Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Four cups while pregnant

29 December, 2015

Question:

I am BH pregnant, and I will not be able to use wine for the 4 cups by the seder. However, grape juice has always made me nauseous, and now I am even more sensitive, and anything sweet makes me feel like I will throw up.

What should I drink by the seder? I am a little worried about what to do.


Answer:

A first step would be to check in with your physician: a little under 4.5 ounces suffices for each cup, and it may be acceptable for you to have a small amount of wine with a low alcohol content. Or perhaps you might sample some different types of grape juice in advance, on the chance you could manage that without nausea.

If wine is not a possibility, and grape juice makes you sick, you may drink another beverage that is considered cheimar medina at the seder.

There are a number of halachic considerations here that are outside our area of expertise. We suggest consulting with your local rabbi as to whether you could dilute the wine with water, and how much water would be permissible to add. If relevant, you could also ask which beverages would qualify as cheimar medina.

BeSha'ah tovah and chag kasher vesameach!


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