For mamas using the Marquette Method of natural family planning…
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I was taught if you are TTA, abstain 6 days before the earliest peak you’ve had (if you’ve tracked past cycles). But if you get a high reading on the monitor, abstain. Whichever comes first. Once your monitor says “peak”, wait 4 full days before intercourse.
Do you have the clearblue monitor for Marquette? If trying to avoid you abstaining until 5 days after your peak. Once your cycles are regular you can identify the window to avoid but that’s working with an instructor. If you would like the contact info of an instructor I can give you mine. Not sure if you can message me on here but I’m happy to share!
@Lauren I do have the clear blue monitor. I haven’t started using it just yet though. Do I need an instructor? I was just going to wing this with some research and consulting 😂 I don’t have the money to pay someone for the help right now
@Mary Elizabeth how many cycles are you supposed to track beforehand? I’m now 3 months postpartum and it’s been almost a year since my husband and I have been intimate…literally probably since we conceived. 😭 We were in an abstinence period after we found out we were pregnant while we had our marriage convalidated (my husband is entering the Church this Easter) and then I was too large and uncomfortable to enjoy sex by the time that was completed. I’m running out of patience for abstinence. 🤣
You definitely need an instructor to help you! Postpartum is very difficult to navigate. My cycle is still regulating and I’m 3 cycles past breastfeeding. I know an instructor can be a lot of money but it’s worth it! If not, I joined a Marquette method Facebook group that helped me a lot. Sometimes they have instructors in training that can help you for free!
If you can’t afford a Marquette instructor, I’d look into Billings instead as they do sliding scale fee and have good postpartum protocols and sufficient available sex days relative to other methods. It doesn’t use a monitor. Then, once you can afford an instructor, do Marquette if you don’t like Billings. I’ve never used it, but I’ve heard good things.
Charting with an instructor is definitely the best way to go about avoiding pregnancy. There are just so many details that play into it, it is too hard to wing it and actually know what is happening. Especially being postpartum. Your cycles are different for awhile after having a baby. It just sucks that it is so expensive. Sometimes you can find someone learning how to become an instructor, and while they are learning they will teach for free. If I were you I would look for that. Definitely necessary and worth it to find someone. If you email Emily at emily@fabfertilityandlactation.com she may be able to help you find an instructor that is in the training stages or direct you on who to contact. I can’t guarantee anything though. It’s worth a shot!
Lauren’s post reminded me that https://ccnfp.org/ offers free NFP classes to Catholics, but I don’t know which method they teach.
I can’t speak to Marquette as I do sympto-thermal (using Couple to Couple League’s protocols). Have you spoken with your instructor? If you’re super trying to avoid pregnancy, then yes, only your post-ovulation days are usable. If you’re willing to take small risk (and you confirmed ovulation), some period days can be used and depending on your previous ovulation dates, you can risk a couple days post-period bleeding. Sperm lives in the body for five+ days under ideal conditions, ie once your body starts producing fertile mucus that cycle.