Marquette Model

What is the Marquette Model of NFP?
The Marquette Model (MM) system of NFP brings 21st century technology to NFP by using the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor, a device used at home which measures hormone levels in urine to estimate the beginning and end of the time of fertility in a women's menstrual cycle. The information from the monitor can be used in conjunction with observations of cervical mucus, basal body temperature, or other biological indicators of fertility. The MM was developed by professional nurses and physicians at Marquette University in the late 1990s. A recent (2007) study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing demonstrated a 97-98% efficacy of the MM in avoiding pregnancy when taught by a qualified teacher and correctly applied.

For more information on the Marquette Model visit their website at nfp.marquette.edu.

Instructors:

Priscilla Barr (Bismarck)
My husband and I have been very blessed by NFP in our marriage. We are both Catholic converts so we learned about NFP after several years of marriage. Our marriage has been strengthened through practicing NFP, and we have been able to use it to help us conceive and to space pregnancy. On so many levels, it is something that we wish we had learned and practiced from day one in our marriage.

What I especially appreciate about NFP is that it is a scientifically based way for couples to work with their fertility and honor God’s design, and it allows women to better monitor their overall health. As a registered nurse with a strong interest in women’s health, I am very excited to be able to help women and couples understand and work with their fertility.

In practicing NFP I have especially loved the objectivity of using the Marquette method. Using the Marquette method with the fertility monitor has provided clarity and confidence in our practice of NFP. Courses will include 3 total sessions for couples. A 2-hour introductory session, a 1-2 hour second session (1 month later) including chart review, special circumstances, and follow-up, and a private third session (1 month later) with each couple. Cost is $175 (includes manual, charts, and supplies). The Clearblue Fertility monitor and test strips are not included in the cost. Each couple will have to purchase their own monitor if they choose to use it (it is not required). I will also follow-up with couples as needed after the 3 sessions at no extra cost.

Priscilla can be  contacted at psjones05@gmail.com or 480-363-8002.


Brittany Kudrna, DNP, FNP-C (Bismarck)
NFP has been a continuous blessing for us and I am excited to be able to share it. 5 years ago during our marriage prep, my husband, Collin, and I immediately knew NFP would fit well with our Catholic faith and passion for natural holistic health. What we didn’t expect was how NFP would help us work through some health challenges and bless us with 3 beautiful children!
 
While pursing my Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree as a family nurse practitioner in Wisconsin, I was introduced to the Marquette Method of NFP. The reason I chose to become certified to teach this method and integrate it into my life and healthcare career is because it is a method that is continuously being researched, works well with women/couples at any point in their fertility journey including post-partum, and it uses one of the most objective signs of fertility- the Clearblue Fertility monitor.

The Marquette Method embraces the teachings of the Catholic Church and will help couples understand their fertility and how to work together with God to both achieve or avoid pregnancy. The course will include 3 total sessions for couples. A 2-hour introductory session, a 1-2 hour 2nd session (1 month later) of chart review, special circumstances, and follow-up, and a private 3rd session (1 month later) which each couple. Cost is $175 (includes the user manual, charts, and supplies). The Clearblue Fertility monitor and test strips are not included in the cost.  Each couple will have to purchase their own monitor if they choose to use it (it is not required). I will also follow-up with couples as needed after the 3 sessions at no extra cost.

Brittany can be contacted at 701-290-8624 or bnkudrna@gmail.com.


Andrea Schanandore (Bismarck)
My husband and I started practicing NFP at the beginning of our marriage. Since we believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church, we knew NFP was the best ethical and moral decision for our marriage.

What I love about NFP is that it’s practiced not only to avoid pregnancy but to achieve it as well.  NFP allows a couple to understand and respect their own fertility and invites God to be a part of their family planning desires. As a Registered Nurse, I am thankful there are natural, healthy, and holistic methods of family planning that work with a man and woman’s fertility instead of against it.

I will be teaching the Marquette Method of NFP for the Bismarck Diocese.  The fertility monitor has been a blessing for us during the postpartum and breastfeeding times of our marriage because it gives us objective signs of fertility that I may not have been able to identify otherwise. I will be offering 3 total sessions for couples. A 2-hour introductory session,  a 1-2 hour 2nd session (1 month later) of chart review, special circumstances, and follow-up, and a private 3rd session (1 month later) which each couple. The Total cost will be $175 including user manual, charts, and supplies. The Clearblue fertility monitor and test strips are not included in the cost. Each couple will have to purchase their own monitor once they decide they want to use it for their marriage. I will follow-up with couples indefinitely after the 3 sessions at no extra cost.

Andrea can be contacted at taschandy@gmail.com or 701-866-8274.


Dr. Christina Kostelecky (Richardton)
I am a Chiropractor, and have been in private practice in Dickinson since 2008. Over the years, I have enjoyed becoming part of this community and helping people meet their healthcare goals. I am a Catholic convert, and prior to this all I had heard about NFP was how it was the reason why Catholics have such big families, because it doesn’t work. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you that it does, in fact, work! When used properly, it works very well! I am excited about helping couples understand and appreciate the gift of fertility so they can use that knowledge to either achieve or postpone pregnancy through natural, safe methods.

As a Chiropractor and as a patient, I can appreciate the need for couples with medical conditions to be able to take control of their family planning. My husband and I have been able to use this method successfully in our marriage despite my serious and sometimes complicated medical situation.  The fertility monitor has been great for us to use because it detects objective signs of fertility, which is helpful for people whose other signs of fertility tend to be unclear.

I am teaching the Marquette Method of NFP for the Bismarck Diocese, and will also take couples outside the diocese if needed. Classes for the foreseeable future will be online, however if in person classes are held the location would be Richardton. Each couple will attend 3 sessions, ideally a month apart. There is a group introductory session initially, then a second and third private session with the couple. These private sessions are where we discuss special circumstances and individual concerns, and review charting. The Total cost will be $175 and does include the course material either in digital or physical format, depending on how classes are held at the time. Clearblue fertility monitor and test strips are not included in the cost. Purchase of these items is NOT required to take the class but will be necessary if you decide that this is the method you will want to use. I will follow-up with couples indefinitely after the 3 sessions at no extra cost.

Christina can be contacted here.