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

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Lubricant for postpartum bedikot

4 November, 2015

Question:

I am about to make hefsek tahara and start counting 7 nekiim after giving birth (almost 6 weeks ago). Is it permissible to use lubrication gel for that purpose? The natural lubrication is close to zero.


Answer:

Mazal tov on the recent birth of your baby!

You may slightly moisten the bedikah cloth with water to help ease discomfort while performing a bedikah. If bedikot are still painful despite the moist cloth, you may lubricate the vaginal area with a small amount of water-based lubricant and then perform the bedikah.

You must perform the hefsek taharah, but may omit the moch dachuk until you no longer experience pain or discomfort from bedikot. Additionally, you may reduce the number of bedikot during the seven clean days to one per day if you experience discomfort. If even that is too difficult, you may reduce further to one each on days 1, 7, and one additional intermediate clean day.

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


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