POLL: Do you and your spouse practice NFP?

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Hermione

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I read that most Catholics don’t, but that probably includes a lot of people who call themelves Catholic without really following the Church. I’m curious what people who are informed about their faith do! 🙂
 
I couldn’t pick one of you options because my hubby and I are in the process of learning NFP. But once I am fully confident in the method it will be used until menopause:)

Malia
 
Just curious, would you call “whatever happens, happens” as a form of NFP? It’s more “N”, but a lot less “P”, and more in keeping with the church’s teaching.

Remember, NFP can be abused, and when it is it’s sinful just like Unnatural Family Planning.
 
I answered “Yes and always have”, but its more of a future tense thing as my wedding will not not occur until next May. We are learning the symto-thermal method through the CCL right now in preparation.
 
We’ve always used it, and God has blessed us. Along with Timidity, sometimes it has been “whatever happens, happens”. Back when I was an evangelical, I was against the use of birth control, but didn’t know anybody else who was. One of the joys of finding the Catholic Church was finding a community that loves and accepts life. I wish more Catholics saw children as the blessing that they are and that our Church says they are. “Behold, children are a gift from the Lord.” I love our large family, and I love the way God continues to provide for us. (Don’t get a lot of sleep, though!)
 
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Timidity:
Just curious, would you call “whatever happens, happens” as a form of NFP? It’s more “N”, but a lot less “P”, and more in keeping with the church’s teaching.

Remember, NFP can be abused, and when it is it’s sinful just like Unnatural Family Planning.
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We also need to remember that being a good Catholic does not require us to throw reason, judgement and Planning to the wind. God blessed each of us with a mind and judgement, and as parents we are not just able to employ it, we are obligated to. There are situations wherein sound judgement would conclude that a “whatever happens” approach is NOT moral or responsible. If you are healthy, competent and in a solid marriage–you can gracefully be open to the gift and responsibility of more children. NFP is a blessing, and the “P” is a legitimate part of the process.
 
We were using NFP to prevent when I got pg in August. I take this as blessing from God and would be devastated without this baby in my life. I am scheduled to have a section around mid to late April due to being labeled “high risk”. The best part about being “high risk” is that my health seems to be better than ever. My bp hasn’t been better in years even though I am not taking my medicine any more. My weight is staying down and I feel good. I think my OB is surprised this pregancy is going so well. I say, “ITS GOD’s WILL”…
 
Did at one time now we just trust in the Lord that He will give us all that He wants to give us.

God Bless
 
I answered always have, always will but really its more of a whatever will be, will be as we dont avoid sex during any particular time.
 
Island Oak:
We also need to remember that being a good Catholic does not require us to throw reason, judgement and Planning to the wind. God blessed each of us with a mind and judgement, and as parents we are not just able to employ it, we are obligated to. There are situations wherein sound judgement would conclude that a “whatever happens” approach is NOT moral or responsible. If you are healthy, competent and in a solid marriage–you can gracefully be open to the gift and responsibility of more children. NFP is a blessing, and the “P” is a legitimate part of the process.
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Amen. I think this is the clear teaching of Humanae Vitae. I don’t think we need to make the Church’s position more burdensome than it already seems to those who reject it. I think a lot of Catholics contracept because the believe they have to limit the number of children they have, and don’t believe NFP works. It is valid question for them to ask themselves whether they really have to limit the number of children, whether this is a true moral obligation or whether it is a legitimate preference. Some Catholics who contracept are well intentioned and are not merely sneering at Church authority to indulge in self-gratification. On the other hand, some do sneer. I think it is important to tell people that NFP works and so it is a morally acceptable way to address a legitimate concern.

To answer the question, my wife and I have always used NFP even when it has been difficult, and even when the teaching did not seem all that clear and reasonable. We basically were obeying legitimate authority. I think we understand it better and see the truth and wisdom of the teaching.
 
We’ve never used NFP or anything else. We decided before we were married to put our fertility in God’s hands and trust He wouldn’t give us more than we could handle!😃 It’s not the way for everyone, but it has been a blessing for us.
 
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IrenkaJMJ:
We’ve never used NFP or anything else. We decided before we were married to put our fertility in God’s hands and trust He wouldn’t give us more than we could handle!😃 It’s not the way for everyone, but it has been a blessing for us.
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I have to say something. If you choose not to learn the concepts of NFP and accept the consequences. That’s fine. It is a decision you and your husband made. But don’t put the actual responsiblitiy for your own actions in God’s hands. We are all responsible for our own actions. We enter into the sacrament of marriage on our own free will. We enter into martial acts by our choice.

I can only assume and can’t judge, but in many of these “God’s Hand’s” situations the couple usually does encounter some form of abstainance for a period of time, due a grave reason in a marriage to postpone pregnancy.

There are many things that are out of of control and we have to give it up to the Lord, but fertility isn’t one of them. The Lord gave up the knowledge (very easily) to know when we are fertile or not. We have to make a conscientious decision of course with prayer with our spouses if the time is right to either avoid or pursue pregnancy at any given time.
 
My husband and I don’t use NFP or will ever use it. It’s not because I’m against the method. We have only been married since Nov. 28.

It’s because it’s highly unlikely that I will ever become pregnant. Should it be the will of God for me to conceive and give birth I will be very happy and welcome the child in our life.
 
We don’t use it because I am infertile.

We would use it if we could conceive on our own, however.
 
Feanaro's Wife:
I couldn’t pick one of you options because my hubby and I are in the process of learning NFP. But once I am fully confident in the method it will be used until menopause:)

Malia
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I sort of fit in this category. We are not avoiding pregnancy at all. A category for those who aren’t using any type of contraception, whether natural or not, would be neat.

How many people are letting God determine the size of their family by not using any contraceptive methods?
 
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puppylove:
We were using NFP to prevent when I got pg in August. I take this as blessing from God and would be devastated without this baby in my life. I am scheduled to have a section around mid to late April due to being labeled “high risk”. The best part about being “high risk” is that my health seems to be better than ever. My bp hasn’t been better in years even though I am not taking my medicine any more. My weight is staying down and I feel good. I think my OB is surprised this pregancy is going so well. I say, “ITS GOD’s WILL”…
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CONGRATULATIONS Puppylove!!:dancing:

We began using the pill after the birth of my first child. I was unable to breastfeed and I was terrified I would get pregnant while my first was still an infant. My best friend conceived her second when her baby was five months old. Anyway, even though I did not know the Church’s teaching at this time, I always hated taking that little pill. No problem taking horse pills like ibuprofen, but when it came to swallowing that little pill, my throught would just close up around it.

When I found out the Church’s teaching, I showed my husband what I had learned. Though he wasn’t practicing, or even Catholic, God gave him the grace to see the wisdom and Truth in the Church teaching, and he agreed to practicing NFP. That was five years ago, and we have never looked back.

The funny thing is, I DID end up getting pregnant while taking the pill with my second when my son was 12 mos. old. After Kelly was born, we practiced NFP. When she turned two, we began discussing the possibility of having another child. After discussion and prayer we decided to go for it, and simply reversed what we had been doing to prevent. We conceived that same month!!

God bless!
 
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