Is there an nfpish thread?

[5littleblessings]

Good Morning mamas,
I was wondering -hoping- there is a thread or something out there for support for those of us who dont use artificial birth control for whatever reason, religion, health, ect.... and who are always open to children but not quite ready yet.
I have 5 children 12,10,8,4,and 8 months and we are just not ready physically and $$$ wise. I have had no problem concieving in the past- although I have lost two babies both at 12 weeks-wow that was hard- but getting pregnant has been way too easy. Its such a hard subject because my older sister is the complete opposite- she has been through invitro about 8 times and has a son now and twins.
Anyway, I didnt really feel right asking at the trying to conceive thread because I know from personal experience its hard both ways. My family gets annoyed with me because we have 5 children and everytime I concieve again its like "I cant believe your pregnant again" and with my sister, they are like "yeah, lets throw a party." Of course I am happy for her, I adore children, I just wish I didnt get the negative reaction I get. I actually live in fear for the first couple months of a pregnancy because of the reaction I will get. Isn;t that sad.
Well anyway I was hoping to talk with other mothers who understand where I am coming from.
I'm sorry if I am babbling......
Even if there isn;t anything here if you could point me im the right direction.
Thanks

[edens_mom]

Are you completely NFP or are you ok with FAM? (Charting, and then abstaining during your fertile time?)

I know it is hard both ways, and I'm sorry your family can't help support you the same way they've supported your sister.

[5littleblessings]

Well, what we did between the boys- the last 2- was condoms in the first year then mucas but alot of obstaining which my hubby is pretty good with. He struggles like me with feeling bc is wrong but being afraid to concieve again. So since my lil guy here is 8 months and i am bfing I just got 1 period over a month a go so we finally were together- yes he is patient, it was 8 months- and I felt it was a "safe" time but I;m starting to get a little concerned. Its only been a week so a test wouldnt show yet anyway. I just thought I was feeling like I was gonna get my period but now I;m wondering if it was implantation??? I did buy one of those "Maybe Mommy" ovulation microscopes to try. But I just got it and it may be too late. I would be happy and afraid at the same time. Ya know?

[vtmama]

Have you looked over in the moms of many/multiples forum?? They are very supportive of large famlies and of NFP

[mama1980]

I use the Creighton Fertility method. It's wonderful. It's really couple-focused and encourages both partners to take an equal role in the fertility of the family. My hubs and I took classes through my OB/GYN's office.

I really find it rewarding to know my body, free from synthetic hormones in birth-control that made me wacky. Good luck!

[booyah716]

We use NFP, no barriers. I'm right there with you in terms of fertility though, we've had no problems conceiving any of our 3 babies! No one has ever been surprised that we've been pg, but no one is negative about it either. (FTR all 3 of our kids were planned!) I have a 3 week old so obviously I'm not ready to get pg right now, but our children are pretty close in age (3.5 yrs, 1.5 years, 3 weeks) so we're hoping to put a little more space between #3 and #4.

We use a sympto-thermal method from the Couple to Couple League. I like it because I cross-check my mucus with my basal temps. If you're serious about waiting for another baby, I'd highly recommend you learn a formal NFP method, as you may be abstaining more than you need to be!

Try not to let others get you down. A life is always something to be celebrated! I'm so sorry your sister has struggled to get pregnant, we have very close friends who have been trying for 4 years to get pregnant and I'm always conflicted when I have to tell them we're pg again. I'm lucky in that they realize the value of a life and celebrate with us when we're pregnant but I know it's hard for them to hear. My super-fertility has made me much more sympathetic to women who have a hard time conceiving, and I tend to pray a lot more for them!

Okay now I'm rambling. :-) I find a lot of encouragement from a forum on Delphi that's for NFP users, if you're familiar with it you should go over there and take a look. :-)

[mandasmom]

[QUOTE=booyah716;10774498]
Try not to let others get you down. A life is always something to be celebrated! I'm so sorry your sister has struggled to get pregnant, we have very close friends who have been trying for 4 years to get pregnant and I'm always conflicted when I have to tell them we're pg again. I'm lucky in that they realize the value of a life and celebrate with us when we're pregnant but I know it's hard for them to hear. My super-fertility has made me much more sympathetic to women who have a hard time conceiving, and I tend to pray a lot more for them!
QUOTE]

We're NFPers, too. We learned through Couple to Couple League, also. I've been looking into becoming a teaching couple. I'm sure DH and I will someday, but not quiiiiite yet.

We also have some friends who struggle with infertility. They'd tried for 5 years when we met them. Then, both she and I were pregnant at the same time! Our daughters are 24 days apart. I felt bad telling her I was pregnant again with my baby who's 2 months, now, but I offered my labor for her. She ended up conceiving the day I had my baby, while I was offering it up for her. Sadly, she then miscarried a few weeks later. Sometimes I just don't understand.

Anyway, felt like sharing. Also wanted to say that I'm always up for chatting about NFP! It's awesome!

[booyah716]

Originally Posted by mandasmom She ended up conceiving the day I had my baby, while I was offering it up for her. Sadly, she then miscarried a few weeks later. Sometimes I just don't understand.

nak

that gave me goosebumps! i offered my most recent labor our friends too, they've conceived twice and lost both babies. their first would have been due a month or two before my jack, who is 4 weeks old today.

we've also considered becoming a teaching couple, but we're not quite in the right season of life i think!

sounds like you and i have a lot in common!

[5littleblessings]

Thank you for sharing your stories. I was wondering what you do when your still nursing and your cycles are starting to come back but are not yet on any scheduale? My lil guy is almost 9 months, still nurses a ton, sleeps with me and I have had one cycle about 6 weeks ago. I havent had any fertile mucas that has been for sure and I keep feeling like I might get my cycle but dont. So confused!

[booyah716]

Originally Posted by 5littleblessings Thank you for sharing your stories. I was wondering what you do when your still nursing and your cycles are starting to come back but are not yet on any scheduale? My lil guy is almost 9 months, still nurses a ton, sleeps with me and I have had one cycle about 6 weeks ago. I havent had any fertile mucas that has been for sure and I keep feeling like I might get my cycle but dont. So confused!

Well, my experience has been that I have some VERY obvious mucus that lets me know it's time to start abstaining. In fact, I correctly predicted the return of my fertility after my first two children at 10 and 8 weeks postpartum. (I was expecting to go a lot longer without cycling since I BF on demand and sleep with my babies too.) Anyways, after my first bleed I started temping again, even though it wasn't as "pretty" as before since I was still waking up a lot at night with the baby. It still did help me pinpoint ovulation, and therefore I was able to know when "phase 3" was. When I was anticipating my period, it was just a time of a lot of abstaining for us, usually a 2-3 weeks, until I ovulated. It took probably 3-5 cycles until things starting normalizing, and I was having regular cycles of 34 days (which is normal for me!).

Are you sure your bleed was a real period and not some sort of breakthrough bleeding? Did you have any fertile mucus before beforehand? Are you familiar with taking your basal body temperature? How long did it take you to get your cycles back after your previous children?