practice natural family planning

Despite the fact I have received several stupid – actually several REALLY, REALLY stupid comments – from various users about this, I really, really love NFP/FAM. (And why DO people feel the overwhelming urge to act like morons? Seriously…)

I tend to lean more towards the FAM end of this, and at the moment, more towards the Billings method, but either way, a synthetic hormone free body is definietly the way to go for me!

I did receive a bunch of NICE comments, too, so thanks to all for the intelligent tips and experiences!

I was browsing through the headlines of Sympatico.ca a few days ago, and seeing one article on contraception myths, I figured I’d take a look.

All but one of the myths they mentioned are false, with the exception of – you guessed it – the one about Natural Family Planning. (Actually, one of the others is debatable, but anyway…)

“You Can’t Get Pregnant on a Woman’s “Safe” Days” was the second myth. Why? The article explained without ANY facts or even real explanation why “safe” days don’t work. Their reason? ‘Noone can know for sure when safe days are.’

In a way… that’s true, because really the only FOOLPROOF contraception is, well… abstinence. But, on the same hand, it’s also a myth to say you can’t get pregnant on the pill!

I agree the “rhythm method” is inaccurate and untrue BUT this article wasn’t talking about “rhythm”, it was talking about ANYone who knows their body, knows their cycles and uses scientific evidence as to when they can and cannot conceive.

NO method of contraception is 100% absolute, (with of course the exception of abstinence, but I’ve already said that.) However, NFP is 98% accurate when used correctly, just like the pharmaceutical companies dream product and delightful little cash crop, The Pill.

Did the article surprise me? No, actually. But… it still makes me mad. Essentially the meaning behind their statement was “Don’t trust your body in it’s natural, capable state. Naturaly Family Planning and Fertilty Awareness isn’t true! USE DRUGS INSTEAD! :D”

Now that I’m getting back to the normal cycle of things, I’m getting closer and closer to completing this goal. It’s not really something you “complete”, it’s more so something you live, but I know when I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished this goal enough so to mark it as done.

I’ve also been looking into the Billings method which seems very much like the lazy way to do NFP. Even better, it seems just as reliable! I would like to chart though, regardless, just until I’m a bit more familiar with everything.

I love this. I wish they taught this in schools – there would be a lot less accidental pregnancies!

I just learned today that oral contraceptives are often responsible for vitamin B deficiency!

I also checked out a book from the library today called “Taking Charge of Your Fertility.”

After trekking all over town for a BBT thermometer, I finally found one! It took the head pharmacist looking up in his books to find it, but I now have one! lol

I also signed up for “lessons” delivered to my email from Fertility Friend which has been very helpful and informative. The site is actually for couples who are TTC, but what can be used one way can usually be used in reverse.

When we go to the library next I’ll probably check out some books there on the subject, too. (One advantage of KY was the library within walking distance… however I don’t recall ever seeing books on this topic there.)

I have graph paper as well, so I can design myself a chart. Looks like it’s all coming together! I can hardly wait to actually start!

that signs of my fertility are very closely connected to my other goal of conquer my skin issues, as well as to the moon cycle. I’m happy to be doing this; it makes me all the more amazed at how wonderfully made my body is, and truly how connected I am to seemingly simple things.

I will never, ever go on birth control again. When I got married, I went on evra (ortho evra, to Americans) as I wasn’t interested in a diaphragm, am completely against the idea of an IUD (yuck!) and knew I wouldn’t remember to take a pill every day. So I chose the patch.

I hated it! What a horrible mistake! It only made me moody the first month, but after that I was so exhaustingly tired, I actually fell asleep walking once! Every day at work I would start yawning and yawning at an exact time, to the point I could tell what time it was because of my yawning. I had strong stomach cramps many times that year, to the point where I often had to call in to work.

Married in May, off of the patch by December. The first and second periods off of it I had horrible cramps, something I’d gotten maybe 3 times before in my life.

After that I started paying more attention to my body and decided “the rhythm method” was the only way to go. I now know it’s since been updated and renamed to Natural Family Planning, and everything about this appeals to me.

Last year I got pregnant, though, but I also now know Gabriel’s conception date, and that it was because our condom failed!

I know that traditionally no other method of b/c is used in NFP, but I’ve always been a bit of a rule bender. Gabriel was just meant to be, that’s all. (:

After his birth, my midwives, husband and I discussed b/c again, and I was most open to a diaphragm… and then changed my mind. Too much bother!

I need to refresh my memory on this, and start charting. I’m breastfeeding fulltime, but I’ve already had one period!

Oh, my exciting, wonderful, fertile body, I love you! ...but I’m sorry, I just can’t have 10 kids by the time I’m 30!