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

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Postpartum bedikot, when to start minipill

9 January, 2017

Question:

I had a baby a little over 4 weeks ago and I have some questions.

1) I am not bleeding anymore and would like to start doing bedikas, even though I cannot yet be with my husband, but it would still be nice to go to the mivka and not be niddah. However, I am still sore and so it hurts me to do a full bedikah. I am wondering if I can just do a shallow bedika and not put the cloth in the whole way? Or do I need to wait to do bedikas until I am more healed?

2) When should I start the mini pill? Will I bleed from it and therefore should I start it a couple weeks before I go to the mikva?


Answer:

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!

1)  It is permissible to perform a modified bedikah post-partum.  Going as deep as you comfortably can (making sure to go around thoroughly) and not less deep than the first knuckle.  Also, the moch dachuk may be omitted at this point.

Please do keep in mind that postpartum bleeding tends to come and go in waves, so your bleeding may start up again before the clean days are complete.

2)  Progesterone-only pills are associated with a higher incidence of staining postpartum, for up to a few months of use.  For that reason, we usually recommend delaying the start of the pill to after the first mikveh immersion, so that you will not have to perform bedikot or wear white undergarments while experience initial staining the pill.  For contraceptive protection between immersion and the pill's becoming effective, spermicide is a halachically permissible short term contraceptive method. Used alone it is about 70% effective. When used as a back up method to full breastfeeding it provides reasonable protection.

As preparation for dealing with staining when adjusting to the pill, we recommend reading our articles "Stains" and "Toilet Paper."  Many women report fewer incidences of staining when they take care to take the pill at the same time each day.  Also, some women find that taking bioflavonoids (doctor permitting, 1000mg three times a day) helps reduce the incidence of staining.

Please write back with any further questions.


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