NWR: NFP Anyone?

wittykitty14 · April 2013

Hey everyone!

So, do any of you use/are planning to use NFP? FI and I are going to a session tonight on the Creighton Model, and are very intrigued! Do any of you use it? When you do it properly, does it actually work? I mean really really? I'm excited to learn more about it because I'm very interested in alternative methods to birth control. Thanks for the help!

agapecarrie · April 2013

NFP methods are more effective than any birth control at avoiding pregnancy.

I started charting Creighton almost 12 years ago when I was single due to health reasons, and because of charting, discovered several health issues I wouldn't have found otherwise. Creighton is part of Napro Technology which works with a women's cycle to help issues, rather than taking a synthetic hormone to shut it down.

I believe EVERY woman should be charting just for her own health information

newlyseliski · April 2013

You came to the right place

There are a lot of ladies on here that use a variety of NFP methods! My husband and I use Creighton, too, and it's pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. We avoided for the first year of our marriage successfully and have been TTC since then. I have really irregular cycles and ovulation is difficult to peg down sometimes, but my doctor specializes in working with NFP patients and has been very helpful!

professorscience · April 2013

I think most, if not all, of the regular posters here use NFP, many of them to avoid conception. Creighton method is apparently great if you have any fertility issues because of the technology it uses.

I know that personally, my husband and I successfully avoided for about 6-7 months after our wedding before we started TTC.

itzMS · April 2013

So long as you take it seriously, it's really easy!

8 months of success and counting!

caitriona87 · April 2013

Yes, NFP "really really" works. We use STM but they're all effective. We TTA for 9 months after the wedding, about 6 months between pregnancies, and now 6 months after pregnancy #2 and will probably TTA at least 6-9 more before TTC #3.

Like others said it is also reveals health information you would not be able to get otherwise (in my case an iodine deficiency.)

Riss91 · April 2013

Agree w/previous posters - we're going on over 3 years now! I especially like knowing much more about my body and what is happening each day. It is much easier to notice if something isn't quite right. Thast being said - it will take some time to learn the method and be comfortable with your judgment, so try not to be discouraged. It can be overwhelming at first! But after a few months it becomes clockwork.

Please stick around and ask questions - there are so many ladies here with loads of experience (even a few instructors).

Ambybambi1125 · April 2013

I have been charting using the billings ovulation method for 7 mos. now and it's been a long road, but extremely rewarding and liberating and I feel confident that come August whenI get married I will be successful using it whether TTC or TTA.

erin5286 · April 2013

My H and I use Creighton as well, and we've successfully avoided conceiving since we got married in October.

It seemed a little overwhelming at first to learn, but after a few cycles of charting and follow ups with my instructor, now I feel very confident about it. We never looked into any other methods so I can't speak on any of those, but Creighton has been a great model for me to use as its helped me figure out some weird things with my cycles, and also put me on alert of some potential fertility issues so I can address those with my doc before trying to conceive.

bibliophile2010 · April 2013

Jumping on the NFP love train! I cannot tell you how much I love NFP! We used it to avoid for 3-4 cycles before TTC, and have successfully avoided 9 months (including breastfeeding, which is a time of inherent wonkiness) since DD's birth! We learned Creighton (and I love its relationship with NaPro), but any of the modern methods are effective.

wittykitty14 · April 2013

Thanks for all your input! FI and I are really excited to learn more about it tonight! We're about 3 months from the wedding, and I figure I should start charting soon so I can get the hang of it!

Resa77 · April 2013

I also use Creighton, and I love it! I have successfully used it for 8 months now to avoid, and I feel very confident in it. It has also helped in diagnosing some health issues, which has been wonderful.

I had a REALLY REALLY hard time learning NFP at first, but now it's easy peasy. If you feel overwhelmed at first, and it doesn't make any sense, just be patient!

