With Nat on the road so much with Dramatic Sneezer, he and Cassandra decide to use natural family planning methods.  That way Cassie can avoid having artificial hormones, and their side effects, coursing through her body when Nat’s not home for weeks at a time.  Nat benefits from the fact he loves children and if the methods fail from time to time, he’s cool with it.

The Hardwicks use a combination of counting fertile days and withdrawal method.

Natural Family Planning MethodsNatural family planning methods work best when two or more types are used

When used correctly, these methods have an effectiveness rate of around 90 percent, according to the American Pregnancy Association.  Effectiveness increases if used correctly and paired with another method.  The methods are:

Counting days: A woman keeps track of her menstrual cycle to determine when her fertile days occur.Basal body temperature: A woman takes her temperature every day before getting out of bed.  There will be a small spike in temperature around ovulation.Cervical mucus: A woman tracks cervical mucus changes throughout her cycle to determine when she’s fertile.Withdrawal/pulling out method/coitus interruptus: A man pulls out of his partner when he can no longer delay or stop ejaculation.Lactational amenorrhea method: A breastfeeding mother whose period has not returned with a child six months or younger can use this method to delay ovulation.Abstinence: Refraining from having sex during a woman’s fertile period.

No matter the method(s) chosen, a trusting, committed relationship is essential.

“Fertility awareness or natural family planning methods require training, commitment, discipline, and determination in order to be most effective,” Very Well Healthy says.  “You and your partner need to be able to communicate, trust, and cooperate with each other.”

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What do you feel is the best form of family planning?  Leave a comment below.  Comments close after 90 days.

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Here’s the 4-1-1

This blog is a companion piece to The Rock Star’s Wife, a series about sex, family, and rock & roll.  The series has elements of chick lit, romance and erotica and is best compared to The Vagina Monologues for its frank talk of sex and its consequences.  The series follows Cassandra from her teenage years into her 40s as she navigates relationships (both romantic and platonic) — all with music playing a prominent roll.

Book five, Sex & Surprises, debuts February 2025:  Cassandra watches with apprehension as her eldest daughter, Megan, matures and becomes interested in boys.  Will Megan follow in mom’s sexual footsteps?  But it turns out, a teenage daughter is the least of Cassie’s concerns after she takes an ancestry DNA test and uncovers a family secret that turns her life upside down

Cassandra needs your help getting her story out.  Join the street team to help.

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