We thank God for this beautiful season of Easter, offering us the hope of Heaven and celebrating life in Christ Jesus. This life with Jesus offers us peace that if we truly trust God—Omnia in Bonum—for those who love God, all things work together for the good (Rom 8:28).
At the same time, we recognise that we are in an unprecedented, traumatising time. This time of the COVID-19 pandemic has spun our lives in so many directions and people are unfortunately panicking. It seems that every day we have some more “news” to contend with. Archbishop Jason Gordon has reminded us though to see Christ as Our Victory In this Desert (COVID).
The World Health Organization’s Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has reminded us to exercise, eat properly, avoid sugary drinks, all of which help to maintain our immune systems. It is extremely important that we take care of our mental health at this time by not panicking.
On social media, advice has been shared to keep calm and to stop watching or listening to the pandemic news round the clock. This is great advice. It helps us to focus on what is important, such as doing all the hygiene practices we suddenly have to incorporate into our routine, taking care of our families ensuring they are not panicking, buying and cooking enough food and so on.
Please do not, however, neglect charting your cycle! For those who have had high-risk pregnancies and would not like to chance getting pregnant at this time, it is vital that you maintain your charting.
Please reach out to your Billings Instructor for any support you may need to ensure you are charting correctly. Some of you may not mind this time at home in order to try to achieve that long-awaited pregnancy. One of the memes on social media showed twins ‘Korona and Kwarentine’ coming in December!
Contact your teacher to go over the Billings guidelines for clarity. For women who are monitoring their reproductive health, it is essential to chart also. Knowing your menstrual cycle well alerts you to any changes that may need immediate help. If you see significant changes in your cycle, please contact your Billings Instructor. For women who have Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or Disease, you would likely want to maintain your diet, excluding high-sugar food and drink.
It is important to exercise including weight-bearing exercise. Perhaps you could lift some five-pound bags of rice or flour daily. Ensure that there is a gradual increase in the weights you lift.
This is an opportune time to call on your Billings Instructor who will give you all the advice you need and the motivation that you need to keep on charting. Please remember teachers are available over the phone, social media and even video conferencing. The latter may be a little awkward with children at home, therefore choose your times to connect carefully.
This is a good time to tell your friends who are on contraceptives about the Billings Ovulation Method®. They may seriously consider switching now. Natural Womanhood put out an article online that stated supplies of contraceptives may be impacted upon in the next few months and advice was given to amass a three-month supply https://naturalwomanhood.org/switch-to-fertility-awareness-natural-birth-control-family-planning-learn-nfp-covid19-2020/.
The Billings Ovulation Method® only requires observation and charting of the patterns of cervical mucus that comes naturally from the woman’s reproductive cycle.
The article noted that Fertility Awareness Based Methods (such as the Billings Method) do not lend to your running-out of any supplies, nothing expires on you, and you are not required to do any hospital or clinic visits.
What we do encourage, however, is staying in touch with your Instructor, which does not have to be very time-consuming or strenuous. Everything shared with your Billings Instructor remains strictly confidential.
Contact BOMA-TT: 384-1659, email: billingstt@gmail.com, website: www.billingstt.com