Mucus Only Method: Creighton Model
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- Tell us a little about yourself.Chris and I got married in 2013, we have 1 adopted daughter, and are waiting to adopt another! I am passionate about fertility awareness and restorative women's healthcare. I have a bachelor's in exercise physiology and an associate's in applied science as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I was a licensed PTA for 6 years and am now a stay at home mom, Creighton Practitioner, and co-founder of FAbM Base. Although I am not as active as I use to be, I have played sports all my life and will join an adult volleyball league whenever I get the chance. Although I love to learn, write, and share my experiences with others, I'm not extremely organized and don't like deadlines. I like to go at my own pace. I also like to be silly and laugh with others.
- What effects has fertility awareness had on your relationship?I started using the Creighton Model before we were engaged - it was needed for health reasons. Although we would eventually use it to conceive, the priority was always on improving my severe symptoms. We have never used it to avoid. My husband carried and supported me beautifully as I struggled physically and emotionally, but because charting was always focused on my health, he had a hard time seeing his role in it and staying involved. This was a struggle for me for a long time and caused a few fights. I'm not sure we ever got on the same page with it, but I was eventually able to accept that charting was occurring more for my health than anything else - especially as it became clear that pregnancy was unlikely to happen. We have shared our fertility by supporting each other through the physical and emotional joys, and especially, the challenges.
- How did you find your instructor?She was the mother of a teen in a youth group I ran. My mother told me she was a Creighton Practitioner and I began charting with her in 2011. She worked with "Woman's New Life Clinic" at the time, a crisis pregnancy center, and I received a student discount of $25 per session. Prices have increased since then.
- Describe your daily charting routine.I began charting in 2011. I try to make observations every time before and after I use the bathroom, before and after showering, etc. but I rarely do it 100% like is most beneficial. With all I have had to do in regards to maintaining and improving my fertility and managing symptoms, making observations gets hard emotionally. Even though there have been some improvements, I have never gotten pregnant. It's a visible reminder of what doesn't work inside of me. Charting has always been something I have to do for my health, and although it can become tedious and difficult, I can't put a price on the valuable information it provides for me and my doctors. I have had to take breaks, but I always get back to it. It is too important not to.
- What made you choose this method?Creighton is the only method that would have ever worked for me because of its extensive medical and surgical benefits via NaProTechnology.
- Has charting helped you to understand your overall health?Yes. It has helped my NaPro doctors to identify low progesterone, limited mucus, thyroid dysfunction, subfertility, and even some infections. I had already been diagnosed, but my chart was consistent with what is often seen with endometriosis. Charting also tells me when in each cycle to have my hormone levels drawn, when to supplement, and when to have certain ultra sounds completed. It has been vital to helping me begin my anti-inflammatory medications before my periods start and for helping me plan my life around my painful periods (when they were painful; surgery helped).
