NFP, How do I get started?

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Monica37

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This will sound like a silly question, but… My husband is not Catholic and definitely does not want more children 😦 . Anyway, he is deployed right now, so I thought that if I could do the groundwork for NFP and get good at it :confused: , that by the time he gets home I could present this as a viable option. Currently, he uses a condom and eventhough my priest said it was okay for me to recieve Communion (I have made my feelings about not wanting to use BC to my husband known), I still can’t shake the feeling that I am wrong. So the question is, where do I find out how to start and how long does it generally take to get good at it? He will be gone until Sep but may be home for 2 weeks in May. Thanks!
 
You should look into a class, typically your local Catholic parish will have a schedule and contact list. These classes will likely be Sympto-Thermal method taught by Couple to Couple League. You can also go to www.ccli.org for info & an instructor contact list.

I use the Creighton Model, and you can find info and instructors at www.creightonmodel.com and www.fertilitycare.org.

Whichever method you use, go ahead and get started, then you will have 4 or so months of charts. That should be a good amount of time to learn the method and have some tracking under your belt.
 
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn NFP without the pressure of possibly misinterpreting your signs and having a surprise pregnancy 🙂 From what I have heard, your priest is right. As long as you yourself are not using contraception (pill, female condom, IUD, etc.) and periodically letting your husband know how you feel about birth control, you are not sinning.

As for how to go about learning NFP, I would first of all see if any classes are offered through your parish or a parish nearby. Sometimes the diocese will have programs in place (which might entail some travel, though, depending on where you live). If not, there are many great resources on the web, such as www.ccli.org which offers a home-study program, I believe. Also, try doing a search on “NFP” in this forum. Good luck and God bless!
 
Try www.ccli.org or www.oms.com. You should be able to search for various “NFP disciplines” between the two of them.

Learning now is a great idea, but if he might be hesitant, you might want to talk to some men with experience and put together a list of “what’s in it for him” as well as the statistical evidence on the efficacy of various birth control and family planning methods. Your enjoyment of and renewed desire for sex (as a result of eliminating the condom) should definitely be on the list.
 
Wow! 4 replies within one minute! We’re on top of things when it comes to discussing NFP in the Catholic Answers Forums 🙂
 
Thanks everyone! I guess I really need to talk to someone face to face as well though. It looks very complicated and a bit scary. Not sure my husband will go for it, but at least I can give it a try. Great sites everyone, thanks again.
 
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Monica37:
Thanks everyone! I guess I really need to talk to someone face to face as well though. It looks very complicated and a bit scary. Not sure my husband will go for it, but at least I can give it a try. Great sites everyone, thanks again.
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Actually it is not complicated at all. I learned the Creighton Model and honestly, it’s practically second nature-- it takes little time, and you know if you are fertile or not.

Once you talk to an instructor, you will see that it is in fact very easy. Also, if you don’t find an instructor in your area, they will do distance-study/self-study options.
 
While I am not exactly in the same boat, my husband is also deployed and I am using these last few months before he get’s back to get back into the practice of NFP. Since he was gone I haven’t been charting in almost a year! Anyway, definately use this time to get to know yourself. It will help a lot. Hopefully your husband will see how much this means to you.
 
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