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

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Yichud during extended niddah

14 March, 2018
Question:

I recently broke my femur. Bh I had surgery and I'm OK and I'm home now but I have a long recovery ahead of me. Due to my cast and mobility I don't see myself going to mikvah at any point in the near future. I'm actually OK with that (although my husband less so) because I've been nursing clean up until recently and honestly I could use the break and physical space in our intimate life. Anyway, the reason I am writing is because my husband seems to think that now that I will be niddah for the next few months he can't sleep in the same room with me and we now have to be careful about yichud. I have never heard that married couples have to be careful about yichud. He said he heard in a shiur that if the husband doesn't have "pat b'salo" then yichud applies. I would appreciate clarification on this topic. Thank you


Answer:

We are sorry to hear of your injury and wish you a refuah sheleimah!

Yichud is permitted to husband and wife even when there are longer periods during which they must abstain. There are no restrictions on you and your husband being alone together during this extended time in niddah.  Because the two of you be"H will be permitted to each other in the not too distant future, there is no concern of lacking pat besalo here.

It is worth noting that you may be able to immerse sooner than you think. There are mikvaot designed to accommodate women with limited mobility. You may be able to schedule immersion for when you are having a cast change — or even arrange for one for this purpose to fiberglass, which is water proof and is not necessarily a barrier to immersion (if there is space for the water to enter between the cast and the body).  Please write back should any questions arise in this regard.

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