NFP question, some TMI

Re: NFP question, some TMI

• Riss91 member

  

  May 2013

  You can use the sympto-thermal method, which relies first on mucous, and uses temp as a means to determine ovulation.
  
  The problem with temping is that it can be impacted my changes in your day-to-day sleep schedule, which would likely be a problem with a young child around! I've actually heard of more women straying away from temping and heading towards mucous-only methods once they have babies.
  
  I'd recommend reading the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertiliy" which details symto-thermal (from a non-religious perspective) and I believe discusses the impacts of breastfeeding and sleep problems.
  
  Please stop back here and let us know how things are going.

  
  

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• agapecarrie member

  

  May 2013

  In Response to NFP question, some TMI:
  [QUOTE]Hi ladies!   I posted some around here before our wedding in November of 2011, and then I fell off the face of the earth.  In the meantime, we began practicing the Creighton Model NFP and  after avoiding for about ten months, decided to try to start our family.  We are expecting our son in about a month.   I remembered you all having a wealth of knowledge about several different methods of NFP, and thought I would seek some opinions. We want to continue NFP after the birth of our son, but we are not convinced that we want to stick with Creighton.  I had continuous mucuos, and it made things frustrating.  With Creighton, there is no secondary thing to chart like temp, it's just mucuos.  I was wondering if some of the other models use mucuos as a primary thing and then use temp as a secondary indicator?  I feel like that would help us be even more specific and take away some of the frustration from our charting.   I know that it's possible that the continuous mucous won't be an issue after having a baby since sometimes that can change your cycle, but now that I'm close to not being pregnant anymore I thought I would start my research!  If anyone has good advice about NFP during breastfeeding, I am happy to hear that as well! TIA!
  Posted by hannaht4321[/QUOTE]

  
  

  Creighton is good for contiuous mucous as you can use yellow stickers. Also, see a napro doc, as this may indicate a couple of different issues. Mine was a cervical eversion, which I had a procedure done for it, and it got rid of most of the yellow sticker needs. Becuase of using creighton though, and it being so detailed with specific differences in observation, I can easily tell the difference and point of change. It took me a good couple years to feel extremely confident in that though. 
  
  

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• professorscience member

  

  May 2013

  Congratulations!

  
  

  I agree with Riss, temping might not be as helpful as you would think, because your sleep schedule is going to be CRAZY.

  
  

  Are you seeing a NaPro doctor?  I ask because seeing one who is well-versed in Creighton might be able to help you better interpret your fertility signs and might even be able to diagnose and treat what's causing the continuous mucous.

  

  
  

  
  

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• Calypso1977 member

  

  May 2013

  i would definitely find an NFP instructor to work with, regardless of what method you end up using, because ive heard that charting after birth is much more difficult if you are nursing either FT or PT.

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• bibliophile2010 member

  

  May 2013

  I agree with others that you really are probably better off with a mucous-only method and working closely with an instructor (and perhaps a NaPro doctor to diagnose and) to manage the mucous.
  
  From personal, recent experience the PP period can be an unusually trying period for many women, especially breastfeeding women, as their fertility returns often slowly and somewhat unpredictably (though noticeably with careful observation!). Learning a new method while PP is more challenging, but doable.
  
  Another thing to keep in mind is that after pregnancy and childbirth, you are a "new woman." Your cycles, when they come back, may not look like they did before. They could be shorter/longer/drier/etc. and you will have to settle into a "new normal" in that way, too.
  
  Regardless, I would recommend contacting an instructor and talking to them ASAP! Learn the PP "rules" for whatever method you are going with, and set a follow-up appointment for after the baby arrives (let them recommend a timeframe, but make a plan!). When your LO does come, charting is probably going to be the last thing on your mind for a bit, but having a recent rules review will make it fresher and having an appointment to keep will give you reason to get going on the charting, plus it will give you the chance to start asking questions.
  
  Congrats on the impending arrival of your LO. They really are such blessings!
  

  

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• coffeeismylyfe

  

  May 2013 edited May 2013

   From what I'm hearing, sticking with Creighton is going to be the best option.  I didn't realize that temping required such a strict schedule.  We were seeing a FertilityCare instructor until September, then I got my BFP and we were bad kids and completely stopped charting  So I will be calling her soon to re-order supplies and start meeting again I guess. I also ordered the TCOYF book today, learning about it certainly isn't going to hurt!  Especially if there is good info on charting while breastfeeding.  

  
  

   I had not really considered seeing a NaPro Dr for this...I didn't think it was that big an issue expecially considering how quickly we got pregnant when TTC.   Plus our instructor didn't reccomend it and just had us using yellow stamps, but I was just not 100% comfortable with those while TTA.  But with so many of you mentioning it I will have to look into getting an appointment sometime after the baby is here. 

  
  

  Thanks for the congratulations, the baby is a boy.  We're very excited, and since I'm staying at home and have more time (or so I think now!) I will try to keep up with the community better than I did after the wedding!  I remember how welcoming and helpful you all were then, and it seems like that has not changed!

  
  

  Edit: For those of you who have seen NaPro Dr's, did your insurance cover it like any other specialist? 

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• lalaith50 member

  

  May 2013

  While I have no personal experience with this, I do know that many women like the Marquette method after pregnancy. It's a little more expensive, since it uses a monitor which is about $150 (?) plus you have to buy strips that are about a dollar each, (that you use most days? Basically the days while you are waiting to see when you ovulate.) The monitor gives a reading of "high" or "low" to help you know when you are close to ovulating. I believe you can use the monitor alone or also with mucus, but there is some debate about which is more accurate. (I know someone who swears it is more accurate to simply use the monitor.) They have an online forum and website where you could learn more about it. 
  

