My husband and I recently welcomed our beautiful son into the world. The birth was complicated. I had to have a cesarean section which was very difficult according to my doctor.
My obstetrician tells me that I should not get pregant again for at least a year so the scar can heal completely. He was adamant about this, saying that if I get pregnant before that time, I risk losing both the baby and my uterus.
What am I to do now? Is it permissible to temporarily use birth control in this situation?
Hmm. Birth control, maybe (because it isn’t limited to contraception by definition), but contraception no. Not to confuse anyone but NFP /is/ birth control (you are controlling births, ergo birth control).
/However/, birth control is not limited to contraception (condoms, pills, inter-uterine devices, patches, etc) as these good people have pointed out and I think that’s what you’re truly asking.
I personally recommend the Creighton Model because it has high success of either conceiving or avoiding pregnancy according to how you use it. It is very scientific and based on observations you make. You can still have a healthy sex life with your husband and avoid pregnancy by abstaining from sex during the very few fertile periods. I really like that it works with your body’s natural rhythm, it isn’t invasive, and it doesn’t mask fertility problems like taking certain contraception would. And if you do develop fertility problems, you can see a NaPRO doctor with your Creighton Model data and be diagnosed/treated very quickly. If you don’t live near a Creighton Model practitioner, some of them are more than willing to Skype ‘classes’ over the internet to help you and send you the paperwork in the mail.
I have also heard good things about the Billington’s method which like the Creighton Model works with your body’s natural fertility. I think it uses your basal body temperature to help predict fertility (during ovulation, your body temp raises slightly), but I don’t know much more about it.
I want to be clear that
contraception is against Catholic teaching. Contraceptive pills, patches,inter-uterine devices work by going against the body’s natural rhythm and tricking your body into thinking you are pregnant. The body, then, aborts the conceived fetus by not allowing it to attach to the uterine wall. There are many ill-effects of contraception not widely published. I recommend checking out
1flesh.org. While condoms do not mess with fertility cycles, they have a decently high failure rate (I know several people with “condom” children).
I hope this helps you. Good luck and congratulations on your son’s birth.