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Natural Birth
magpie1127
member
FAM methods of birth control...
magpie1127
member
Hi ladies! My name is Maggie; I am a Nestie and currently not TTC (not even close). I know this isn't specifically about birth, but I thought this might be the most appropriate board to post this on. I've been on BC (pills) for the past two years, and would really love to use a more natural, non-hormonal method of birth control. I'm considering some of the FAM methods, which I would probably use in conjunction with a diaphram or, potentially, condoms. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this? I want to make sure it's an effective way to control pregnancy, bc while DH and I would be really excited to get pregnant, we don't want it to happen for a few more years. Any advice? Thanks!
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Re: FAM methods of birth control...
Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility if you haven't already. I found it to be really helpful in tracking my own ovulation.
I will admit that I am afraid to go completely without any other form of birth control, though.
I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of your Fertility. I actually ordered it, and it shipped to my H's work. He opened it and flipped through it and even he was supportive of us using the method once he read about it.
For us, it was highly effective. I was off BCP and using only FAM (charting temps and CM) for 12 cycles before we decided to try for baby #1. We then got PG our first cycle of actively trying. It was very popular on my local board, and many women there had much success using it as well. When done correctly, it's very effective.
Good luck to you!
DH and I (and most of our friends) use NFP. I love it and I would never use anything else. It is most definitely effective and my favorite part is that you can control the amount of risk you take with the method. All methods of TTA have a failure rate, but when you truly know what's going on with your body you can control the risk factor a lot more tightly. DH and I choose how conservatively we apply the rules based on our reasons for TTA in a particular month.
For example, right after DS was born we were very conservative about following the rules. When we began talking about TTC#2, we decided to find a MW we felt comfortable with before really TTC, but for those couple of months we were more lax with our adherence to the rules.
Among all the couples I know of who are using it, I can only count one "unplanned" pregnancy - and that's in about 10 couples with a combined 90 or so years of using NFP.
ETA: There is a TTA check-in on TTGP each week of ladies who, for the most part, are charting to avoid getting pregnant.
We used a diaphragm for a few months until my cycles regulated (I was also coming off BC) & I got the hang of charting & knowing my body. After that we felt comfortable we stopped using the diaphragm unless I was fertile, or just didn't DTD.
We used FAM successfully for 4 years to avoid pregnancy, & also used it while TTC. I conceived the 1st cycle with Ari. This time it took 6 months of really trying to conceive.
I used FAM for two years to TTA before we decided to TTC and then got PG the first cycle TTC. It was effective for us. I have been using it again to TTA for the last 12 months-since AF returned (boo hoo for me!). It is harder with a LO for sure, so we do rely more on barrier methods than I had to the first time around, but as DD gets older it is getting easier to remember to do things like check CM and take my temp!
I'd read TCOYF and go from there.
I used FAM successfully for years. I admit that DS2 was unplanned and conceived while on FAM, but that was entirely due to user error. At the risk of sounding like horny teenagers, we had a few drinks one night and with reduced inhibitions and all that it didn't seem like it was necessary to see where I was in my cycle. Whoops.
I liked it, and I intend to use it again when my cycles return.
Dh and I used NFP for two years while not TTC. After 2 cycles of using NFP to conceive, we were pregnant. I would also recommend Taking Charge and make sure your DH understands his role in NFP...
Personally, I know of two other couples who used this and once they were ready, they were able to conceive almost immediately. But I also know of a couple who used it, didn't follow it to a T and got pregnant before they were ready. It's just like any other method - if you don't follow the instructions, babies can happen.
All of this.
BFP #2 1/22/2012 ~ DS2 & DD ~ BIRTHday 9/13/2012 ~ unplanned C-section @ 38w1d
Furthermore, the TTGP board here is full of knowledgeable ladies.
I know many people who have TTA successfully using FAM/NFP (including me).
My DH and I used NFP/Charting to TTA between babies. I was lucky that my cycles were very regular/predictable (exactly 28 days every month). NFP can be tricky if you have irregular cycles, but reading TCOYF and knowing what's going on with your body (temp/mucus) will help.
