Cesarean Section

A woman who undergoes a cesarean section is not halachically considered a yoledet (a woman after childbirth). Thus, if she experiences no vaginal bleeding at all, she need not immerse in a mikveh. This, however, is an extraordinarily rare occurrence as a woman almost always has vaginal bleeding as she sheds the remains of the uterine lining from pregnancy. This causes her to become niddah following a cesarean section.

A woman may begin to count seven blood-free days (shivah neki'im) as soon as the bleeding has ceased, after a minimum of five days. Unlike a yoledet, who delivered vaginally, she is not required to wait a minimum of 14 days before immersion following the birth of a girl. However, it is unusual for a woman after birth to cease staining before a few weeks have elapsed, so this rarely has any practical implications.

Information for your Health Care Provider

Click on the link(s) below for related articles from Jewish Women's Health, Nishmat's website for medical professionals. You may find it helpful to share this information with your physician by printing or emailing relevant articles, or by accessing the site during your appointment.   Childbirth in Jewish Law