1. Summary of Breastfeeding Research, 2013

March 2nd, 2014

Mothers who breastfed have a significantly lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease compared to mothers who do not breastfeed.  About 5.2 million Americans get this disease according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and this disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U. S.  This is an example of a benefit that lasts long after the breastfeeding has ceased. (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, July 23, 2013)

Researchers in Japan studied 43,000 children’s diet when infants.  Obesity was cut in half at 8 years of age among children who were breastfed.  About 20% of the children were exclusively breastfed for 6 months.  They found exclusive breastfeeding at 6 to 7 months of age was associated with decreased risk of overweight and obesity as school children compared with formula feeding. (JAMA Pediatrics, August 2013)

Breastfeeding benefits babies’ brains.  The study observed the microstructure of the brain’s white matter which contains long nerve fibers and aids communication between different parts of the brain.  The exclusively breastfed group had the fastest growth in myelinated white matter by age two—-20 to 30% better—-than those infants with mixed feedings (both breastmilk and formula) and infants fed only formula.  As researcher Sean Deoni from Brown University said:  “We’re finding the difference [in white matter growth] is on the order of 20 to 30 percent, comparing the breastfed and the non-breastfed kids. I think it’s astounding that you could have that much difference so early.”  (NeuroImage, May 28, 2013)  This information provides another good reason to breastfeed for two years.

Breastfeeding could prevent many diseases for women.  If American mothers nursed each child for at least one year, we could avoid about 5,000 breast cancer cases, 54,000 hypertension cases and nearly 14,000 heart attacks each year and as a result save $860 million per year.  For less-than-optimal breastfeeding rates, the extra cost was $734 million for hospital stays, doctor visits and medication and $126 million for time away from work. (Obstetrics & Gynecology, June 6, 2013)

Sheila Kippley

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Natural Family Planning Manual

February 23rd, 2014

What others have said about the NFPI manual.

Just today, Feb. 25, 2014:  Great book. Super helpful. Thank you so much for offering a downloadable version, was what I needed right at that moment! …although, next time I think I’ll get the hardbound, easier to read and share. 🙂

My fiancee would like to use NFP once we are married, and your downloadable manual has already been a huge help to us. We found the manual thorough yet easy to understand, and appreciate the inclusion of the subjects of morality and theology.

The NFP manual I downloaded off your website is so easy to follow.  My husband and I have been using an IUD for the last six years after the birth of our second child.  We had tried NFP at the beginning of our marriage, but were disappointed with the little support we received when trying to learn NFP.  We were introduced to the Billings Ovulation Method through our Diocese and were not even aware that the Sympto-Thermal Method existed.  We got pregnant 4 months into our marriage and didn’t even finish the 3rd class. While our little bundle of joy came to us sooner than we had planned we accepted her with great joy!!! However, because of a lack of understanding of the basic tenants of our Catholic faith, we had fallen away. My husband and I, by the grace of God, have recently come back into the Catholic faith and are excited to fully participate!

I appreciate this manual so much! I have obviously been living in my body my whole life and somehow this manual has made my body seem like a whole new world of wonderful functions that God planned as only God can. The biology and theology included is immensely helpful! I see how God really did think of everything and that His plan is perfect. It makes me feel like I really am part of a bigger plan and that’s a really good feeling!

Excellent manual! Thank you so much for providing this manual online and at such a reasonable cost.

I used the NFP method once before and it worked well.  I am looking forward to using it again as a form of natural birth control.  Thank you so much for offering the manual free to everyone who needs it!!!

When I read your manual and the covenant theology, it was like it just logically laid out exactly how I felt about the issue of birth control and what I had felt God speaking to me, but couldn’t explain. My husband read about one page of your manual, and that was it. We are never using birth control again. He understands that it is unbiblical and ethically wrong, and, just like that, my 3-year prayer is answered. I can’t thank you enough for what you do, and I will continue to help you get the word out about NFP and God’s plan for sexuality in marriages.

Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach ought to be mandatory training for every couple who wants to get married in the Catholic Church. There is a wealth of information here that Catholics simply do not know about. I try to get information about Natural Family Planning International out to as many people as possible. This site is invaluable. Over and over I see people talking about NFP without eco-breastfeeding or proper sexual morality. Everyone (Catholic or not) needs to hear about this. Thank you once again for all of your wonderful work.

Thank you for putting the manual out there.   I’m tired of trying to remember to dig for the book when the charting is not perfectly “normal”. Now with it on my Nook there will be no excuses! My husband and I wrestled with the issue of NFP for 20 years of marriage.  I am happy to say that now that we have both decided on an unswerving coarse of obedience to the Church’s teachings, the blessings have become so apparent within our marriage.

Sheila Kippley
Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach is available in ebook.  About half the commercial sales of this manual are by ebook (Nook, Ingram, iBookstore).  To learn NFP well, take the NFPI home study course which costs less and provides more information than most other online NFP courses.

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Miscarriages and Retirement

February 16th, 2014

I was going though some old files and decided to share two thoughts with you.

Miscarriages:  Is a D&C necessary after a miscarriage?  I had three miscarriages.  The doctor insisted on performing a D&C (dilation and curettage) after the first miscarriage.  I learned I did not have to have a D&C after the second and third miscarriage.  Today D&Cs continue to be common after a miscarriage.  I asked Dr. Greg White, now deceased, to write on this issue, and he did.  He said in almost all cases Nature takes care of this and no D&C is needed.  In his opinion, one in 20 cases might need a D&C.  In a personal note, his wife said she “had a total of 3 miscarriages and never had a D&C,” and added that her husband “doesn’t do them and the patients are fine.” (Oct. 30, 1989) An unnecessary D&C probably produces more money for both the doctor and the hospital and more expenses for the couple.

Retirement:  A dear Jesuit friend who married us was assigned to a Jesuit retirement home in his old age against his wishes.  When we visited him, he had an oxygen tank at his side.  He never smoked but his condition was due to the smoking of others in his community.  He wrote the following on his Christmas card which I’d like to share.  Some of us have probably already had these same thoughts.

“Wish you’d write a book on how to grow old without losing one’s faith, hope, charity, getting grumpy or fat or lazy or irrelevant, or making people wish one to go away, disappear, be warehoused somewhere out of sight and mind.  No role models for old people—ever notice that?  Have a wonderful Christmas, dear hearts.  In union of prayers, Fr. Z” (Eugene Zimmers, S.J.)

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