Do we Have to Practice NFP

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Where were you married? Brazil or US? The Church has an obligation to not only educate but be informed itself of the ability to marry including living arrangements.
 
Agent94 said:
Have you ever tried working a full time job and be 8 months pregnant? On top of being sick and fatigued all the time? Feeling like your hormones are out of control? I don’t think men can understand what it’s like being pregnant and working full time. Then there’s the breastfeeding. Getting up every 2 or 3 hours during the night. I haven’t had to breastfeed and work full time, thankfully, but I’m sure there are women who do and it must be very difficult.
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The good news is that you really asked the right guy in the right forum for this…
I am a stay at home dad of 13 years. We home school, and I teach. We have 6, and soon to be 7 kids. (my wife is due in July) During her pregnancy with our 5th, we had moved far away from our families and she worked full time as a biotech scientist while pregnant with her 5th, while getting a MBA which is a 2 year program in 1 year. We have been involved with C2CL (NFP) and have a history of using ABC (artificial birth control) NFP, and finally nothing. She is at work right now preggers as can be… We have fed 5 of our kids exclusive breast milk for at least the first year. (one of the kids had to have a feeding tube so BFing was not an option) My wife has traveled internationally while pregnant or breastfeeding. Occasionally, as needed I’ve worked part time for extra money. When we first started having children we decided that one of us needed to be with them. Her earning potential far outweighed mine even though at the time we were making about the same amount. While I’ll never know or fully understand the mental and physical toll this has on my wife I can assure you, my experience and perspective is probably more valuable than a lot of women (excluding my wife of course) I have been part of this marriage and union for the whole time you know…
So there is some of my background, there is more but that is a good start.

But your background is confusing to me. Pursuing a grad degree now has to be for something. So perhaps, you in the workforce is the most sensible answer here. In other threads you’ve indicated that 1) Your husband does not want more kids.
2) You would be ok with permanent abstinence.
3) A language barrier between you and your husband solved with a common third language (Spanish)
4) A reluctance to practice NFP

Perhaps we can better answer your questions if you give some background.
 
Do the math and figure out how many people you can cram into a two-bedroom apartment. Then plan appropriately. Honestly, I don’t think this is that hard of a thing to figure out.
 
Big families have lived in 2 bedroom flats or homes and make it work.

Landlords usually have strict rules about the capacity of the apartment and our OP would be wise to keep this in mind.
 
After considering the things that have been said here on this forum, my husband and I had a long talk and have both decided to abstain until we’re ready for our third and last child (my husband doesn’t want anymore than 3 which I’m fine with). So we have basically agreed to abstain for the 2 or 3 years. We have agreed to seek counseling as well.
 
I’ve only skimmed the rest of the responses (many of which are extremely off topic), but the short answer to your question is no, the Church does not require married couples to practice NFP. However, if you wish to avoid pregnancy or space your children, NFP is the only moral option other than total abstinence. Artificial methods of birth control are sinful.
 
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