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Catholic Weddings
Billings users...
Is Billings CM only? Would Billings work for someone who CCL NFP doesn't work for? I know Creighton is what most would recommend for me, but the instructor in my area (well, an hour away, but doable) was really rude on the phone, had no idea when the next intro class would be, and overall seemed like he was REALLY inconvenienced by me wanting to learn the method. I corresponded with him a few times over the span of maybe 2 weeks, and HE called ME (I had emailed), so I know it's not just that I caught him on the phone at a bad time. This was 6 months ago, so I might just try to contact him again and see if he's still a jerk, but i was thinking I'd look into another method.
Also, can you give me a basic idea of the class structure for Billings? Like, for CCL NFP, you attend 3 classes that are a couple hours long each. What is it like with Billings?
Also, can you give me a basic idea of the class structure for Billings? Like, for CCL NFP, you attend 3 classes that are a couple hours long each. What is it like with Billings?
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Re: Billings users...
At the first session, she gave me the stickers and the charts and some info and told me to just start charting right then, not to wait for a period. Then at the next session we went over the charts I'd done and she critiqued. The last session she looked over my charts again and then gave us (H and me) some "sample" charts and we had to figure out how to interpret certain "anomalies" (one had an anovulatory cycle, another had about three days where the person forgot to chart, stuff like that).
I think that will depend on where you go, though. Ours did give me her email address, and you can register at nfpcharting.org to record your stuff electronically and send it to your teacher (membership is free for instructors, so if you find someone who isn't on there, tell them to sign up!) so she can help you if the classes are super full. I know the one-on-one was the most helpful thing for me, so hopefully you can find a less-overwhelmed instructor!
As for CM every day, you basically do these stickers. Green stickers mean a dry day (if your BIP is dry), white stickers (with a cute little baby on them) mean fertile days, and yellow stickers can mean one of two things:
Pre-ovulation, yellow stickers are used to describe wet sensations if your BIP is anything but dry (like you, I would assume -- you'd probably use yellow where I use green, to indicate non-fertile wet sensations).
Post-ovulation, you can use green and yellow stickers interchangeably to indicate wet or dry.
That's a really basic rundown, and I'm sure it sounds confusing and complicated (I know I was like, "Uh... stickers? Am I in kindergarten?") but it really makes a lot more sense in the class.
Creighton is designed for people with "problems" such as yours. What you have could be a symptom of something, such as cervical eversion...which is treated with a cryo. Pretty much got rid of most of the non-fertile stuff, but that happened after I learned to distinguish between non-fertile and fertile type.
It could also be a reaction to dryer sheets, detergent, or other allergins.
My apologies becaue I didn't 100% read through all the replies so this could be some repeat and/or not address your questions at all. I think I have an attention deficit today... Anyway, as I've probably said an unreasonable number of times (sorry!), I'm working on becoming a Billings teacher. I've only been using Billings since January, but was using STM (the CCL method) for over a year before that.
Billings does take into account the possibility of having mucus all the time - you learn to differentiate between fertile and non-fertile mucus. Prof talked above about the stickers (which, if you see them, the "baby" sticker will crack you up) which help you chart, though there are also symbols you can use if you don't want to buy stickers. But, as she said, you'd probably end up using the yellow stickers for your "basic infertile pattern" once you can establish that. It may take a few cycles to figure it out, but I don't think it should be a problem.
When I took the class, it was all one-on-one because that's the way my instructor preferred to teach. The first session was my husband and I and was about an hour. She went over the Catholic teaching behind NFP and then the 4 rules of Billings and how to chart. Then we had 2 weeks of charting and then I met with her to go over my chart. It turns out I did it totally wrong for the first two weeks and so we did another 2 weeks and I met with her again to go over my chart. Then we did a month later and then an email to kind of catch up another month after that.
If you want to read more about the actual method, I'd recommend the international Billings site www.woomb.org and then click on Billings Method towards the top and it will explain pretty thoroughly how the method works.
[QUOTE]So much helpful info! Lalaith, I don't recall ever hearing about B6 and Folic Acid. I might just have to stop by Target and pick some up today! I totally grasp the idea of different types of CM (and I never get more fertile CM), but with CCL NFP, the rules mark you as fertile (granted, less fertile) if you have CM. So basically, if I follow the rules I've been taught, and am TTA, I will literally be completely celibate. Clearly I need to learn a different set of rules!
Posted by Resa77[/QUOTE]
<div>After getting the hang of creighton, and a standardized amount of time, you gradually move to "yellow" stickers, which are treated the same as non-fertile. First post-peak, then eventually moving pre-peak. There is a standardized way of doing this though...I think the first three months of charting you still mark them as if they were fertile, then they move you to yellow stickers.</div>
I know that for me, there is a *significant* difference in peak-CM and pre- or post-CM. It took me a little while to start noticing the differences, but now it's very clear. (TMI alert) I actually get "wet" sensations for a few days even after the "3-Day" rule, but since I know I've ovulated, I know we're good to go, so to speak (or it was when we were TTA).