Natural Family Planning International

In my December 2nd blog, I said my next blog would review significant omissions in the  Student Guide recently published by the Couple to Couple League.  Then, however, we received a review from a disappointed CCL teacher that we think is important, so it appears below.  My comments will follow on the 16th.  The review follows between the two lines below.
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I have a few comments about the blog posts on www.nfpandmore.org from Nov 18, 2007 and Dec 2, 2007 regarding what CCL’s new Student Guide says about breastfeeding infertility.

After having reviewed the new Student Guide on the topic of breastfeeding and breastfeeding infertility, my overall impression is that CCL’s emphasis on this topic is very much reduced compared to the old class series. The new material is also greatly reduced in scope and detail compared to the old class series. It seems to me that CCL is generally trying to say a few positive things about breastfeeding and mention that there is such a thing as natural breastfeeding infertility which is associated with more full forms of breastfeeding. And that’s it! They include just a few general comments, nothing more.

That is the extent of what I see presented. In my opinion they are definitely not trying to teach how to achieve extended infertility as a natural side effect of some form of breastfeeding. They do not present their definitions of “exclusive breastfeeding” as a rule. In other parts of the book where they present their new STM, they explicitly highlight when something is a rule. So from this standpoint I can see why the current CCL management does not feel that a correction sheet for the Student Guide is necessary. Since the entire intent of their breastfeeding material is different than the old class series in not trying to teach couples to achieve extended breastfeeding infertility, I can understand that they aren’t going to put in a corrections sheet.

I think the fundamental criticism of CCL’s current presentation of the topic of breastfeeding is precisely its reduced emphasis, scope and detail and not anything specific of how they present it. The current presentation of the material is weak and significantly watered down.

This is the same criticism I have about the morality component of the new Student Guide. It’s weak and watered down to a great degree. What it does include is this mushy “Theology of the Body” material that comes across as mostly happy talk about how the Catholic Church is really positive about our sexuality. I could hardly believe how the Student Guide practically disparages both Humanae Vitae and St. Thomas Aquinas in one short section. And CCL really believes that a nebulous presentation of the Theology of the Body is going to make a difference? It strikes me as incredible naiveté. They have no proof whatsoever that their new presentation of the material will be more effective. Also, my impression is that the new material on morality will not resonate with non-Catholics as much, since it is so much focused only on the teaching of Pope John Paul II.

It’s for these reasons that my wife and I are planning not to recertify with CCL. We are an NFP teaching couple because we wanted to help couples live chaste and holy marriages, not just to teach STM. I’m not saying that the new Student Guide and class series are “just about teaching STM only”, but the morality and breastfeeding emphases are so much reduced that we just don’t feel it’s worth our time to teach NFP in this way.

Also, congratulations on the first NFPI class. Glad to hear it went so well!!
                                                                                                   –A CCL Teacher
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This teacher’s speculation may be correct; in the absence of any response from CCL, we have no way of knowing.  Regardless, serious mistakes need to be corrected promptly.  The fact remains that the new CCL manual  describes exclusive breastfeeding in such a way as give the impression that it is 97% effective in postponing pregnancy in the first six months without the all-important qualifier that this applies only to mothers who have not yet menstruated.  Professionals and organizations worldwide promote this rule including its qualifier. 

We also believe that “exclusive” breastfeeding should be better defined.  CCL cited the World Health Organization when discussing this term, “exclusive breastfeeding,” yet CCL failed to add the clear definition used by WHO:  “Exclusive breastfeeding–that is the infant only receives breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water” (Nutrition: Infant and Young Child, WHO).

The teacher who shared his thoughts in the above email is interested in the thoughts or comments from others on these topics related to the new CCL manual.    You can comment here; or if you want to remain anonymous, you can send your comment to nfpandmore@nfpandmore.org.

Next week:  What CCL is no longer teaching? 

Sheila Kippley
NFP International
www.NFPandMore.org
Author: Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood (Sophia) and Natural Family Planning: The Question-Answer Book (e-book at this website)

GOOD NEWS:  The First NFPI Course has begun.
The good news is that the first NFPI class took place November 28 in Denver with the approval of the archdiocese.  We thank K.L. and Ann Berry for their enthusiasm in preparing for their first NFPI class.  They developed the PowerPoint presentation and the teaching notes for that first class at first-rate speed and kept us posted on their progress.  We are grateful for their enthusiasm and for their excellent work in preparing the visuals and notes for teaching the class.   How did their #1 meeting go?  The class went very well and the attendees applauded at the end.

