The organization we founded n 1971 developed a new NFP program a few years after our separation and dropped the three basic teachings that we brought to this organization. One reason given for not teaching ecological breastfeeding was that many of the medical professionals had not heard of eco-breastfeeding. That, of course, could be said about the symptom thermal method.
Another reason given was that mothers felt guilty if their periods returned early. I did a survey in that organization among those mothers who said that eco-breastfeeding did not work for them. None were following all of the Seven Standards. Secondly, we taught eco-breastfeeding since 1971 and no one complained if their menses returned early post-partum. We also stated that you grow in parenting and showed how we changed in our form of baby-care between baby #1 and baby #2.
A few say that we teach eco-breastfeeding just for spacing, and that we are teaching couples how not to have babies. That’s a serious misunderstanding. We state over and over the many benefits for mother and baby. Natural birth spacing is just one of those benefits. Right now my husband is on the bandwagon promoting breastfeeding for the environment because the British Medical Journal recently (Oct. 2) published an article against formula and its bad effect upon the environment. Alternatively, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months was strongly endorsed.
Most importantly, we teach couples through Scripture and papal talks that they are called to be generous in having children. Compared to other NFP organizations, I believe we are an exception in strongly teaching generosity. As one person said about the NFP organizations: “The “emphasis should not be on how we can morally restrict the size of our family, but on how we can open our hearts and allow our families to grow.”
Some mothers have specific health reasons for breastfeeding according to the Seven Standards. One reason would be breast cancer among female family members. Another mother told us she had several women in her family who developed ovarian cancer. She followed the Seven Standards in the hopes of avoiding ovarian cancer. Is she to be criticized because she had one main reason for breastfeeding in a natural manner as part of God’s plan for her?
The most important benefit of following God’s plan for mother and baby through breastfeeding is the wonderful mother/baby relationship that develops and is so important during those early years.
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding