NFP after the baby is born?

[just_me_1]

I’m down to 9 weeks (and counting!!!) and starting to think about things after junior gets here… now, we planned on using NFP when we got married, but got pregnant that week and never really learned it and to track the signs… oops! obviously this is our first baby, and from what I hear your cycles are wacky after birth, making them hard to chart, especially if you are breastfeeding… anyone have any suggestions or resources on starting NFP at 6 weeks or whatever it is, when the doc ok’s you? I’d hate to have a repeat and be pregnant again as soon as the baby’s born. I need a break!

ps. just a side note, that I’ve been chuckling about all day: it warmed up here for once, so I put on a t-shirt this morning (it’s red. and used to fit!). when I looked in the mirror, it had ridden up, and I had turned into winnie the pooh!

 

[Jennifer_J]

Most methods offer a postpartem class or 2…take them. Learn how to chart. Learn the difference between cultural breastfeeding and ecological breastfeeding kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html
nfpandmore.org/Part_3_Nov_06.pdf
, so that you can decide what you want to do and WHEN to start charting. Learn your basic mucous pattern and then note changes. Remember, if you temp, that’s just confirmation that ovulation has already occured. Mucous is your best sign at this point while breastfeeding. It is possible to track the return of fertility while breastfeeding, but you have to be paying attention and charting.

 

[Angelstar]

I don’t have much advice… other than maybe you could ask your ob-gyn if they know of any NFP classes or if they could offer any advice for post-partum NFP.

I just wanted to say congratulations on your Pooh Bear Belly! That’s too cute!

 

[ryecroft]

Just a thought - it might help to make sure besides the charting to try getting a box of ovulation tests or if you have the means, an actual ova cue ovulation detector - some will tell you about 5 days before you’re supposed to ovulate - I have one that we’re getting that does the charting (hooks up with computer software) and has a vaginal detector as well so if you’re not positive about if you’re ovulating or not this will deffinately tell. Part of it goes by electolytes - I’m excited to be gettin mine - good luck!

 

[Peacefulwishes]

I recommend the book Taking Charge of your Fertility by Teri Weschler. There is an entire section in the back of the book about how to monitor your fertility after childbirth and while breastfeeding.

My son will be a year old this upcoming Friday ( ) and I am still breastfeeding him. My cycles are STILL wonky! I got my first real period when he was 8 months old I think, but then it was 60 days before I got another…then the next cycle was 47 days! And I won’t lie it has been nerve wracking not having a predictable pattern! My last cycle was only 30 days though so I’m hoping things are settling down!

In any case, after birth you basically want to establish an “Basic Infertile Pattern”. You do this by primarily relying on your cervical fluids (temp taking while nursing a newborn/young infant is extremely hard! Not to mention post partum hormones are still adjusting). For two weeks, observe your cervical fluid. During this two week period you are asked to abstain from sex as well as from using douches, spermicides or anything else that might mask your true fluids. After charting for two weeks and have established that you are continually dry, or have the same sticky-type cervical fluid, you have established your basic infertile pattern (bip). When that happens, you may follow these two rules:

The Unchanging Day Rule is if your BIP is dry or same-quality sticky cervical fluid day after day, you are safe for intercourse the evening of every dry or unchanging sticky day. (women with a BIP of wet cervical fluid must consider themselves fertile!)

The Patch Rule: You are safe the evening of every dry day that your 2-week BIP remains the same. But as soon as you see a change in your BIP you must consider yourself fertile, until the evening of the FOURTH consecutive nonwet day after your Peak Day. The Peak Day is the last day of the more fertile patch of cervical fluid or lubricative vaginal sensation in your BIP. Obviously any type of wet cervical fluid, OR bleeding, must be considered a fertile patch!

This was taken pretty much word for word from my book. There is a lot more to it though so I recommend getting it!

Good luck!

 

[just_me_1]

ok, I see I’m nt alne in this one. thanks!

