Although I’ve had a strong interest in herbalism and natural remedies since high school, I’ve led a pretty unnatural life until recently. Five years ago, I smoked up to a pack a day and while I left most of my partying days back in my teen years, I still occasionally got rip-roaring drunk. I popped Tylenol virtually every day for tension headaches (and for practically any other twinge) and, taking a page out of my dad’s book, guzzled Pepto Bismol and Mylanta straight from the bottle on a regular basis to ease the acid reflux and other various stomach ailments I suffered then. At 16, I was prescribed Wellbutrin, an antidepressant that I took for 13 years. For many years, one of my favorite things to eat for “dinner” was a boxed rice or noodle mix, cooked in the microwave in a plastic bowl. (I cringe just writing that.)
I’ve made great strides toward a more natural life lately. I quit smoking in 2006; I weaned myself off of the antidepressant thirteen months ago; the medicine cabinet seems to give off an aura of neglect (most of my remedies are now in the refrigerator!); I very rarely drink alcohol and have cut out processed foods, as well as other improvements.
But those changes were all relatively easy to make and carried little risk. My next goal, however, most certainly does. I’ve also been on oral birth control for a very long time, and after reading this post at Modern Alternative Mama and this one at The Healthy Home Economist, I did more research on my own and realized that I longer want to be on the Pill or any other birth control that disrupts the natural processes of my body. Based on glowing recommendations from multiple sources, I excitedly bought Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. Coincidentally, Penny at Penniless Parenting just posted a review of it yesterday.
I received it over a month ago…and barely opened it for weeks. I told myself I was too busy and yadda yadda yadda. But really, I was scared.
I would love to have another child. In fact, the old biological clock has started ticking again in earnest lately, but I cannot, cannot set my watch by it–I cannot heed the call. Our financial situation absolutely would not permit another child right now or anytime soon, and I have several years of schooling left before I can get my degree and start making more money!
So, natural birth control is kind of terrifying to me. All it takes is one mistake. Just one. Going off the pill, for me, is taking a HUGE leap of faith in the book, in my body, and most importantly, in my ability to perform FAM (the Fertility Awareness Method) correctly. But as frightening as the prospect may be, I also want to have the courage of my convictions and stop forcing my body to do (or not do, as the case is with oral birth control) something it wouldn’t do on its own. I have one more week of pills left to take (I figure I paid for ’em, might as well use them up and start fresh when they’re gone), and then…FAM.
I’ve been greedily collecting as many personal stories as I can to reassure myself I’m doing the right thing. If anyone out there has experience with using FAM, whether it be positive or negative, I would love to hear it. Pretty please leave me a comment below or email me at wickedly_wholesome@yahoo.com if you’re bashful. Thank you!
**Shared at this week’s Monday Mania**
Followed your link from “The Healthy Home Economist”, and just wanted to encourage you on the whole natural birth control thing. Getting off The Pill was one of the best things I ever did for my health! TCOYF is the greatest and you will be amazed at the things you will learn about your body. Best of luck!
LikeLike
Thank you – that helps to hear!
LikeLike
Hi – good for you!! also followed from Healthy home economist!! just want to share w/ u a device I’ve heard good things about – I believe it’s original intent is to help women get pregnant by identifying when one is ovulating.. so – it works in reverse as well! http://www.chi-health.com/index.html
I don’t see the item listed – can’t remember it’s name, but if u’r interested, just call them! cheers!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your resolve to quit the pill! I hated being on it because of its side effects, and after I stopped taking it, I learned about all the hormonal things it does to you, as well.
The FAM is really not difficult to get the hang of, it just requires discipline. If you’re planning to use a non-hormonal method during fertile times (as opposed to abstinence), make sure you keep it well-stocked. Our bodies just know when we are fertile and make abstinence very difficult during those times. 🙂
My two toddlers are evidence of that.
Best of luck!
LikeLike
Thanks, ladies!
LikeLike
I am not familiar with FAM but I wholeheartedly applaud your decision to come off ABC – in so many ways it is horrible for our bodies, and for our world.
LikeLike
Congratulations for the courage to get out of the science experiment that is hormonal contraceptives! I could never understand how women who were so serious about “natural” food could willingly use such a physically disruptive substance. The hormones in the Pill effect every bodily system. How couldwomen have fallen for something that effectively neuters them?
LikeLike
Excellent, we are on the same path! In New Zealand there are Natural Fertility clinics that train people in this method of birth control. My partner and I are just starting it! Good job in how far you have come, cleaning up your body.
LikeLike
Thank you all for the encouragement! It really helps validate this decision and I can’t wait until next week with no pills!
LikeLike
Numerous would ask the question, why keep a journal at all? The reasons may be several. It is possible to control your physical pain in a journal,you’ll be able to give way to your creative talent in a journal and even have a record of your expenditures and so on. A pregnant mother can write so quite a few things to her baby who has not seen the world yet in the pregnancy journal.
LikeLike
You are not alone! I have not read the book yet….but kinda scared to. I have two very young ones (both under 2). 🙂 I have a year to learn all about it as my hubby will be deployed..BUT I know know I will be soooo nervous. I get pregnant so easily. 🙂 Good luck on your adventure. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Jennifer! Good luck to you too–by the time your husband comes back, you’ll probably be able to chart in your sleep. 🙂 I’m about halfway through the book and while I know that I’ll have to go back and re-read some parts, the concepts aren’t hard to understand at all.
LikeLike
I can certainly appreciate how scary it is to stop using artificial means of birth control, and I won’t make it any easier (I do have ten kids myself). But I can tell you that it is all a matter of personal conviction. Do you really want to put something in your body that is toxic and interrupts natural processes? Are you really so afraid of your healthy body becoming pregnant or are you afraid of children? What do you believe more?
I am a practicing Roman Catholic, so I have never used birthcontrol at any point in my marriage. I have to say I have known many couples to have children they didn’t think that they could afford and they did fine. I am not saying that in your situation it is a financial possibility it does deserve consideration.
Lastly, if you are really scared TCOYF is a pretty steep learning curve. I, because of a serious health issue, cannot get pregnant for a long time. I am using the Marquette Method of NFP which uses a Clear Blue Easy Fertility monitor coupled with awareness of cervical mucus. It is pretty easy to pee on a stick. Maybe this would suit you better?
BTW, I stopped in from your veggie frank and beans thing at Kelly’s and clicked over because I am not a BC user myself. Just so you know where your traffic comes from.
LikeLike
Thanks for the input, Melissa! I will check out the Marquette method–this whole experience has taught me so far that natural birth control is a lot more than just the rythym method!
LikeLike
TCOYF is a great book, I highly recommend it. I found it very easy to understand. I used FAM for the opposite reason, however – I was trying to get pregnant! Good luck to you —
LikeLike