Birth Control and Natural Family Planning

There's something that I have really been wanting to share, and with the help of some girlfriends, feel compelled to share. I meet a group of young mothers every Thursday where we talk about various things God puts on our heart. I recently shared with them my deep convictions on why I do not believe birth control was God's plan or design and why. I rarely share those convictions for fear of offending someone or making someone feel violated or invaded by my own thoughts and opinions. While I thought the outcome may not be positive, a lot of the women were thankful i had shared because they never knew the things I spoke about. Hence, I decided that would share on this blog my deep convictions on why I believe in natural family planning. It's not to make anyone feel guilty about using contraceptives, but only to aid you in evaluating what God's desires would be for your own family. I, too, was on Jasmine for my first year of marriage. When God began to speak to me about his desires for me to no longer be on birth control I blew it off as if I were hearing incorrectly. Trust me, being off birth control, at the time, didn't seem like an option. But it was a Voice i couldn't ignore. I had several people randomly start to talk to me about how birth control was abortion, and I would fight with myself inside thinking that were wrong and confused. I couldn't let go of all the studying i had done before making the decision to be on the contraceptive. "This can't be," i thought. "It doesn't make sense...it's not what my doctor said." Needless to say, I got pregnant with Abigail the day I stopped taking Jasmine, which frightened me indeed. And I couldn't help but question, "Lord, have I ever aborted one of your children?"

If still not convinced after reading this blog, here's a nice short video on the deeper positives of natural family planning:

My explanation:

Birth Control Pills and How they Work:

There are two basic pills - combination and mini pills and both work in the same manner. They both act to prevent the release of an egg form the ovary (ovulation). However, women can and do experience breakthrough ovulation - meaning that an egg is released from the ovary and is available to be fertilized by the sperm. Both types of pills also cause the cervical mucus to thicken, making it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg. It is possible, though, for the sperm to break through and to fertilize (a.k.a. conception) the egg. If the egg is fertilized....BAM!, conception has happened.

So the question is....when does life begin? For political reasons, the working definition of pregnancy has changed over the years from..."beginning at fertilization" to...."beginning at implantation".

This is why your doctor can tell you that the pill never aborts a baby (pregnancy). You see both types of pills change the lining of the uterus. this makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the five-to-seven day old baby to attach to the lining of your uterus, where it would receive the nourishment needed to grow. If the baby does not attach successfully to the lining of your uterus, he/she dies and is expelled from the body during menstruation. This process is known as a chemical abortion and is why the pill is referred to as an abortifacient. The lower the dosage of the pill, the more likely it is to work by causing a chemical abortion.

BUT God teaches us that life begins the moment a sperm and egg meet. He said He knew that child, yet, before it were born. The pill does not keep you from getting pregnant, but it will keep you from having children. What will it take for us to really trust God in this way?

There is a great book you can get at your library called The Art of Natural Family Planning by John F. Kippley, Sheila K. Kippley or you can visit this website for some tips. There are usually doctors and nurses who specialize in NFP in your area as well that you could look up. I encourage to seek God's heart in light of this. I thought I had heard from God, but it took a second look and a willingness in my heart to hear God speak differently.