NFP Legit reasons for using it + Postpartum problems with NFP

[valentinaa]

1. Can someone explain the legitimate reasons that one can use NFP without it becoming a sin? I had no idea that such a practice could be sinful… news to me.
2. I am still breastfeeding so I do not have my regular cycles back so can you tell me whether I am to abstain? I think that isn’t right, we have two kids already so I just need some clarification that I am not committing sins here without me knowing.

 

[Inquiry]

First and foremost. You are not required to get pregnant as often as possible. It is important to remain open to life, but married couples are able to put off children indefinitely if they have serious cause to.

There is not a list of what counts as serious cause, that is up to them to discern. Taking care of a newborn properly certainly counts, though.

The only reason I’ve ever heard for not using NFP post-partum is that it can be difficult to interpret the signs until your cycle returns. Abstaining in those circumstances is a choice, not a moral necessity.

 

[1ke]

As a couple you discern.

There is no list of reasons.

 

[starlady]

Most (if not all) NFP methods have postpartum protocols for this very reason. I didn’t get my cycles back until 7 months pp, but I resumed charting around 8 weeks pp. You can check any method with which you are familiar to see if there is a postpartum class or rules for this period of time.

I learned the sympto-thermal method through the Couple to Couple League before getting married, but once we had our son, I did a Skype lesson with a long distance instructor to learn postpartum rules for the Marquette Method, which I found to be more objective and much more helpful for the pp period.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I had no idea that such a practice could be sinful… news to me.

Whomever told you that needs to prove their point.

You need a just reason. Sometimes it is easier to frame by taking the opposite. Is your desire to space children, even indefinitely, unjust?

Your health, finances, mental health, etc are ALL just reasons along with a million other just reasons.

ETA: contact an instructor about the post partum protocol

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Can someone explain the legitimate reasons that one can use NFP without it becoming a sin? I had no idea that such a practice could be sinful… news to me.

It just needs to be a serious reason. The bounds of that are determined by you and your spouse. If you need further guidance, ask your priest to help you. He is responsible for shepherding you through these sorts of decisions.

I am still breastfeeding so I do not have my regular cycles back so can you tell me whether I am to abstain? I think that isn’t right, we have two kids already so I just need some clarification that I am not committing sins here without me knowing.

You should have an NFP coach/consultant. Contact that person, and they will help you. If you are just using a symptothermal method, it might be helpful to add in at-home hormone tests. Your NFP consultant can help you.

 

[tafan2]

Can someone explain the legitimate reasons that one can use NFP without it becoming a sin? I had no idea that such a practice could be sinful… news to me.

It’s very simple, it needs to be a just/serious reason. Some people take exception to the word serious, but I cannot image a just reason not being serious.

This can range from anything to money, health, psychological issues, family matters, all sorts of things. The Church leaves it up to the couple’s Prudential judgement.

Is it purely selfish? Then it’s probably a sin, but I suspect that is very rare. If for no other reason than that couple’s willing to go the NFP route are not typically unserious (is that a word?) people.

 

[Leek]

Lots of people like to lay heavy burdens when they don’t deal with the consequences.

I was lucky that my cycle came back while I was breastfeeding so I could go back to sympto thermal. It’s a tricky time because you can’t have the double check of the temp. If your comfortable with mucus only that would be a bonus. Because I only knew stm I wouldn’t have trusted that and wouldn’t have wanted to learn a new method then. I had a c section so was really important that I didn’t get pregnant though.