DO YOUR NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING
Natural family planning is also known by (FAM/NFP). The basic tenet of natural
family planning is avoiding intercourse around the times when a woman is most
fertile. Dr. Barrere also points out that "sperm can live for four to five
days within the mucous glands in the cervix, resulting in delayed fertilization."
According to Dr. Barrere, there are three methods of natural family planning:
- The Calendar method
evaluating your cycle over several months to judge average cycle length; assuming
that ovulation occurs at the midpoint of the cycle, and avoiding intercourse
for one week prior to, and three days following, estimated ovulation. "The
calendar method is the least effective method (of natural family planning),
with a 9 percent pregnancy rate," Dr. Barrere says.
- The Mucous method
feeling your cervical mucous with your fingers to determine when you are fertile.
This method results in a 3 percent pregnancy rate with perfect use. "Prior
to ovulation, increasing amounts of estrogen production stimulate mucous production,"
Dr. Barrere says. "There is a progressive increase in the quantity of
mucous, and it becomes more slippery just prior to ovulation. (After ovulation,
the mucous dries up.) Couples are taught that their 'safe' days are the dry
days."
- The Symptothermal method
a combination of the calendar and mucous methods; you monitor your cervical
mucous in combination with taking your temperature every morning to detect
the temperature rise that comes with ovulation. "Once the temperature
rise occurs, intercourse is avoided for an additional three days,"
says Dr. Barrere, who notes that the symptothermal method has a 2 percent
pregnancy rate.
In addition to being used as a method of birth control, FAM/NFP is often used
to help maximize the chances of conception. "[My husband and I] are now
more aware of FAM/NFP to help us avoid conception just as we used it as part
of our plan to conceive both our children," says Denise Thomas of Chicago,
Ill., who breastfed her son for 22 months and is currently exclusively breastfeeding
her 14-week-old daughter.
FAM/NFP isn't for everyone. "I was not able to use natural family planning
due to a long history of irregular periods and a very long cycle (33 to 40 days),
plus chronic sinus and allergy medications, which affect cervical mucous,"
says Dr. Cindy McClain Pearman, a family practice physician from Knoxville,
Tenn. She has breastfed all three of her children.
Barrier Methods
Most women are at least somewhat familiar with the better-known barrier methods:
condoms, diaphragms and the cervical cap. "With perfect use and combined
with spermicide, the pregnancy rate varies from 3 percent to 30 percent. However,
with typical use, the pregnancy rates are much higher, ranging from 1 to 40
percent," Dr. Barrere says, adding that cervical caps "by far"
have the most failures.
Denise Thomas and her husband use condoms in combination with FAM/NFP to increase
both methods' effectiveness. "The diaphragm or gel-based spermicides are
not an option, as I suffer from bladder infections when I use them," she
says.
One reason for the high failure rate of barrier methods is that their inconvenience
and messiness may mean that they are not always used. "Of course [the diaphragm]
interferes with spontaneity and is messy and a little uncomfortable," Dr.
Pearman says. "Also, you must be religious about using it if it's to work
– I was."
Hormonal Methods
Hormonal methods are among the most effective contraceptive choices for a woman
– and the most controversial for a nursing mother.
There's not much difference of opinion about a lactating woman using the standard
combination estrogen-progestin birth control pill. "It has been well documented
that taking contraceptives containing estrogen markedly reduces the quality
and quantity of breast milk," says Dr. Barrere, summing up the prevailing
opinion.
It's the mini-pill and other methods such as Depo-Provera injections and Norplant
implant, that is subject to differing opinions. Michelle Bailey is currently
using the mini-pill. "This particular brand does not reduce my milk supply,"
she says. "Once I'm not breastfeeding, I'll go back to a regular birth
control pill because it is more effective."
But current research and the experience of many lactation consultants and nursing
mothers shows a different side. "I went back to my diaphragm until my husband
had a vasectomy when [our daughter] was several months old," Dr. Pearman
says. "Mini-pills and Depo are not supposed to affect [milk] supply, but
I have seen it happen often, especially with the mini-pill."
How do you know if your milk supply could be at risk? "There are no absolutes
here, but it is probably the better part of wisdom for breastfeeding mothers
to wait until lactation is well established (at least six weeks) before introducing
these progestin-only contraceptives, and then try a month of oral contraceptives
before having the shot of Depo Provera," says iParenting expert adviser
Melissa Clark Vickers, MEd, IBCLC.
Why the wait for Depo? "The problem with the Depo Provera shot is that
because it is a one-time, long-term shot, if there is a problem, there is no
way to 'undo' the shot," Vickers says. (by Michele St. Martin - BABY.TopResource.NET
Reference)
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