Community› Cultural Wedding Boards› Catholic Weddings
Catholic Weddings
New Discussion

NFP Help

irisheyezfsuirisheyezfsu
1000 Comments
in Catholic Weddings
Hi, new to this board. Little background, getting married Nov. 12 in Orlando Florida At Annunciation Catholic Church were I was baptised and grew up.  my FI and I have gone through all the prep work except now working on NFP, which is the final thing besides picking readings and music etc.  The problem is he is now abroad for his job which I will be joining him after the wedding. So we were given a home study course. 

I have no freaking idea how these charts work! Maybe I am just thick or something or maybe just a little too grossed out what the book is asking me to do. I get the temp thing and have tracked that but when I look at the chart is is just overwhelming.

Has anyone done the homestudy version, and have any tips or hints for me that can help me get through this? Thanks! 

Wedding Bio!
Report Reply to Post

Re: NFP Help

  • agapecarrieagapecarrie member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 100 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    You can do another method that doesn't involve internal checks and temp. (Temperature is only a secondary sign, not the main sign-- it should only be used for cross checking).  I highly recommend taking a class. It makes it easier to learn in my opinion, and you have accountability to consistent charting and learning mistakes.

    Creighton method is taught with or without a spouse-- because its used for health purposes.
    Report Reply
  • irisheyezfsuirisheyezfsu
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    thanks agape. the church we did our prep is in DC metro area, and I recently moved back to Orlando where we are getting married due to FI moving abroad for his job and to be close to my family before I joined him.  Both the Arlington Diocese we did our prep in and Orlando diocese uses this same NFP method. 

    The DC area church gave us this home study course due to him being away. I am only three months out now from the wedding, they kinda gave this too us late, so I don't even know if I have the required amount of time left to complete it fully.  I will ask our parish office if I can sit in on classes without paying the fee just for assistance.

    Wedding Bio!
    Report Reply
  • professorscienceprofessorscience member
    5000 Comments Third Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    The book Taking Charge of Your Fertility is really well-written and has lots of sample charts, but I agree with Agape that a class is your best bet.

    You might ask at the parish you're attending now if any other churches (or even health centers, sometimes) are offering classes.  Our parish is not, but we happened to attend at another one recently where the bulletin advertised NFP classes.  There are only three classes for the one we're signed up for.
    Anniversary

    image

    image

    Report Reply
  • mica178mica178 member
    5000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    A class is probably best if the study material is confusing to you.

    In a pinch, TCOYF is great.  So is fertiiltyfriend.com, which has some online tutorials done in plain language.  But you can't ask questions of a book or website, so if you have a lot of questions, a class is a better option.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic **Bio**
    Report Reply
  • Riss91Riss91 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_nfp-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:0caf0c8a-f88c-4c5a-8f6a-ed82dd8978f3Post:275eabb1-5f45-432d-9844-0de09cdb0ce0">Re: NFP Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]A class is probably best if the study material is confusing to you. In a pinch, TCOYF is great.  So is fertiiltyfriend.com, which has some online tutorials done in plain language.  But you can't ask questions of a book or website, so if you have a lot of questions, a class is a better option.
    Posted by mica178[/QUOTE]

    I second this. I learned off of this book!

    Also, there are many ladies here that can help answer specific questions, so don't hesistate to ask!

    Agape mentioned the Creighton method, which would be a good method to use if you have any health issues as it can help diagnose problems.

    Report Reply
  • shawna127shawna127 member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    TCOYF 100% If you can't make it to a class! :o)  Also the website livingthesacrament.com is a great source of help too.  It is a catholic website and they have a forum where you can ask questions and they also cover all (or most of) forms of NFP.  Good Luck, I know it can be confusing but I'm sure you'll get it :o)
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
    Report Reply
  • irisheyezfsuirisheyezfsu
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am blessed that I don't have any health problems and probably have the most normal and regular cycle anyone could ask for.  These charts just overwhelm me. 

