Abstaining NFP help!

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katholicchik

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Hopefully this is going to the right forum. I need NFP help – BAD.

Help help help!😦

I am 4 months postpartum, not ecologically breastfeeding, but I breast pump around the clock (which obviously upsets hormonal shifts). I have had 2 short periods since initial lochia. Hubby and I had been practicing NFP (sympto-thermal) previously, and we need help with postpartum return of fertility rules!!! I am desperate! :confused:

have been waiting for 4 consecutive dry days now for 4 months! Does anyone have any advice on when we can stop refraining from martial relations?😊 I really shouldn’t get PG again so soon!
 
Well I saw your post, and sorry I can’t help, I’m gonna leave this to the ladies on here, but they might be all in the bed, I’m in the study watching ESPN while online only reason I’m here. LOL Just your luck huh?

One of you ladies wanna help her out?

Late at night I’m kinda like a greeter, so welcome to CAF. Lots of threads on NFP try searching the topic if someone doesnt’ come around soon.

I just wanted to let ya know your plea for help will be asnwered soon. I mean you have one of the all time best handles I’ve seen on CAF “KatholicChik.” Awesome.
 
BamaRider said:
Well I saw your post, and sorry I can’t help, I’m gonna leave this to the ladies on here, but they might be all in the bed, I’m in the study watching ESPN while online only reason I’m here. LOL Just your luck huh?

One of you ladies wanna help her out?

Late at night I’m kinda like a greeter, so welcome to CAF. Lots of threads on NFP try searching the topic if someone doesnt’ come around soon.
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What, this isn’t like wal-mart where you get a sticker from the greeter! Time for bed Guy!!

I wish I had something helpful to add, but it’s 1am and I’m not sure I’m even spelling anything correctly. But you might want to ask on the pregnant or not thread, in the parenting forum. They are some serious charters in there, I know they can help you. Even if a sleepy-happymommy and a goofy Bama can’t:thumbsup:
 
hello katholicchick !
I understand you’re frustrated and, since I’m awake too owing to time difference, I’m going to try to help.
I’m using Billings but I know a bit about sympto-thermal too because I know lots of people doing it, and from what I could see, both methods have this rule of “mucus pattern of infertilty” regarding breastfeeding time. Many breastfeeing women indeed would never have 4 consecutive days of dryness, so basically you have to record your mucus very, very precisely: its quality, colour, whether it stretches or not,… and then you can differentiate between days with no change in quality (with quality being minor) and days where the quality is evolving towards a possible ovulation. First ones would then be available for intercourse.

If you’ve charted for a while since the birth, you might be able to look at you charts and maybe already recognize this pattern.
 
Hi katholicchik! Welcome to the forums! 🙂

My 3rd baby is 6 months old now, and I’m still waiting for my return of fertility (after my older 2 kids it was around 5-7 months, so I’m waiting)… I also do not ecological BF (because I use pacifiers and pump at work)…
This is the toughest time… so my best advice is that it won’t last forever… your cycle will return to normal soon and it’ll be easier to track.
But for now, here are my thoughts…
You mentioned that you’ve had 2 short periods already? So have you been charting those cycles? Taking your temperature and charting mucous and cervical position? Have you noticed the typical temperature patterns for a “normal” cycle… meaning, are you seeing the post-ovulation temperature rise to confirm that you’re in the infertile phase 3 after ovulation? Also, are you tracking your cervical position along with your mucous readings? I actually find the cervical position sign to be the most important during this postpartum time… it’s a hard one to figure out, but after a while it can tell you a lot. Definitely re-read all your sympto-thermal NFP guides and go over that material again.

I sympathize… it’s hard during this time… but it won’t last forever!!
Congratulations on your new little baby! 🙂
 
Em_in_FL said:
You mentioned that you’ve had 2 short periods already? So have you been charting those cycles? Taking your temperature and charting mucous and cervical position? Have you noticed the typical temperature patterns for a “normal” cycle… meaning, are you seeing the post-ovulation temperature rise to confirm that you’re in the infertile phase 3 after ovulation? Also, are you tracking your cervical position along with your mucous readings? I actually find the cervical position sign to be the most important during this postpartum time… it’s a hard one to figure out, but after a while it can tell you a lot. Definitely re-read all your sympto-thermal NFP guides and go over that material again.

