict when I'm ovulating based on how erratic my cycle is now.

The good thing about using FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) as opposed to NFP that is just counting days is that it accounts for cycle irregularity. Your not counting days or whatever with FAM, your using physical signs & temps. If I would've used NFP I would gotten pregnant while TTA pretty quickly b/c my cycle is never textbook & I don't think I ever ovulate on the magical 14th day.

ETA: That actually reminds me of another thing I love about FAM - it really puts you in tune with your body. 

ncbelle

Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Has your AF returned already?  I wouldn't personally rely on FAM while BFing (then again, AF is still MIA for me).  

g_belle

check out the Creighton model of natual family planning.  You work with a certified instructor to learn how to chart.  We've been using it for about 2 years now.  If you follow the instructions (which we didn't and now we have Little Man ) it's statistically just as effective as the pill.  It would be tricky to learn while breastfeeding but do-able with an experienced instructor. 

Many of the places that they teach this method are religious based (the Catholic church sends couples through a Creighton seminar before they can marry in the Church so it does have a religious bent) but I know of a few people that use it that aren't Catholic/Christian at all. 

kammy

ncbelle:

Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

If you are interested in any kind of a natural bc method you.must.read.this.book.  I actually think it should be required reading for all 6th grade girls (or whenever a girl can expect to get her period these days).  I cannot stress enough how awesome this book is for understanding your fertility and why/when your body does what it does.

AutumnBride929

Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility?  I think that book would provide a ton of info for you.  I used Fertility Friend while we were TTA and obvs now I use to to TTC.  We successfully avoided for 5-6 months and now we are unsuccessfully NOT avoiding, lol.

14years

I didn't want to use the pill or any kind of hormonal birth control or the IUD while I was BFing. 

We used a combination of a spermicide gel and charting (via Fertility Friend), once my cycle was back to normal.  Spermicides aren't as effective in women who have given birth, but combining it with charting worked for me.  We successfully avoided conception from the time my cycle returned, when DS was 7 months, to the time we wanted to conceive, when DS was 16 months.  Not a long time, but we did it.

mrs.baum

ncbelle:

Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Has your AF returned already?  I wouldn't personally rely on FAM while BFing (then again, AF is still MIA for me).  

This exactly.