Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!
Your
veset calendar and calculations start from scratch with the first bleeding
after the postpartum bleeding has ended.
Since your first period postpartum was a number of months ago and it is unclear exactly when it occurred, you should begin counting your
vestot from this most recent period only, as though it were your first period postpartum. You should keep
yom hachodesh next month. You will only begin to keep the
haflagah after your next period, when you will have an interval between two periods.
Contemporary authorities differ as to whether someone within 24 months after birth – who is defined halachically as a
meineket regardless of whether she is actually breastfeeding – should observe
onah beinonit. An individual question should be asked. We follow the stringent position that a woman who has resumed menstruating should observe
onah beinonit.
Authorities also differ whether a
meineket can establish a
veset kavua. An individual question should be asked. We follow the view that a woman who has resumed menstruating postpartum can establish a
veset kavua if she gets her period on the same date or interval three times in a row. She follows all the halachot of a woman with a
veset kavua.
If a woman had a
veset kavua before becoming pregnant, she would not revert back to it immediately if it happens only once or even twice during the 24 months after birth. Her previous
veset kavua will become relevant again with the conclusion of her
meineket status.
Many women (especially those who haven't dealt with
vestot for a while due to pregnancy, breastfeeding…) find these halachot confusing. You might find it helpful to read our
articles on vestot to refresh your memory on the specific details.
B'Hatzlacha!
This response was updated on 4 October, 2025.
