This book was exactly what I was looking for! At last a book that regards babies and children as gifts and positive additions to our lives, rather than inconveniences to 'get through' as fast as possible. I intuitively knew that strict schedules and letting the baby "cry it out" didn't seem natural or normal. Sheila Kippley's book confirmed these things for me, and with well-researched reference material!The info on ecological breastfeeding is invaluable, and way different than the supposedly "helpful" info in popular parenting books and magazines. My son is happy, healthy, intelligent and vibrant thanks to the info I received from this book. Baby #2 is due in weeks, and will enjoy all the same benefits!

A helpful, informative book that explains why ecological breastfeeding does space babies. (Contrary to what I have been told by others.) I am pregnant with #2, and my children will be almost 2 years apart. This is ideal for us, and we spaced our children using the information in this book. I also recommend "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." If you want a natural approach, read this book. Breastfeeding can be hard work at first, but so is parenting in general. To me, this type of mothering is easier than the alternatives, and healthier for all of us!

Mothers who are reluctant to risk using hormonal methods of birth control while breastfeeding no longer have to rely on less-effective barrier methods or "chance." With this book, nursing mothers now have the ability to space births as effectively as the Pill, Depo-Provera, Norplant, and the IUD-- without any of the harmful side effects.

Mrs. Kippley not only explains what natural mothering is and how it spaces babies, but spells out, step by step, how to maximize your own natural breastfeeding infertility.

It only makes sense that what is "good for mother is good for baby." This book goes far beyond simply "breasfeeding as birth control." You won't just read it once-- it's a book you'll refer back to many times for information and support. This book should be read by every nursing mom!!

This book is the "bible" of Natural Family Planning (NFP)---NOT the "rhythm method," but a proven method of monitoring a woman's cycle signs to determine when her "window of fertility" begins and ends. It can be upwards of 95% effective!

This book is used as a textbook for the Couple to Couple League International NFP course. It's the best book for a "beginner" to buy---and it will guide you through your entire reproductive life. There's an extensive section for "beginners" and a chapter on the special charting needs of women just quitting the Pill. It explains how to use your fertility awareness to avoid pregnancy, as well as how to beat marginal infertility. It tells how to know you're pregnant and how to maintain infertility during breast feeding, as well as how to tell when you become fertile again. Finally, it explains how to chart all the way through menopause. There is plenty of info about the effects of nutrition and pharmaceuticals on your cycles too!

While the technical information will help anyone, the book is particularly well-suited for Christians as it has sections which delve deep into the morality of family planning. But non-Christians shouldn't be scared off either---this is simply the best book around for learning how to use your natural body signs to prevent or achieve pregnancy, no matter what your reasons.

My husband and I use this method, and we think our marriage and my health is better for it.

I would definitely recommend this book over others on fertility awareness and natural family planning. The review at the end of each chapter is very helpful in learning the basic concepts, and the sample chart exercises are invaluable -- they cover "real-life" cycle irregularities as well as some "textbook-perfect" cycles. There is also a lot of information on the return of fertility following childbirth, which I don't remember seeing in the other books I've read. There also seem to be more rules for chart interpretation than in other books, which allows for a shorter period of abstinence given individual cycle patterns. This is a very well researched book, and includes lots of references to medical journal articles. One section of this book covers Christian teaching on birth control and Catholic teaching in particular, and is very interesting for those who are pursuing NFP for religious reasons. However, this book is not "just" for Catholics, and is a wonderful resource for any couple looking for natural, ecologically-friendly birth regulation.

My husband and I learned to use NFP (7 years and running) using the last edition of this book, but this one is much better. There is more of everything--more science (this is not hocus-pocus, cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-the-best stuff) and lots of information that is related to the method but not actually part of the method. As someone who has had wildly irregular cycles all of my adult life, NFP has been a huge health bonus--I feel that I understand what is happening with my body. (Note: The method is effective even for those with irregular cycles. We have 2 children, and both were conceived on the first try.) This book explains the method so clearly, anyone can have confidence in its effectiveness. It also explains other things like using breastfeeding for natural child spacing. The book, scientific as it is, is rooted in a Catholic view of marriage and sexuality--I feel that that is one of its strengths, but even if that is not your style, you shouldn't avoid this very comprehensive work on an under-appreciated method of child spacing.