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

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Mikveh after C-Section

20 April, 2004

Question:

My baby was born by cesarean. I still have tape over the stitches. If it doesn't fall off before I would otherwise go to the mikveh, is that a barrier problem? As I am not supposed to swim in a public pool, is that a health problem to use the mikveh anyway?


Answer:

Mazal tov!  Stitches are a barrier if they are removable. Absorbable stitches are not a barrier. The tape is a barrier, but can generally be removed after a week or so.

A cesarean birth is subject to the normal laws for a niddah, five days' wait and seven clean days.  More likely it will be a number of weeks before you stop bleeding enough to use the mikveh.  At that point, it is quite unlikely that it will be a problem to remove the tape if it has not fallen off.

If concerns about infection are still relevant by that time, they should be discussed with your physician. Both you and he/she should be aware that arrangements can be made for you to be the first to immerse in the mikveh pool after it has been drained and disinfected.


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