  
  

  http://nfp.marquette.edu/

  http://nfp.marquette.edu/forum/

  

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• agapecarrie member

  

  May 2013

  In Response to Re: NFP question, some TMI:
  [QUOTE] From what I'm hearing, sticking with Creighton is going to be the best option.  I didn't realize that temping required such a strict schedule.  We were seeing a FertilityCare instructor until September, then I got my BFP and we were bad kids and completely stopped charting  So I will be calling her soon to re-order supplies and start meeting again I guess. I also ordered the TCOYF book today, learning about it certainly isn't going to hurt!  Especially if there is good info on charting while breastfeeding.    I had not really considered seeing a NaPro Dr for this...I didn't think it was that big an issue expecially considering how quickly we got pregnant when TTC.   Plus our instructor didn't reccomend it and just had us using yellow stamps, but I was just not 100% comfortable with those while TTA.  But with so many of you mentioning it I will have to look into getting an appointment sometime after the baby is here.  Thanks for the congratulations, the baby is a boy.  We're very excited, and since I'm staying at home and have more time (or so I think now!) I will try to keep up with the community better than I did after the wedding!  I remember how welcoming and helpful you all were then, and it seems like that has not changed! Edit: For those of you who have seen NaPro Dr's, did your insurance cover it like any other specialist? 
  Posted by hannaht4321[/QUOTE]

  
  

  Napro docs are regular docs with extra training in napro. 

  
  

  Also, they may recommend some simple things too regarding continuous mucous-- stopping dryer sheeets is one example. You could be reacting to something also.

  
  

  TCOYF is great-- just be aware that it uses different terminology. 
  
  

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• professorscience member

  

  May 2013

  Also, don't feel bad about not charting while pregnant.  There's no reason to.  

  
  

  And thanks Biblio for the suggestion of setting up a follow-up with your doctor PP.  I have my last appointment with my GYN next week, but since she no longer delivers babies I'm switching physicians, so I'll need to get on that follow-up.

  

  
  

  
  

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• bibliophile2010 member

  

  May 2013

  In Response to Re: NFP question, some TMI:
  [QUOTE]Also, don't feel bad about not charting while pregnant.  There's no reason to.   And thanks Biblio for the suggestion of setting up a follow-up with your doctor PP.  I have my last appointment with my GYN next week, but since she no longer delivers babies I'm switching physicians, so I'll need to get on that follow-up.
  Posted by professorscience[/QUOTE]
  
  I actually meant setting up an appointment with your instructor for PP, because your doctor follow-up will be based on when you deliver, but the timing of the instructor follow-up isn't as big a deal if you know when they recommend starting to chart again. I wish I had followed my own advice. I found getting into the charting routine with a newborn way harder than getting into it the first time because everything seemed so topsy turvey. (Hannah, I believe very few people chart while pregnant. I planned to as well and that lasted about a day.) Then my fertility returned really fast even though I was breastfeeding (though not ecologically for lots of reasons), so that whole situation got intense quickly and I just wasn't on top of things and it all probably just cost more abstinence than was necessary.
  
  With the doctor switcharoo, I would talk to your physicians about who to see for follow-up care and for longer-term care. For example if you got mastitis, who should you call?

  

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• professorscience member

  

  May 2013

  In Response to Re: NFP question, some TMI:
  [QUOTE]In Response to Re: NFP question, some TMI : I actually meant setting up an appointment with your instructor for PP, because your doctor follow-up will be based on when you deliver, but the timing of the instructor follow-up isn't as big a deal if you know when they recommend starting to chart again. I wish I had followed my own advice. I found getting into the charting routine with a newborn way harder than getting into it the first time because everything seemed so topsy turvey. (Hannah, I believe very few people chart while pregnant. I planned to as well and that lasted about a day.) Then my fertility returned really fast even though I was breastfeeding (though not ecologically for lots of reasons), so that whole situation got intense quickly and I just wasn't on top of things and it all probably just cost more abstinence than was necessary. With the doctor switcharoo, I would talk to your physicians about who to see for follow-up care and for longer-term care. For example if you got mastitis, who should you call?
  Posted by bibliophile2010[/QUOTE]
  
  

  Good questions to ask.  I am hoping to go right back to my original doctor as soon as LO gets here.  I'm only switching because the current doctor does not deliver.  Also, my doctor probably IS the authority on my charting questions, so I'll probably be seeing her.  

  

  
  

  
  

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• bibliophile2010 member

  

  May 2013

  In Response to Re: NFP question, some TMI:
  [QUOTE]In Response to Re: NFP question, some TMI : Good questions to ask.  I am hoping to go right back to my original doctor as soon as LO gets here.  I'm only switching because the current doctor does not deliver.  Also, my doctor probably IS the authority on my charting questions, so I'll probably be seeing her.  
  Posted by professorscience[/QUOTE]
  
  Ah! That makes sense!

  

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• newlyseliski member

  

  May 2013 edited May 2013

  Yay, congrats!!!  I don't have much personal expertise to add (still TTC unsuccesfully with Creightong/PCOS)... but my sister also used Creighton and had to use yellow-stamps pre-baby... however, she told me that her cycle changed significantly PP!  I'm sure it wil be different for everyone, though... so take that anecdotal story with a grain of salt!

  
  

  As for Napro doctors and insurance... mine is part of a larger health system and although it is a secular health system that accepts the majority of health insurance options, they do allow her the freedom to accept only NFP patients while still being able to refer within a larger network of physicians, which I appreciate  I think it really depends on the doctor... it never hurts to cal and check, first!

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