I sympathize… it’s hard during this time… but it won’t last forever!!
Congratulations on your new little baby! 🙂
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Yeah if I can just make it to a year postpartum I will be good –

I haven’t been tracking temps since my sleep cycle is so random. According to CCLI, there is no phase 3 when one is stimulating milk production: just phase 1 and 2 over and over again with periods thrown in.
I plan to pump for a long time too – so this is frustrating and very hard on DH. 😦

Will someone please give me quick guidelines on more fertile mucus than less fertile? I know the stretchy factor since that is what CCLI focuses on, but they don’t say much about color or any other type of indicators. Before pregnancy, I either had mucus or did not have mucus. It was a lot easier – now I can’t make heads or tales of anything, not to mention I have never figured out my cervix either!:confused: What tips do you have on finding that?

I would contact a local leader, but there are none as we are self taught. We used to have some CCL leaders but not anymore. That was the only NFP taught near us. I really want to learn creighten but the closest teachers are 5 - 6 hours in all directions! grrr.

–Also, please pray for my DD. She has a bad heart and has another procedure on the 26th later this month! Shes a little warrior / miracle baby!!!
 
Start taking your temps. Seriously. Chart everything–mucous, cervix and temps. You may be having break through bleeding OR you may be ovulating and having real cycles. You’ll know by seeing those temps. Even with interrupted sleep some women (me, for instance) can get a good pattern. Just mark any distrubances or early or late temps–but try to take them at the same time each day.

Nursing can make mucous a bit hard to interpret. What about taking a postpartem “refresher” course in NFP? CCLI does offer these. When nursing you can often have continual mucous, you can chart this and any CHANGE in your BIP (basic infertile pattern) is FERTILE mucous. Usually that fertile mucous is slippery, clear/cloudy, and stretchy–like egg whites. Infertile mucous is tacky, very cloudy, and not stretchy. Again, a postpartem class or meeting with your teaching couple would be a great idea!!! :eek: But I just reread your post…get out your book and REVIEW!! 😃 Also, try nfpandmore.org there is an online manuel and maybe some a teaching couple near you through them? Worth a look. omsoul.com is also a good source of NFP teachers.
 
thanks for the sites – I am not nursing, just to clear that up even though it doesn’t matter (just to me cause I wish I was!!! :()

And I don’t get more than 4 hours of sleep in a row due to the fact that I have to feed DD on a tight schedule so I am up pumping a lot and changing out her feeding bag (ok now I am just complaining) – but if you STILL really think I could benefit from charting temps, I will add that to my life again. I just can’t see the temps helping anymore. But maybe if I make myself get on a consistant schedule where I pump and get up the same amount of times each night at the same times each night, then I dunno… I guess sticking a thermometer in my mouth couldn’t complicate my life any more!!! lol

It is not so much too that I need to review the rules, there just essentially are none. Its a grey area. Most moms can BF, but that just wasn’t what worked out for us (or oral feeding in general!).

So yeah – any more advice, I will take into close consideration. I miss my DH. wahhh.
 