Calypso1977 · April 2013

ive been charting for 4 years, all to avoid. there were only one or two times that i was afraid of an "oops" but in those instances, i had not followed the rules and knew i didnt.

i use sympto-thermal method and self-taught using "taking charge of your fertility".

i feel the method is very easy and reliable, and i like being hormone free AND in line with church teaching.

bibliophile2010 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_nwr-nfp-anyone?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:153743ff-ea5f-49fb-8a67-e0f3d6c2a355Post:2a72d14f-4ef0-406f-a6ff-7d0eb533563c">Re: NWR: NFP Anyone?</a>:
[QUOTE]ive been charting for 4 years, all to avoid. there were only one or two times that i was afraid of an "oops" but in those instances, i had not followed the rules and knew i didnt. i use sympto-thermal method and self-taught using "taking charge of your fertility". i feel the method is very easy and reliable, and<strong> i like being hormone free AND in line with church teaching.</strong>
Posted by Calypso1977[/QUOTE]

Glorious!

I'm saying this for lurkers, I love NFP because I find that is healthy and empowers women, holds them and their bodies in the highest esteem, and empowers me and the body that God gave me. It made me, for the first time in my life, see my body and all it's "stuff" as good. Being 100% in line with Church teaching is really, for me, an added bonus.

lalaith50 · April 2013

18 months of marriage and counting! :-D

(Hopefully will be switching to TTW sometime soon...)

TeaForMe · April 2013

It's all been said already, but NFP is great! I do want to encourage you to stick with it through the first few months when it might seem tough and as though you will never get it. It gets easier and becomes second nature! Also, as far as effectiveness goes, it all depends on your motivation. It is 99% effective if you follow the rules for TTA. If you choose not to follow them, that is when the effectiveness goes way, way down. But at least you know when you are taking that chance so there really aren't any surprise pregnancies. (I forget her name, but I know there is a poster who actually did have a surprise using nfp correctly... But I think even she would say she is the exception

) Good luck and feel free to ask questions or anything!

lalaith50 · April 2013

And if anyone needs any more convincing...

"10 Reasons I Stopped Birth Control Pills"

http://www.thegloss.com/2013/03/29/sex-and-dating/stop-birth-control-pills/gallery-page/1/

Calypso1977 · April 2013

and just now i saw this!!http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/company-recalls-birth-control-batch-containing-extra-placebos-023047453.html

bibliophile2010 · April 2013

It will never not boggle my mind that people trust a little pill, but don't trust their own powers of observation or awareness of their own bodies.

Tami87 · April 2013

I'm late to this thread but I wanted to add that I have also been using the sympto-thermal method of NFP and we have successfully used it to try to avoid getting pregnant for 9 months now. I agree with previous posters that I was a little unsure of my observations when I first learned but now it is second nature. So if it is hard in the beginning stick with it. Agree with previous posters that there are so many benefits to learning NFP.

monkeysip · April 2013

Another big hurray for NFP here. Not married/sexually active yet, but I've been charting Creighton for months, and it's so great learning more about my body. I think it's also helped fiance and I to learn more about each other and chastity.

The biggest advice I have is to pick a method (they're all great) and learn it WELL. I think NFP only really "works" (if by work you mean able to avoid children really effectively) when you learn it really well and completely commit to it. And although I know some can learn without an instructor, I really recommend it because it's made me so much more confident.

wittykitty14 · April 2013

We went to the intro session last night, and it was AWESOME! We signed up for a follow up! I got my first chart and everything! I'm really excited to start charting! I like how the system is standardized, complete with abbreviations for descriptions. It seems wonderful. I'm a little nervous about how to interpret my "findings", but I'm sure I'll figure it out. Thanks everyone!

bibliophile2010 · April 2013

Just jump in and start doing it. The first cycle, especially, can leave you feeling unsure, but it is definitely a "practice makes perfect" thing, especially before you've had a full cycle to really "see" the changes.

professorscience · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_nwr-nfp-anyone?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:153743ff-ea5f-49fb-8a67-e0f3d6c2a355Post:8b180e3b-b08c-4619-8a40-8b6e1ceea3d0">Re: NWR: NFP Anyone?</a>:
[QUOTE]Just jump in and start doing it. The first cycle, especially, can leave you feeling unsure, but it is definitely a "practice makes perfect" thing, especially before you've had a full cycle to really "see" the changes.
Posted by bibliophile2010[/QUOTE]

<div>This. I made a ton of mistakes with my first chart, and part of what really helped me understand was sitting down with my instructor and correcting all my mistakes.</div>

chelseamb11 · April 2013

I am similar to Calypso in that I was self taught the sympto thermal method using Taking Charge of your Fertility. I started charting about a year before the wedding and had it down by the time we got married. It was SO easy once I got the hang of it. Being able to pinpoint ovulation is such an empowering thing!

