Question regarding Billlings Method and Breastfeeding

[blessed_wife]

Hi everyone. After studying both the Billings Method and Sympto-Thermal Method of NFP, my husband and I have decided to use the Billings Method, which we also took classes on. We never practiced either of them, though, because after we were married, we were blessed with a honeymoon baby who was just born 6 weeks ago, and I am now breastfeeding him. I began charting the mucus signs after the lochia stopped. Now, from my understanding of the Method, my husband and I, who want to wait about 2 years until our next child is born, can engage in the marital acts on “not consecutive days” and “not in the mornings” as long as I notice no mucus. Is that correct? I, actually, have a pattern of slight mucus on some days and dry days, but I have recorded that now as my “Basic Infertile Period.”

Anyone else follow the Billings Method for spacing their children while breastfeeding? If so, how did it go and do you have any tips for me? I am “exculsively breastfeeding,” our son, by which I mean, he eats only my milk, co-sleeps with us to eat 2 or 3 times throughout the night, but I do sometimes use pacifiers throughout the day, and once in a great while, I pump for when we are going out for more than 2 hours, but most of the time when the baby comes with us, I just feed him on demand while out.

 

[ChristinaM]

ow, from my understanding of the Method, my husband and I, who want to wait about 2 years until our next child is born, can engage in the marital acts on “not consecutive days” and “not in the mornings” as long as I notice no mucus. Is that correct?

IIRC, yes, that is my understanding of the Billings rules, but I have not yet done it while BFing. I think your best bet would be to consult your Billings teacher. I imagine personal instruction would be most helpful in getting through this time.

 

[blessed_wife]

I think your best bet would be to consult your Billings teacher. I imagine personal instruction would be most helpful in getting through this time.

Well, I’d have to look into where to receive instruction as we received that in Chicago but we moved a couple months ago to Monterey, CA.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Hi Blessed Wife,

I do billings, and I started right after DD was born 4 years ago. I learned on my own, with the Billings work book.

But recently I found www.woomb.org. They have an online charting service, and also an online instruction service.

I used the charting service…and I recommend it.

I like the Billings method overall…but it takes a while to get comfortable with it (it’s basically psychological, and second guessing)

Good luck and congratulations on your little guy!

 

[ChristinaM]

Well, I’d have to look into where to receive instruction as we received that in Chicago but we moved a couple months ago to Monterey, CA.

Check out www.boma-usa.org (Billings Method Association - USA website) and use the Find an Instructor link on the left-hand side of the page. That should help.