New CCL Video

Review of "Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing: How Ecological Breastfeeding Spaces Babies"

My mother has been a huge advocate for ecological breastfeeding as long as I can remember - both my brother and I were breastfed past age three, my mother was very active as a La Leche League leader, and my mother remains very outspoken on the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers. One of the benefits my mother has always mentioned is that breastfeeding naturally spaces babies - providing mothers and families with a healthy period of time to adjust to a new baby.

Ecological breastfeeding (EBF) describes a type of exclusive breastfeeding where a baby is nursed frequently, on demand, and spends most of her time, waking and sleeping, with her mother.  Ecological breastfeeding is defined by a set of seven standards, and differs from cultural breastfeeding in that it does not include supplementing with formula, pacifiers, schedules, or separated sleeping. While cultural breastfeeding has little influence on fertility, ecological breastfeeding delays a mother's return to fertility to 14 months after her babies birth, on average. This provides couples with a natural way to parent their infants and space their children.

First Couple to Couple League Class

We had our first formal Couple to Couple League class today. There were four student couples, including us. The teaching couple was in their late 50's and had used NFP for 20+ years. We met in a classroom of a nearby Catholic church/school.

There are two things we really liked about the class:

• It was helpful to practice analyzing charts.
• We're looking forward to sharing our charts with the teaching couple in three weeks, at the second class.

There were a few things we didn't like too. The presentation materials were outdated (holy 1980's hairstyles!). The teaching couple was very religious which made the two of us a bit uncomfortable. Finally, the teaching couple emphasized how terrible hormonal control was which was just weird in the context. I think all three of these vary based on teaching couple, so your experience may vary.

Overall, the class was interesting. We felt that everything covered so far could easily be learned by reading "The Art of Natural Family Planning" or "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," but it was a good chance to review it.

Materials for NFP class arrived!

We're starting our Couple to Couple League NFP class next weekend, and the "getting started" packet just arrived. It contains a textbook, "The Art of Natural Family Planning," a book on nutrition and fertility, a thermometer, and charts.

The textbook, "The Art of Natural Family Planning," looks very useful. It's easy to read and has charts to practice interpreting. It clearly explains guidelines to avoid pregnancy, and explains how to apply these guidelines to unusual situations, like discontinuing birth control. I think it provides much more "how to" instruction in preventing pregnancy than "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." The textbook's target audience is engaged or married Catholics and parts of the text, especially the explanations of Catholic theology, reminded me a little too much of high school religion class.

The nutrition book, "Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition: Self-care for improved cycles and fertility," is more of reference book. It includes sections on a variety of issues common to menstrual cycles, fertility, and pregnancy. There are suggestions on general nutrition as well as on supplements.

I think the biggest advantage of enrolling in a CCL class is the membership to CCL. In addition to being enrolled in NFP classes, we'll be able to get help with interpreting our charts from teaching couples (experienced charters who've been trained to teach and assist). We're looking forward to our first class!