katholicchik said:
I haven’t been tracking temps since my sleep cycle is so random. According to CCLI, there is no phase 3 when one is stimulating milk production: just phase 1 and 2 over and over again with periods thrown in.
I plan to pump for a long time too – so this is frustrating and very hard on DH. 😦 --Also, please pray for my DD. She has a bad heart and has another procedure on the 26th later this month! Shes a little warrior / miracle baby!!!
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I completely disagree about there being no phase 3 when stimulating milk production!.. I’ve experienced my cycles returning completely after my first two babies (at 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 months postpartum) and I breastfed both those until 13 and 17 months. I was charting my temperature and I definitely had a temperature rise, which proved that I was indeed ovulating. My cycles were variable, but I had 3 phases and was definitely ovulating without a doubt!
I will definitely keep your little one in my prayers.
Jennifer_J said:
Start taking your temps. Seriously. Chart everything–mucous, cervix and temps. You may be having break through bleeding OR you may be ovulating and having real cycles. You’ll know by seeing those temps. Even with interrupted sleep some women (me, for instance) can get a good pattern. Just mark any distrubances or early or late temps–but try to take them at the same time each day.
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I AGREE 100%! CHART CHART CHART! Yes, sleep patterns can make the temps slightly difficult to read, but if you mark up your charts to include those disturbed nights then they can still be interpreted and helpful! I BF my babies during the nights too… and despite my disturbed sleep I was able to confirm when my ovulation returned after my first two babies by first seeing the mucous and cervical position suggesting ovulation… and then cross-referencing by seeing the temperature rise. The temperature rise was VERY DISTINCT despite the disturbed sleep!
CHART CHART CHART!!! 👍
 
katholicchik said:
thanks for the sites – I am not nursing, just to clear that up even though it doesn’t matter (just to me cause I wish I was!!! :()

And I don’t get more than 4 hours of sleep in a row due to the fact that I have to feed DD on a tight schedule so I am up pumping a lot and changing out her feeding bag (ok now I am just complaining) – but if you STILL really think I could benefit from charting temps, I will add that to my life again. I just can’t see the temps helping anymore. But maybe if I make myself get on a consistant schedule where I pump and get up the same amount of times each night at the same times each night, then I dunno… I guess sticking a thermometer in my mouth couldn’t complicate my life any more!!! lol

It is not so much too that I need to review the rules, there just essentially are none. Its a grey area. Most moms can BF, but that just wasn’t what worked out for us (or oral feeding in general!).

So yeah – any more advice, I will take into close consideration. I miss my DH. wahhh.
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God bless you for giving your daughter breastmilk, even though it’s so time consuming (and messing with your cycles). 🙂 What a lovely gift to give your daughter! I pumped and worked when my first 2 were infants and keeping up the pumping can be very difficult! Even if you aren’t nursing, your body thinks it is AND baby is certainly getting all the yummy goodness!
God bless you!
 
I would cross check your NFP with somethig else. I have the Ovulite which is easy to use. I also have the OvaCue which I trust the most (since it has helped me p(name removed by moderator)oint ovualtion times of the day - I learned I was ovulating in the morning and it helped us get pregnant after months and months of trying). Right now, I can’t get pregnant for medical reasons. I was planning to start NFP charting again and using the OvaCue. When I was trying to get pregnant the monitors matched up very well with my NFP charting. So I think it is more than reasonable for me to trust them now as a doible check. They may work for you too. The Ovulite is inexpensive and you can get it at any pharmacy…it is easy to use. The OvaCue is expensive and you buy it on-line. I have 2 because I bought the cheaper one first and then I discovered the OvaCue and decided that it was worth the money.
 
Miraluna said:
The OvaCue is expensive and you buy it on-line. I have 2 because I bought the cheaper one first and then I discovered the OvaCue and decided that it was worth the money.
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HOLY GUACAMOLE! That thing is like 300 dollars. :eek: wowza.
 
I emailed my NFP expert friend, here is her response:

"She needs to read, re-read, then read again this:
nfpandmore.org/NFP%20How%20T … 0Rules.pdf
It’s the rules in a nutshell. She can pick which one will be easiest for her at this time.

I do not think temping will work for her right now. She is pumping around the clock and dealing with a sick child. It’s going to do nothing but frustrate her more.

She must, must, MUST chart if she is seriously TTA! Then apply the rules in the above post.

With pumping and the stress of a chronically sick child she is going to have bizarre cycles. This will call for unavoidably extended abstinence. If she has truly had “four dry days” then I’m pretty sure she can resume relations safely. Just remember no relations on consecutive days and no morning hanky panky!

Whoever told her a breastfeeding woman has no phase 3 is smoking crack!

God bless her for continuing pumping for her child!"
 
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