Please tell me how to successfully use NFP.

[SaraElise]

If you can take a class do it! Postpartum is the hardest time to learn, but it can be done. And an instructor can help you interpret your charts to make sure you understand the rules and apply them correctly. I personally use the symptom thermal method but have heard great things about the Marquette method for postpartum use and have thought about switching.

I have irregular cycles, but have been able to use NFP to avoid successfully.

[SaraElise]

*sympto

[jamie714]

Thank you everyone. I just ordered the book off amazon. With my DH husband working full time and going to school full time and we only have one vehicle I don't have time to take a class. I hope I can figure it all out from the book.

Also as far a something until I do figure it out or when i know it bad time is a diaphragm horrible or a good choice? And how or where do I get one?

[hopeangelmomof5]

The nfp is somewhere around 75-90% effective, if done properly. You and your husband BOTH have to know which days are off-limits to avoid a 'let's just risk it!' moment.

My husband and I did nfp for 4 months after we got married, and used condoms during the off-limits days. And that's what we'll do after this baby (let me specify that this baby was planned, lol) is born.

I used mymonthlycycle.com to track my days. And to try and conceive.

The bottom line is this: if you want something 99.99% effective, you'd better go with bc pills, patch, shot, iud, ect. But if you want to give your body and break and wouldn't be too upset if you got pregnant again, nfp and\or condoms\diaphragm would be the option for you.

[dragonfly263544]

Also, with NFP/FAM you really should chart a few cycles to get a baseline pattern before you start relying on it for BC. Its also REALLY important to follow ALL of the rules EXACTLY.

[SaraElise]

Originally Posted by dragonfly263544 Also, with NFP/FAM you really should chart a few cycles to get a baseline pattern before you start relying on it for BC. Its also REALLY important to follow ALL of the rules EXACTLY.

I could not agree with this post more! Most NFP (different from FAM) will ask you to abstain for one cycle so that you are more confident in your actual signs before you jump in and use it. There is definitely more abstaining in the beginning until you figure out what your body is doing.

And if you follow the rules *exactly* NFP can be 98-99% effective, but that means really following all of the rules, not just thinking you know what is happening and taking a risk. It's hard in the beginning, but once you figure it out, so awesome to just *know* what your body is doing, and it works quite well!

[tibeca]

Originally Posted by SaraElise I could not agree with this post more! Most NFP (different from FAM) will ask you to abstain for one cycle so that you are more confident in your actual signs before you jump in and use it. There is definitely more abstaining in the beginning until you figure out what your body is doing. And if you follow the rules *exactly* NFP can be 98-99% effective, but that means really following all of the rules, not just thinking you know what is happening and taking a risk. It's hard in the beginning, but once you figure it out, so awesome to just *know* what your body is doing, and it works quite well!

Just wanted to add that I totally AGREE with this. You should plot a few cycles to be really sure what your body is doing. Even so, you need to 100% follow the rules. A single "heated" moment and you will probably end up pregnant (you are more likely to consider risking it when you are close to ovulation). The safe days tend to be around 7 days from the beginning of your period and then about 2 weeks after ovulation. Even if you consistently ovulate on day 14, you should still be watching signs. There's plenty of circumstances where ovulation occurred later/earlier than expected.

AND, be prepared for daylight savings time. I had all the signs of ovulation, but my body delayed ovulation on account of the time change. OOPS! Now we're due in August with #3. Since that was only our 2nd fertile month using FAM we failed in more ways than one: Not following enough cycles, not watching the signs carefully enough, relying too heavily on body temperature, not knowing about the risks with daylight savings, not having DH 100% knowledgeable... That said, we'll be using FAM after this baby is born, just a little more strictly. I too highly recommend "taking charge of your fertility".

As for diaphragms. I have used a diaphragm in the past. I found it a hassle. I often forgot that I had put it in and hated interrupting the "moment" by having to insert it. They are most effective when used with spermicide. Without spermicide they are supposed to be only like 71-80% effective, and only 94% effective with spermicide.I believe you are supposed to wait 15 minutes after insertion for penetration. Talk about FRUSTRATING! You have to be sized by your GYN to get a diaphragm.

The only time birth control can fail is while you're ovulating. So using a diaphragm while ovulating leaves a chance for failure and pregnancy. Only you can decide your willingness to risk that. The reality is that all those failures of contraception to work could only happen during a fertile window.

[lizgrace07]

Originally Posted by SaraElise I could not agree with this post more! Most NFP (different from FAM) will ask you to abstain for one cycle so that you are more confident in your actual signs before you jump in and use it. There is definitely more abstaining in the beginning until you figure out what your body is doing. And if you follow the rules *exactly* NFP can be 98-99% effective, but that means really following all of the rules, not just thinking you know what is happening and taking a risk. It's hard in the beginning, but once you figure it out, so awesome to just *know* what your body is doing, and it works quite well!

Yes!

[ExquisiteMom12]

I am very much interested in NFP also. We used it successfully for several months, but started to slack in our diligence to it. So, if you and your hubby can truly commit to following NFP it's great!

[lilbitcrunchy]

Originally Posted by hopeangelmomof5 . The bottom line is this: if you want something 99.99% effective, you'd better go with bc pills, patch, shot, iud, ect. But if you want to give your body and break and wouldn't be too upset if you got pregnant again, nfp and\or condoms\diaphragm would be the option for you.

Totally agree. I want more and so does DH but since now isn't the "best" we're avoiding. If we were totally against the idea of another, I would get an iud in a heartbeat. I can only do paraguard which is *so* expensive for me so with us only wanting to wait a max of a year, it's not worth it. We have been really good about it but even still managed to get pg with a 7 day cutoff I think we dtd once in the fertile window with protection so maybe that failed, who knows.

So yea, nothing is perfect. A month ago I ovulated 5 days late due to illness so if I had just been relying on "i always o cd15" we would have been preggo. It doesn't take much time everyday to note your temp/cm and cp. On the flip side it would be nice to not have to think about it for a day. Our intimacy is greatly affected. I find it very liberating in a way, not having to use hormones or other devices, but also I feel it puts an insane amount of pressure on me to get it right. DH totally trusts me (and he should, I wouldn't trick him lol) but still when we had a surprise, I couldn't help but feel like it was my fault.

So yes I'll say we've been successful at it for months now despite a miscarriage cycle thrown in there. There's a lot to consider and I agree completely, chart a few cycles to get into the swing of things. GL!