In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Bleeding after relations postpartum
May 16, 2007

Question

I am 6 weeks postpartum. I just went to the mikvah last night. After relations with my husband, I saw that I was bleeding slightly. I saw blood both on toilet paper and then on a pantyliner the next morning, and some later that day (on a pantyliner as well). The color was bright pink. I am not sure of my nidda status.

Thank you for your help.

Answer

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby.

Whether or not your are now in niddah depends on a few factors.

1) It's not clear from your question if you saw that you were bleeding prior to finding the pink on toilet paper. Did you notice bleeding within about fifteen seconds of relations, or only later? Did you see blood anywhere other than on toilet paper and a pantyliner? Learn more about bleeding after relations here.

2) Did you feel any pain related to intercourse? Regardless of the answers to the above, if you can establish through a physical exam that there is a non-uterine source of bleeding or irritation, such as a lesion, or irritation to your stitches, etc, this bleeding would be considered blood from a wound, dam makkah, which does not render a woman niddah. Learn more about dam makkah here.

3) Staining on a disposable pantyliner does not make you niddah (learn more here). Blood seen on toilet paper depends on several factors, learn more here.

Please get back to us or a local halachic authority with more information. If you suspect another cause of bleeding, you may wish to schedule an exam with your doctor or bodeket taharah trained to look for dam makkah. Until your status is clear, you should separate from your husband out of caution in case you are niddah.

If you conduct yourself as though you are niddah until your status becomes clear, the day on which you began to conduct yourself accordingly could count as the first of your minimum wait.

Please get back to us with any further questions.
Facebook
WhatsApp
Email

Related Content

Yoatzot Halacha: Answering Women’s Halachic Questions

Appreciate Yoatzot Halacha?

Support our work & allow your donation to make a difference.

Accessibility Toolbar

Welcome to Our New Site!

We’re still in the process of bringing over our full archive of Q&As. Stay with us as we continue to update all our content and features.
Thank you for your patience, and please feel free to share feedback or let us know if you’re looking for something specific.