Hi Mamas! I just had my second baby and eventually want a third. I have decided to go the natural family planning route for birth control this time because most forms of birth control tend to make me crazy and hormonal. I plan on nursing for a year. My cycle did not return until after I stopped nursing last time. Does anyone have any advice to share on trying this method of birth control while nursing? My last 2 are 2 yrs and 11 days apart and I would like a little more space inbetween the third time around, so I don't want to mess this up : ) I already have the book "Taking Charge of your Fertility" and used the method to get pregnant last time. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Thanks to the few who had something helpful to say. To all those who just answered to ridicule my birth control method, it would have been much more helpful if you hadn't answered. You should only answer questions when you have an actual answer to the person's question, unless you are just offering your helpful support. Only answering to make fun of my choice is not at all helpful. Despite what some of you said, I will do Natural Family Planning as well as test with ovulation detector strips. I understand that I can get pregnant while nursing, and do not plan on the nursing keeping me from ovulating. Several of you misread my comment about nursing for a year. That is just to show you that I cannot take normal birth control pills or the low dose variety until after I am done nursing. Anyway, thank you to those who were answering in a helpful way.
I say let hubby take care of it for a while if bc methods make you hormonal. Tell him to put a Jimmy on! You can also try a diaphram. I would say if you don't want to "mess" it up, don't take a chance. Good luck to you. :)
I take the home ovulation tests before we have sex and if I am ovulating we use a condom. I don't like taking birth control pills either.
What do you call people who practice Natural Family Planning? Parents... LOL. Don't count on not being fertile just because you're nursing. Many nursing moms get pregnant. If you really want to delay getting pregnant (and you still want to have sex!) you really need a back-up plan. There are lots of options available right now. There are newer and better formulations of the pill, you can use Mirena, IUD, diaphragm, the shots, the ring, or a good, old-fashioned condom. Choose the method that's right for you, but if you decide on the "rhythm method" be prepared for a surprise!
I agree with the previous poster. If you don't want to get pregnant, use a form of birth control besides natural planning. A friend of mine got pregnant two days after her period ended, so it really can happen any time. Condoms are generally effective if used correctly and have no hormonal effects whatsoever (as I'm sure you know). Also, while your period may not have come back while nursing the first time, that's certainly not always the case. Mine came back after about nine months but I was still nursing exclusively at the time.
I wish you and your family all the best!
K.
http://oc.citymommy.com
L.,
My daughter-in-law got pregnant 4 months after having her first, while breast feeding. They now have two kids 13 months apart.(That was not the original plan.) An IUD (without hormones)is what I would reccommend you look into.
I've used IUD's for over 30 years because pills and I didn't get along. Good luck to you
C.
All the friends I have had using this method have large families now.
It is a better getting pregnant method than not getting pregnant method.
Of course, it's up to you and your husband.
Hello, I used the natural method after our third child. I miscalculated one weekend and we now have a wonderful 30 year old son. Just keep track of your cycle. It worked for almost two years for us. I had nursed for ten months with each child.
Good luck with your precious family.
K. K.
I wouldn't count on it being 100% accurate. My fourth child was ten months old and nursing, I became pregnant with child number five. Child number four only nursed, no bottles at all. I think you are taking your chances here.
I am sorry to respond so late...my boys are 3 and 1.5 years old, so sometimes I don't get any ME time. You understand, I'm sure. I did want to suggest the COPPER/no hormone IUD. If you plan on putting a few years in between, that might be helpful. I use it and once it is in, THAT'S IT! You're covered...and not crazy like with birth control that uses hormones. I am VERY sensitive to hormones! And like one of your other responders mentioned, I too get pregnant as my period ends. my doctor flatly denies that it's even possible, but the babies are here! :)
Best of luck to you in whatever choice you make or have already made. OH, also, if you do the ovulation strips, www.early-pregnancy-tests.com sells in bulk for a great price.
NFP can be very effective, but is hard to do if you are nursing and not having a cycle. I got pregnant after my second period when my baby was 7 months old and nursing. It is really hard to know your cycle and fertile days without having a period. I would suggest condoms or the withdrawal method (which has a HIGH failure rate, but better than nothing if you hate condoms) until you get your period back and can chart and temp and once its regular then start nfp. If you get your period back while nursing it will likely be pretty irregular for a while.
Consider other options.
My friend got pregnant while nursing and has two kids 10 months apart!!!!!!!!!
I got pregnant, after having two kids and calling it done, while using condoms.
Unless you're willing to accept the outcome, consider other options.
good luck!
Two words: Michelle Duggar.
She recently announced that she got pg with her 19th child while nursing her newest baby...who is now just 8 months old.
I'd suggest an alternative method of birth control in addition to NFP.
Natural family planning?! That is so cute. I love the fact that you have already heard the joke that they call people who practice NFP "parents." I grew up Catholic where huge families were populated with lots of "rhythm babies."
Personally, I think that having kids close together is better than having them far apart -- even though I am sure that it does not sound like a good idea to you with your hands so full right now.
I'd say try NFP, but then be sure to send hubby to the doctor to get a vasectomy next year after your third little darling is born.
I really do wish you and yours all the best!
Yep, I agree with the others...get him to use condoms...why is it all your responsibility?
Hi L.-
My husband and I used condoms between pregnancies. Be careful though, we had one break on us!! With any BC, there are side effects or risks, and I think the risks are the lowest with the condoms. I also have friends who got pregnant while nursing, and were practicing NFP. When I had my first child we went to a Breast Feeding Support group and there were several moms in there who got pregnant while nursing.
Good luck!!
I agree with other posters... if you don't want to risk it getting pregnant use back up. I would just go with condoms... safest.. no hormones
Hi L.,
Check out http://www.ccli.org/. Lots of info there on natural family planning.