As a woman, I'm always a little surprised at how little some women know about their own bodies!
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
DH and I use NFP (the Billings Method) and really like and trust it. I love that it's natural. We've successfully avoided when we wanted to and conceived when we wanted to. It's a great method to consider but does take commitment; if you're TTA you have to be diligent about your charting, but once it's habit it's not difficult.
DH and I have found there to be a LOT of benefits to our marriage as well, such as more open communication about our sexual needs and wants and our plans to conceive or avoid, we're able to be more romantic with each other while we're abstaining, which makes the anticipation for sex better, and then we have more sex as a result, b/c we know we'll have another period of abstinence coming up.
Not to threadjack or anything, but this is nice to hear. I know it's totally normal, but we got PG with DS so quick and now we are on month 4 of TTC#2. I was starting to feel bad reading all these posts from people who conceived during their first or second month try. Thanks for sharing!
I used FAM until about nine months ago ::looks down at ticker:: I randomly ovulated a full week early one cycle, and by the time I got the ovulation signs, it was too late to do anything about the unprotected sex we'd had FIVE days prior. I actually got my BFP nine days before I normally would've expected my period to come.
It was a lovely method until it wasn't.
My three little ones
I also agree that it's a lovely method but it does have it's risks - and random early ovulation is one!
That is why we use condoms from CD1 (which we never actually have sex until CD 4 or 5) until after ovulation. I don't risk the early ovulation. I know that FAM is supposed to give you freedom from condoms if you want, but because you never know when you'll have that unexpected early ovulation, we just use barrier until after ovulation. It did help us to avoid pregnancy after we had baby #1 and now I am back to using it after baby #2, but until we are ready to try for #3 we won't be taking any chances!
Daughter #1 - February 12, 2010
natural m/c March 11, 2011 at 8 1/2 weeks
Daughter #2 - January 11, 2012
Ectopic pregnancy discovered November 6, 2012 at 6 weeks
Daughter #3 - January 19, 2014
Started our exploration into the world of international adoption June 2012. We have no idea what this is going to look like but we are excited to find out!
Just wanted to chime in and add that my husband and I are also NFP-ers. We've used this method since 2008 and love it. Of course, there is a chance of an unplanned pregnancy, but unless one of you is getting sterilized, there will always be that chance if you active with your relationship! NFP/FAM methods are very effective at achieving or postponing pregnancy. I'd encourage you to take a class as a couple so you can learn together and have your teacher available for questions on charting.
Mom to Lily Gayle 4.25.06 Charlotte Kathleen 3.27.09 Samuel Thomas ~8.4.12~
After we got married, I went off hormonal BC (forever, I never want to be on it again!) and used FAM exclusively. We TTA for over a year successfully and the cycle we got pregnant with our DD we weren't actually TTC, but we knew that there was a chance of pregnancy that particular day. I didn't think it would happen, but there you go
and in cases like that you could always use a barrier method just in case if you aren't ready to TTC.
We TTA after DD was born until we were ready to TTC #2 and it only took two cycles to get DS. I haven't fully started charting again since DS was born, but by keeping an eye on my fertility signs we have avoided so far. I do want to get back to temping though, I'm just out of the habit and keep forgetting to start up again.
Another reason I love FAM is that it really helped me get to know my cycle. I always thought I was irregular before I went on the pill. After I came off of it and started charting, I realized I had pretty regular cycles, they were just much longer than average (between 35-40 days).
It is my opinion that FAM is NOT suitable for the hyperfertile.
My first two pregnancies I got pregnant on the first try.
I didn't want to go back on the pill in between pregnancies, so we were using FAM to avoid. With this pregnancy, I got pregnant with seven day old sperm (we had sex seven days before I ovulated) and I had NO fertile quality cervical fluid.
No joke. I'll never trust the FAM again. I followed it perfectly, and it still failed.
It might work for couple of average fertility, but I'd be very careful if an unplanned pregnancy would be disastrous for your situation.