I will sure try to find that book, and check out those websites. I have a LOT to learn! I’m hoping to find some classes but not very optimistic. a couple I know from church had to go about 200 miles to find someone who taught NFP, and they were only taught the basic mucus/egg white recognition method (not symptothermal or what have you, again, I’m a rookie. everything I’ve learned about NFP so far was from her)

now, is that ova cue detector deal pretty much user friendly and idiotproof?? I don’t know how much it would cost (looking into it now) but if you compare it to my sanity and the cost of having another baby right away, it’s probably worth it!

thanks again girls!

 

[New_at_this]

Yes pple

Who has the answer to this one ?
Iam 14wks pp and we have been abstaining because we need to space our kids
we are learning Billings but i always seem to be fertile !!!1
Needless to say this is driving DH and me totally crazy…

 

[Em_in_FL]

I’m down to 9 weeks (and counting!!!) and starting to think about things after junior gets here… now, we planned on using NFP when we got married, but got pregnant that week and never really learned it and to track the signs… oops! obviously this is our first baby, and from what I hear your cycles are wacky after birth, making them hard to chart, especially if you are breastfeeding… anyone have any suggestions or resources on starting NFP at 6 weeks or whatever it is, when the doc ok’s you? I’d hate to have a repeat and be pregnant again as soon as the baby’s born. I need a break!

ps. just a side note, that I’ve been chuckling about all day: it warmed up here for once, so I put on a t-shirt this morning (it’s red. and used to fit!). when I looked in the mirror, it had ridden up, and I had turned into winnie the pooh!

LOL about winnie the pooh!

What method are you using? I highly recommend re-reading all your NFP material and possibly taking a refresher course.

Yes pple

Who has the answer to this one ?
Iam 14wks pp and we have been abstaining because we need to space our kids
we are learning Billings but i always seem to be fertile !!!1
Needless to say this is driving DH and me totally crazy…

I’m not familiar with Billings - have you talked with your instructor? I would get their advice.

As for my experience - I’m currently BF’ing my 3rd baby (now 8 1/2 months) and still waiting for my cycles to return. I use the Sympto-Thermal method. When you don’t have a cycle to track, the MOST IMPORTANT signs are going to be your cervical mucous and cervical position signs. The temperature sign is also very helpful, but is secondary.

Good luck and God bless you all for your efforts!

 

[New_at_this]

yes we are learning with an instructor and following the rules to the letter but its still quite trying

Anyone else using Billings postpartum??? I have done the CP check once and it was sooo unconfortable

 

[Em_in_FL]

yes we are learning with an instructor and following the rules to the letter but its still quite trying

Anyone else using Billings postpartum??? I have done the CP check once and it was sooo unconfortable

Personally, I’ve found the CP sign to be the MOST useful postpartum. In my personal experience the CM got confusing alone - the CP seemed to help it all makes sense.

 

[Maryamh]

This is a good thread, DH and I have been wondering about this as our baby is due in about 8 weeks. We were doing NFP and obviously we got a little confused… so we are really trying to find some good materials. Our biggest problem was my temp never really followed a pattern and my cervic kept staying open longer and longer periods which was really confusing when charted. We are thinking of getting the ova cue to help along with charting… definately will check out the book.

 

[manualman]

We use Billings, but obviously I’m not the team member best qualified to answer your question. Billings works great for us, but is not necessarily best for everyone. Mucus signs ARE quite messed up for quite a while after delivery. But at 2 weeks pp, I’m surprised your doctor would have given you the “OK to go” already anyways. The hard facts are that you don’t “get much” for a while after pregnancy. For us, it was less of an issue because we were too exhausted anyways!

After a while you should see the mucus signs stabilize. It might take a couple months. You’ll live, I promise (I’ve lived through it three times now). After that, watch for the mucus getting stretchy and slippery. Kinda late now, but the BEST way to get good at this is before you are married. Learning to read the signs when you aren’t messing them up via sex or pregnancy is a lot easier. Skip sex for the early days of your cycle until things stabilize. Yeah, that knocks you down to maybe a week of eligible days per month. It doesn’t last forever, I promise! (may seem like it though)