    We had the choice to go to the class but the timming they were arrange we either couldn't go due to work, they were held early tuesday evenings and we usually had to work kinda late. Then like I said FI left.  I think I am going to check if  they are holding the classes at my church and sit in on them if I can. I am starting a new job now that I moved home with simular hours so that might be an issue. 

    Thanks for the help from those sites I will check them out. I think I just need to see a sample chart.  I am very much a visual learner. 

    Wedding Bio!
    Report Reply
  • catarntinacatarntina member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_nfp-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:0caf0c8a-f88c-4c5a-8f6a-ed82dd8978f3Post:ed98eba5-de41-4608-9f2a-ede7e4e0aac9">Re: NFP Help</a>:
    [QUOTE]I am blessed that I don't have any health problems and probably have the most normal and regular cycle anyone could ask for.  These charts just overwhelm me.  We had the choice to go to the class but the timming they were arrange we either couldn't go due to work, they were held early tuesday evenings and we usually had to work kinda late. Then like I said FI left.  I think I am going to check if  they are holding the classes at my church and sit in on them if I can. I am starting a new job now that I moved home with simular hours so that might be an issue.  Thanks for the help from those sites I will check them out. I<strong> think I just need to see a sample chart.  I am very much a visual learner. </strong>
    Posted by irisheyezfsu[/QUOTE]


    TCOYF has a lot of visual aids. I definitely recommend either going to the TCOYF website or FertilityFriend (FF has visual aids too).

    If you have any questions, you can always upload your chart here too and we can take a look.  FertilityFriend lets you enter it online and share the link with whomever.

    Good luck!
    ---------
    Anniversary

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • ElisabethJoanneElisabethJoanne member
    1000 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Poke around for pro-life doctors in the area. Maybe just ask at church what local doctors are knowledgeable in NFP. You'll probably want some kind of gynecological consult before you get married anyway.
    Report Reply
  • irisheyezfsuirisheyezfsu
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oh I have been going to a gyno since I was 19, but since I just moved I have to find a new one and plan on going before the wedding again of course. 

    TCOYF is a book correct? Or is it online?

    Wedding Bio!
    Report Reply
  • ElisabethJoanneElisabethJoanne member
    1000 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    TCOYF = Take Charge of Your Fertility = Paperback book published in 80s, I think
    Report Reply
  • catarntinacatarntina member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    TCOYF is a book that you can order.  It's been updated and re-published recently.

    They do have a website though. http://www.tcoyf.com.
    ---------
    Anniversary

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • mica178mica178 member
    5000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    fertilityfriend.com also has charts you can look through
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic **Bio**
    Report Reply
  • lalaith50lalaith50 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    OP-- I totally understand about the charts being overwhelming, as well as being "grossed out."

    As for the grossness aspect...one friend of mine told me, "It's like... your body! Not someone else's!" I thought, "hm, I suppose." Think of the mucus like... snot. I mean, it's not delightful, but it's just...your body!
     
    And then as for being overwhelmed? Well...I wish I could help you out more, but yeah, it kind of stinks that you only have 3 months... This would apply more if you have longer, but also keep in mind that stuff only happens like *once* a month, so it's ok if you don't figure out it instantly! Just allow yourself to not freak out and to relax until it comes around the next month. And it's ok if you're really confused the first or second month, it will come together the 3rd or 4th month! They say it takes like at least 6 months to become "fluent" in reading your body's signs.
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
  • mica178mica178 member
    5000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    It's not a bad thing becoming more familiar with your body.  God made our bodies to do so many wonderful things, and the changing mucus through our cycle is His way of letting us understand our fertility.  Maybe if you look at it that way, you won't feel so grossed out.

    If that doesn't work, trust me when I say that if you've managed all your other bodily functions all your life, this one is not bad at all.  It's clean, remember that everything produced by your body (unless you have an infection) is sterile.  It's the outside world that contaminates things.  (And, yes, that metaphor extends well beyond our bodily fluids!)
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic **Bio**
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards