From CANFP

NFP After A Baby
Using NFP while Breastfeeding and bottle feeding
By Gronskys
Oct 16, 2005, 12:23

Question

My wife is currently feeding our seven week old baby by breast and bottle, using both breastmilk and formula. Her Ob/Gyn, while not at all hostile to the idea of our doing NFP, warned us that her mucus would not be a reliable indicator of fertility during this time. My wife is afraid we are going to have to abstain from intercourse for a long(6 months to a year) period of time, and she s not sure if we can do that. From what I understand of Church teaching, there simply is no moral option; we can't morally engage in other forms of sexual behavior or have contraceptive intercourse. How do you usually address the fertility-tracking and moral issues for those who are both breast- and bottle-feeding?

Answer

The mucus sign can indeed be a reliable indicator of fertility during the postpartum period whether feeding your baby by breast, bottle, or a combination. Perhaps what your Ob/Gyn is referring to is the presence in many new mothers of a "background," nonfertile mucus which can be observed either all the time, or sporadiacally. If you are experienced at mucus observations, you should be able to differentiate this from the more fertile-type mucus. During and following any more-fertile days, you will want to follow the usual abstinence guidelines if you wish to postpone pregnancy.

Mothers who combine breast and bottle feeding have a wide variation in their return to fertility. Most likely, your wife's menstrual cycles will return soon. If you find this extended pre-ovulation phase challenging with its repeated mucus patches, the sympto-thermal method offers some reassuring cross-checks in the temperature and cervix observations, resulting in less abstinence.

Whatever you choose, we encourage your creative and loving abstinence as you focus on your wonderful new baby.

Congratulations!



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