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

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Stains on body, two months postpartum

18 April, 2018
Question:

I went to the mikveh for the first time on Sunday night since giving birth. It took me two months to stop bleeding. Today, Tuesday, I went to the bathroom in the morning and there was blood on me, even my upper thigh. What do I do now?


Answer:

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!

If the bleeding was a flow (too heavy for just pantiliners), you are niddah. If it was staining, it follows the halachot outlined in our article on Stains. In particular, if you saw red stains totalling at least the surface area of a k’gris (the equivalent of an Israeli shekel or US dime) on your upper thigh, you are niddah.

We recognize that it can be very difficult to encounter renewed bleeding so soon after waiting two months to get to mikveh. Unfortunately, irregular bleeding does sometimes continue for several months postpartum. However, it is worth mentioning to your health care provider, in case he or she can pinpoint a specific cause. You should explain that even if the bleeding is not medically problematic, it creates difficulties for religious reasons. The section of our website designed for healthcare professionals, Jewish Women’s Health, may be helpful in communicating your concerns.

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

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