THE TROUBLING NEWS:  CCL has yet to make a corrections sheet for an error in their new manual, The Art of Natural Family Planning: Student Guide, an error that could cause an unintended pregnancy.    In two places of the new CCL Student Guide, exclusive breastfeeding is said to be highly effective in avoiding pregnancy, but nowhere does it mention a necessary requirement for such effectiveness: the absence of menstruation.  Here is what the new CCL manual says:
1) “Some studies show that 97% of mothers who exclusively breastfeed can be assured of postpartum infertility for at least six months” (page 161).
2) “Exclusive breastfeeding: Generally, highly infertile during the first six months postpartum” (Reference guide, page 254; italics in the original).

Three bloggers (I was one of them) brought this error to the attention of others on Sunday, November 18.   One of the blogs came from Miriam Labbok, a doctor involved with many of the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) studies.   LAM was the method whose results CCL erroneously attempted to describe.  Dr. Labbok’s blog on this issue can be viewed at http://enabling-breastfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/11/lets-get-lam-right.html .

Another area that needs improving in the new CCL manual is the definition of “exclusive breastfeeding” on page 154.  Nowhere in that definition does it state “only mother’s milk.”  That has to be made clear to nursing mothers.  Here is the UNICEF definition:  “Babies should be exclusively breastfed—meaning that they receive nothing but breastmilk, not even water—for about the first six months of life” (Breastfeeding: Foundation for a Healthy Future, p. 4).  

The new CCL Student Guide also fails to mention those behaviors that help a breastfeeding mother remain in amenorrhea for those first six months while exclusively breastfeeding.

At least these three areas need improvement in the new CCL manual in my estimation: the clarification of breastfeeding infertility by the exclusive breastfeeding rule or by the Lactational Amenorrhea Method on pages 161 and 254 and the definition of “exclusive breastfeeding” on page 154.

Responsible management?  CCL speaks frequently about responsible parenthood, and that’s why CCL should insert a corrections sheet into their new manual.  Is this responsible on their part?  Do they wish unexpected parenthood on a mother with a newborn already in her arms?   We received a copy of the Student Guide on November 6th.   I noticed the mistake immediately and wrote the CCL Executive Director, Andy Alderson, on November 7th. 
Here was my email to Andy that day:

Dear Andy,
    Congratulations on the new Student Guide.
    On page 161, it states: “Some studies show that 97% of mothers who exclusively breastfeed can be assured of postpartum infertilitry for at least six months.”
    Could you email me the studies or cite the references for me?  I have asked some breastfeeding research experts about this statement and I cannot come up with any of the research.
    Thanking you for your help,
    Sheila Kippley

On November 14, I received the following email from Andy Alderson:  “Sorry for the delayed response.  While I understand your request, I’ve read your ongoing blogs against CCL.  I don’t think it is productive for the League to get into communications with you at this time.” 

After the November 18th blogs, we waited to allow time for CCL to make the correction, but we were saddened to learn from several sources that CCL has not taken the time to insert a corrections sheet into their new manuals.

John calls Andy at the CCL office to express his concern. 
On November 29, John called Andy at the CCL office.  John mentioned to Andy that breastfeeding advocates were upset about the error and that a corrections sheet needs to be inserted into each book.  Andy said he would take such opinions under advisement but did not say anything to confirm John’s sense of urgency that an error sheet needs to be printed and inserted pronto.  Andy said he did not have time to write such a sheet; John offered to write it but Andy declined the offer.  Andy said that the corrections sheet is not at the top of his priorities.  John’s explanation that this mistake is something that can get mothers unexpectedly pregnant elicited only Andy’s response that he will consider the issue.  John emailed the members of Board of Directors for whom he had addresses on November 30 to express his concern.

On November 30, toward the end of the day, CCL sent a 6-page email newsletter to CCL teachers and promoters.  NOTHING was said about the serious mistake in the new CCL manual.  I find this astounding and am most disappointed that such an important error has not been corrected.   

PS:  Donations are still needed and welcome for our apostolate.  Our goal is to provide more teaching services and support for NFP and Church teaching online.  We thank those who did respond.  Please mail your gift to:  NFPI, P.O. Box 11216; Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.  Please keep us in mind this Advent season. 

Next week:  What is  CCL  no longer teaching?

Sheila Kippley
NFP International
www.NFPandMore.org
Author: Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood and Natural Family Planning: The Question-Answer Book (e-book at this website)