Mustard yellow staining - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Mustard yellow staining

October 21, 2012

Question

Over three weeks ago, I had a miscarriage followed by a D&C. I had bleeding for two weeks (red and then dark brown staining), which has now turned into yellow staining (yellow mustard color).

When can I start counting my clean days? Is yellow spotting considered part of the niddah status or can you start counting despite the yellow spotting? I heard once that only red and brown spotting makes you a niddah but maybe I'm getting it all confused??

Many thanks for your help.

Answer

We are sorry to hear of your miscarriage.

It is fairly common for bleeding after a miscarriage to last for a number of weeks, much like bleeding after childbirth. Yellow spotting, however, does not preclude a woman from beginning her clean days. Yellows on bedikah cloths or undergarments do not interfere in any way with the clean days; even some shades of brown may be permissible on the hefsek taharah that precedes the clean days.

Therefore, you may begin the process of becoming tehorah immediately, and ignore any yellow stains. Should questions regarding stains or bedikah cloths arise, please consult a halachic authority rather than assume that your clean days have been invalidated.

We wish you a refuah sheleimah. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.