Couple-to-Couple classes?

[birthdancedoula]

Anyone take them? DH and I really want to take NFP classes together...we've got books, know-how, etc but want to make the time together to really learn it. Anyone else take their classes? Are there a lot of religious undertones to the information?
TIA!
Blessings,

[Palmetto210]

birthdancedoula –

I’d say take the classes. In the end, you’ll gain confidence in your charting analysis. One of the best things about NFP is that is involves both partners, so definitely have DH join you : )

My DH signed us up for classes when we were engaged b/c he did not want me on hormones. Now I understand why, but at that point, I hesitated. We were both surprised at what we found. The Sympto-thermal method was pro-woman, pro-marriage, and pro-family --- meaning that they accept children as positive additions (while instructing couples with the tools they need to limit their families as desired). Previously, I thought I would have my 1.8 kids and continue with my life. Ha!

I have used NFP to postpone pregnancy for 3 + years. And I can honestly say that the method itself has brought us closer. I have learned to trust my own body and my DH has learned to appreciate all of me.

The class does have religious overtones, though to be fair, every organization has some kind of tone. In my experience, CCLI was inclusive & did a fair job explaining where their recommendations came from. I found this approach refreshing. So often, we women are given advice without knowing the agenda behind it. You know what I mean?

The Couple to Couple League has done their scientific research, too. I am one of those nerds who actually reads the articles cited at the chapter end. After experiencing the real, tangible benefits, DH and I decided to volunteer teach. We strive to teach the course in a manner that includes everyone --- regardless of their beliefs. Teaching has been incredible. It is so satisfying to watch couples grasp how their mutual fertility works together.

Best wishes whatever y’all decide,

Palmetto

[Mrs. Edwards]

I'll second everything Palmetto said!

My husband went to a Covenant Keepers seminar (all mens conference) where he first heard of Natural Family Planning. He immediately came home so excited to tell me all about what he had heard.

We signed up for the classes, and it truly is an amazing method to use. We're very blessed to have the knowledge we have from taking these classes.

[XM]

Oh, wow... we went to one session and just couldn't go back. The religious overtones were just over the top. If we were Christian, maybe the overt Catholic viewpoint would not have been so irritating, lol... honestly, sometimes it was hard not to laugh at some of the corny things being said. The fertility info itself was good, but the curriculum has a conservative bias and a tendency to present anecdotal evidence as fact (its been 2 years or I would give examples).

Perhaps you can find someone locally who can counsel you, either as part of a class or two-on-one. Some midwives are very experienced at NFP and are happy to teach it to others. I wish we'd done that instead.

I do not at all mean this as a flame, I just wanted to offer another viewpoint on these classes. We were told by our Christian birth class teacher that C2C wasn't overtly religious, but my definition of 'overtly religious' is apparently different then hers, and assuredly different then the previous two respondents It's a shame, because NFP rocks and I think a lot more people would learn and use it if was taught seperate from religion.

XM

[birthdancedoula]

Thanks for the responses, mamas. I appreciate both perspectives. I really do. XM, thanks for your honesty. Thats exactly the kind of thing I need to know. I am a practicing pagan and dh is, well, he doesn't exactly know what he is, but definately not Christian. We have very limited time and I don't want to waste it by going to a class that is trying to sell me on the religious, conservative, perspective of NFP. It is a wonderful resource and ITA that it might be a lot more accessible to a lot more people if that part was omitted. I also suppose it depends on the teachers, right?
Well thanks again, mamas!
Blessings,

[yitlan]

C2C IS a religious-based organization, so you really shouldn't go in expecting a completely secular experience. I think it really depends on the teaching couple on how hard they press those issues. Our couple read through what they were supposed to, but were not trying to convert people to Catholicism. But to know how the organization came to be, where they come from and how they teach, religion is involved.

They do welcome everyone and want to share NFP with all. The information is solid and the couples usually want to help any way they can. And if you think you'd do better in a classroom setting, doing exercises and getting help in "reading" charts, you will definitely benefit. Sometimes it's hard to sit down with a book and read it through with full understanding.

I thought the class was great, informative and gave me confidence to chart. I took a review after dd was born and when we were ready to "not avoid" pregnancy, I got pregnant right away!

[ekblad9]

We finally took them after baby number 5 :LOL Anyway, it was way easier than I thought it would be and I've had the big book for a while. I read it but didn't get it. The classes really cleared things up for me.