I’m sure they intend no insult, and I’m sure you know they are not suggesting that you need to be protected from your husband. The intended meaning of the word “protection” is perfectly clear in this context. I can agree it is not a great choice of word, but some here are choosing to make an undue issue over the word (by being unnecessarily literal) more so than the substance of the issue.
I find it grossly incompetent of the doctor. Why make an assumption about the patient’s attitude to her pregnancy, or indeed that perhaps an abortion is desired, when the patient is sitting right in front of you and can express their desires at any time.
If you are not intending sexual relations, you can feel free to take whatever legal pills you like.
This happens all the time this is not an isolated incident. Usually when you find out you are pregnant the doctor introduces the idea of abortion. Some doctors are more bolden and verbally offer/suggest an abortion and others simply hand you the “abortion brochure”. I’d like to think that there are doctors who don’t do either of these, but abortion being offered is definitely the norm.
Yes, that’s exact it, or at least a sizeable part of the thing people choose to “protect” themselves from - the call on their time that a child represents. But having said that, we are not required to produce children to the max, or to some special level that neutralises a possible charge of “selfishness”. There is no formula for determining the “right” number of children. Some of us relish the vision of a family of 6 or 8 or 10 kids. Wonderful! Some feel 2 or 3 would be a lovely family. Wonderful!
I think that is a very personal assessment, but others using ABC could comment. May I ask if it is the assessment of a married person?
NFP or even abstinence would work equally well and perhaps better. You don’t need to sterilize yourself - even temporarily - to delay having children. People did it all the time, even before you could buy condoms at the drug store.
A child is a blessing, but yet there are just reasons to practice NFP, and thus to seek to defer or avoid the blessing. This suggests a more nuanced understanding of the blessing of children is required.
We live in a world devoted to using language as a weapon. It has long been said that whoever controls the terms of debate, wins. Words mean things. To talk about ‘protection’ means something. It has shaped an entire way of thinking for the last two generations. When an entire society thinks a certain way, that certainly affects the substance of the issue.
Ah, my understanding is perhaps not nuanced enough. Are you suggesting my poor little brain isn’t capable of such fine thought?
It’s tragic that your mother became an alcoholic, but as 3Doctors said, there had to have been underlying problems. I personally think it’s terrible that this burden has been laid on you, as somehow being the cause of all these problems. No, in reality, her choices were the cause of these problems. Quite possibly there were people around her doing other things that put a great deal of pressure on her. Who’s to say she wouldn’t have become an alcoholic regardless?
Thank you for your prayers. I am sure there were other stresses in my parents life, such as trying to put 4 children through Catholic school, the thought of paying for college soon, and just everyday life. I just think that God knows our hearts and trials and he tries to guide us as best he can.I’m very sorry that your and your family’s life has been so full of suffering. And I know that there are lots of people in the world who blame having a large family for causing suffering - but I just can’t help but think there must have been underlying problems that were the real cause of the difficulties. If, for instance, a husband is being demanding of sex with no care for how his wife is feeling and being insensitive and unhelpful if pregnancy results, that is an indicator of a deep rift in the marriage. There is still at times some cultural misogynism baggage in some cases that encourages insensitivity.
Please accept my prayers for your family and all families for whom having an abundance of children has been a challenge and yes, perhaps more bitter than sweet. I know that we can’t gloss over and pretend those situations don’t exist. The objective moral issues surrounding contraception remain what they are, but sometimes a woman is so frightened and stressed that maybe her guilt is lessened, and God would have mercy on her.
We must be careful not to put words in the Pope’s mouth, though - the press does quite well with that, unfortunately.Just a reminder, not trying to be harsh about it. And again I will definitely pray for continued healing for your family in all ways.
Abstinence is off the table. I’m not giving up sex for the next 3-5 years. No way, that’s not what happy, healthy newlyweds do.
I have no need to do something so barbaric and so desperate as sterilizing myself. I practice NFP, I don’t chart and I don’t abstain. My husband and I have come to know my body very well, which is another beautiful blessing/benefit of practicing NFP : ) that and I’m not willingly subjecting my body to cancer and other health risks. But it sounds like you’ve made up your mind so not much more to discuss. Enjoy your little pills, patch, implant, weird foreign objects in your cervix or arm etc. or whatever : )
If you don’t chart and don’t abstain are you not trying to avoid pregnancy? Frankly, every birth control method has it’s pros and cons, and I’m glad that you’re happy with NFP. I would not be.
I’m not trying to be rude, argumentative, or prying, but I just wondered why you use NFP if you don’t chart or use it to avoid or try for pregnancy? As in, how do you use it and what benefits are you experiencing? It just seems odd to me.