We were avoiding at first when we got married in June, but in September decided to start trying to conceive. We were successful in November. So not only does NFP help you avoid, but it helps you conceive when you want to too!

Honestly, I'd call NFP "Planned Parenthood" way more than I'd actually call the organization "Planned Parenthood". They only help you avoid. They never actually help you plan for it to happen.

meltoine · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_nwr-nfp-anyone?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:153743ff-ea5f-49fb-8a67-e0f3d6c2a355Post:a17262ef-2b71-4404-bc11-b5bdad6db71f">Re: NWR: NFP Anyone?</a>:
[QUOTE]
Also, as far as effectiveness goes, it all depends on your motivation. It is 99% effective if you follow the rules for TTA. If you choose not to follow them, that is when the effectiveness goes way, way down. But at least you know when you are taking that chance so there really aren't any surprise pregnancies. (I forget her name, but I know there is a poster who actually did have a surprise using nfp correctly... But I think even she would say she is the exception :) )
!
Posted by TeaForMe[/QUOTE]

This was me. DS1 was conceived while following all rules of the Sympto-Thermal method fairly conservatively. I know a huge group of people who use NFP and our situation is highly anomalous. I've never known anyone else, on a message board or IRL, who had a truly surprise pregnancy using NFP.

I don't want my situation to turn you off to NFP. It's important to remember that every.single.method of BC has a failure rate. Spend half an hour clicking around the
First Trimester board on The Bump, and you'll see that at least 40% of the women there were using some kind of artificial birth control when they conceived. Many even had tubal legations or partners who'd had vasectomies. No method of preventing or postponing pregnancy is 100% effective, except for complete abstinence, which is not God's plan for your marriage, nor is it a desirable state for two young, healthy, married people.

As far as I'm concerned, NFP has the same or smaller incidence of surprise pregnancies as artificial birth control. But, NFP has absolutely zero negative side effects and zero ability to interfere thigh my body's natural functioning, unlike ABC, I which can cause myriad health issues up to and including cancer and stroke. Any sexually active person takes the chance of conceiving a child every time they have sex. If I can prevent or postpone that with the same efficacy but without damaging my body I'm going to do it.

Additionally, BFP had several positive side effects. My husband and I maintain our abilities to connect and be intimate without sex, which is important for times like immediately post-partum when it's unsafe and medically ill-advised to have sex, yet your relationship is changing drastically and maintaining intimacy is hugely important. It also gives us a reason to communicate about several aspects of our relationship and family life on a regular basis, which we might not do as frequently otherwise.

Moral of the story, yes, I had a surprise PG using NFP correctly. But this can and does happen with every method of family planning and I still feel that NFP is far superior to every other option out there, both for my relationship and for my physical body.

[Deleted User] · April 2013

I wish we would have started NFP sooner. After coming off of the Pill, I was very irregular as we were TTC. After several unsuccessful months, my doctor actually suggested I started charting. We conceived on the first cycle of charting. And I know that is what we will be using after the baby is born.

And yes, the ladies on here are very helpful and knowledgeable. We haven't taken a class but may after baby.

amaryann210 · April 2013

I am SO encouraged to find this thread. Several of my friends use the Creighton method (a couple are instructors) and I'm thinking about getting more information now, six months before we get married. I have a long history of irregular cycles and FI and I would like to start trying right away. I'm 36 and we'd like to have 2, God willing. I've never taken chemical BC and have witnessed some pretty extreme physical and emotional side effects in some of my friends who are on it. Again, hearing from all of you makes me feel like I'm not alone in the world of NFP!

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