Less expensive NFP Consultant?

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mandajane

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So, my FH and I took the NFP class last night online. We had the option of taking it in person with another couple, but he is very shy and nervous about anything having to do with a person’s body, so we chose the online course.

It said at the start that it was 50$ for the course, and that it included a years worth of consultations with an experienced couple to help with charting.

However, when I sent in the email to request a couple (So I’d have the phone number just in case) I received an email back saying I’d have to pay an ADDITIONAL 120$ to get help.

So I paid 50$ for an hour long video and 20 test questions, that was completely automated, just data stored on the server… :rolleyes:

Anyway, does someone know a less expensive billings consultant? or where I can find one? I am just starting charting, so I would like to have someone to contact just in case.
 
My wife and I have been working with a private instructor for over a year now. Although we have learned a lot and are both confident in the system (we use the Creighton Model), we still have questions every time we meet. Because of that, I would highly recommend a private instructor. We are charged $30 each session. Each session is approx 2 1/2- 3 hours long. We initially met once a month. Now we are meeting every 6 months or so.

I’m sorry I could not answer your question specifically. However, our instructor gave us a free one-year membership to the California Association of Natural Family Planning. They are a wealth of information. I’m sure if you address your question to them, they can give you really good information. Here is their contact info:

Web site: www.canfp.org
E-mail: info@canfp.org
Phone: (877) 33-CANFP
 
Have you tried contacting your parish for NFP resources? Maybe there is a certified NFP consultant in your parish who can meet with you. My wife is an NFP instructor in the San Francisco area and most of the parishes in the diocese have her contact information for anyone needing her services. Maybe your parish has some NFP instructors on file. $120 for a personal consultation is probably from someone who is trying to make NFP consultation their primary income source. Someone doing it more as a public service or mission will probably charge way less.
 
I teach Billings and I’m against online instruction. The goal is to learn and understand the method so you use the method until menopause. So many couples do not understand the NFP method they were taught in class let alone online. You learn the method by doing it and that’s why it is so important to have an instructor going over your chart with you. To be successful you must understand the rules, make correct observations and chart correctly as well. You mess up one of these three and you might end up with a surprise pregnancy. Then the method is blamed when really, it’s user error.

Find an instructor in your area: boma-usa.org/

Here’s my price breakdown for my 8 session instruction:
1 Intro Class $45 (3 hours, Part 1 Church Teaching/Why NFP, Part 2 The Billings Method)
7 Chart Reviews $15 each (length depending, anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour)

I think we all charge pretty much the same for our time BUT I’m sure they will work with you on what you can afford. I do it for free often.
 
I currently use MyFertilityMD. It is an app currently available for the iphone or ipod touch. I used it on my ipad. They have an ask the doctor feature to ask any questions about your chart. You can also send your chart to the doctor for further consult. Through the consults, they then give you codes that allows your chart to be personalized. These features though are only turned on after the doctor has reviewed your charts.

It definitely is cheaper. I was having trouble getting the doctors to respond, but then I discovered I had entered my email address incorrectly upon registering. There is no way to correct this so I was advised to register. I’d make sure if you’re sending charts to specify why you’re sending them and to make some reference to any previous email exchange.

The online forums are currently useless. Hopefully they’ll get better. They’re still trying to get the web application up and have yet to make it available for android.

myfertilitycycle.com/
 
In-person instruction isn’t an option for us. My FH grew up with a lot of body-shaming (like not being allowed to use the words “penis” or “butt” only euphamisms for parts of his bodies, being told that his body is not a topic of conversation.) and so isn’t comfortable discussing any of this with anyone. While it doesn’t faze me, I was under the impression that it was something we were supposed to do together, and he can’t have a conversation about a vagina without blushing bright red and breaking into a sweat. Taking the online course together was excruciating for him. It would only be more so if it was face to face, and the thought of it being face to face with someone he’ll see outside of the class, like someone from our parish, terrifies him.
 
mandajane said:
In-person instruction isn’t an option for us. My FH grew up with a lot of body-shaming (like not being allowed to use the words “penis” or “butt” only euphamisms for parts of his bodies, being told that his body is not a topic of conversation.) and so isn’t comfortable discussing any of this with anyone. While it doesn’t faze me, I was under the impression that it was something we were supposed to do together, and he can’t have a conversation about a vagina without blushing bright red and breaking into a sweat. Taking the online course together was excruciating for him. It would only be more so if it was face to face, and the thought of it being face to face with someone he’ll see outside of the class, like someone from our parish, terrifies him.
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Could you take a course in person yourself? That way, you could explain everything to him later.

It works for some couples to do everything together, including charting, etc. For us- I do everything and just tell my husband where we are. It’s just easier. I learned well before we were engaged anyway, for personal health reasons, so I just explained everything to him and that was that. If you were to take a class on your own and explain everything to him, it might be easier if he doesn’t like the idea of being around other couples for the instruction. There’s nothing wrong with learning on your own and then talking about it in private. You don’t have to do it together, unless that’s what you both want.
 
The classes offered in my arch-diocese for marriage prep require that both the bride and groom attend to get the certificate.

I’m not even sure billings is the right method for me, as my cycle is very erratic. It was the only one offered online through the arch-diocese.
 
NFP International asks for a $70 donation for the online NFP home study course. Priests from all over the states have used this service for their engaged. The couples’ main comment after taking the online course (nfpandmore.org/The_NFPI_Home_Study_Course.pdf) is that they are amazed at how much they have learned. We teach all the fertility signs and their rules plus exclusive and ecological breastfeeding. Research has shown that a cross-check method is more effective. Practice sessions occur in the manual after a concept is learned and follow-up is available. We evangelize and support Church teaching as is evident in Chapter 1. The manual, Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach, is 155 pages and is written in an easy question-answer format.
Most couples can learn from the manual. A suggested donation of $10 is requested for the download of the manual. However, it is free for the truly poor. Persons from over 115 countries have downloaded the manual at www.NFPandmore.org. NFPI provides high quality instruction for less.
 
If there is a financial hardship I have never known a certified NFP teacher to turn down couples.
perhaps an email or a talk with your parish priest could yield some good resources.
 
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I’m not even sure billings is the right method for me, as my cycle is very erratic. It was the only one offered online through the arch-diocese.
By using Billings you can find out why your cycles are erratic!

Billings is for every woman. It is a great way to monitor health. You can detect cancer, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and more. A pro-life doctor can read your chart and help you naturally. Other doctors will just prescribe the Pill but all that is, is a bandaid. It masks the symptoms so you think you’re cured but doesn’t actually “fix” anything.

prolifephysicians.org/chapters/index.htm
 
Lorelei12 said:
Could you take a course in person yourself? That way, you could explain everything to him later.

It works for some couples to do everything together, including charting, etc. For us- I do everything and just tell my husband where we are. It’s just easier. I learned well before we were engaged anyway, for personal health reasons, so I just explained everything to him and that was that. If you were to take a class on your own and explain everything to him, it might be easier if he doesn’t like the idea of being around other couples for the instruction. There’s nothing wrong with learning on your own and then talking about it in private. You don’t have to do it together, unless that’s what you both want.
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That is sort of the arrangement my wife and I have. She’s the expert when it comes to observations and charting. I understand the general idea, but not the details of my wife’s cycles. I am supportive of the process. In fact, some NFP instructors feel that it is easier working with just the woman, especially on follow-up consultations when they get into the details of her chart.
 
Am I the only who thought that there may be some larger issues here than the type/cost of instruction? A man who is about to get married who blushes at the word “vagina”?

I know that was not your reason for posting, but that really jumped out at me. Maybe work on that aspect along with the NFP instruction?

My bride and I sometimes refer to our various upbringing deficits as history, not as a sentence (as in, one is not ‘sentenced’ to behave in the way one’s family of origin acted for the rest of one’s life). It would seem this is a great opportunity for growth for hubby-to-be. Maybe if he sees it as a challenge to overcome his upbringing it will appeal to him?
 
choose_to_love said:
Am I the only who thought that there may be some larger issues here than the type/cost of instruction? A man who is about to get married who blushes at the word “vagina”?

I know that was not your reason for posting, but that really jumped out at me. Maybe work on that aspect along with the NFP instruction?

My bride and I sometimes refer to our various upbringing deficits as history, not as a sentence (as in, one is not ‘sentenced’ to behave in the way one’s family of origin acted for the rest of one’s life). It would seem this is a great opportunity for growth for hubby-to-be. Maybe if he sees it as a challenge to overcome his upbringing it will appeal to him?
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I thought that was odd as well but thought it really did not have much to do with the thread. When you get married it is time to grow up and not be a junior high kid when talking about these things. Especially using the terminology that is common in any school biology book. If you cannot handle a class using medical terminology how can you handle the grown up responsibilities of a married man?

Time to grow up.
 
russet1 said:
I thought that was odd as well but thought it really did not have much to do with the thread. When you get married it is time to grow up and not be a junior high kid when talking about these things. Especially using the terminology that is common in any school biology book. If you cannot handle a class using medical terminology how can you handle the grown up responsibilities of a married man?

Time to grow up.
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There is some serious disintegration going on if the guy can’t handle the conversation but can participate in the actions of it. Sex can be messy. Is he going to blush and freak out then too?
 
I was searching for answers too and one of the post suggested app to help track bbt.

I download about three apps and used them in parallel. Kindara is far the BEST app.

I started using the Kindara app about a year ago. They have a vast amount of knowledge base and their app is so easy to use and so simple to read. Not only am I tracking to avoid pregnancy, but it has empowered me to understand my body in so many ways.

They added a community area where users can share charts and provide each other help.

They just launch a new wireless thermometer to make it even easier.
More info here with $10 off - kindara.com/r/aSeBOhiJS
 
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