Can I skip a bedikah if I know I’m staining?
24 January, 2023
Question:I recently had a miscarriage and am now counting my clean days. I am at the end of my second clean day and saw some dark orangish on toilet paper (after waiting more than 15 seconds). I only looked because I was about to do a bedika. It was right before shkiya do I didn’t know what to do, but I didn’t want to do a bedika because I was afraid that if I did, that would for sure make me have to start my clean days over again. I haven’t seen anything else since.
I just want to make sure I am not doing the wrong thing… Is it okay that I skipped a bedika in this situation? Does the stain on toilet paper make me have to start counting over? I don’t have anyone to ask in the neighborhood (it’s a big problem where I live) and already waited an extra day to begin counting because I never want to have a Sheila…
Thanks!
Answer:We are sorry to hear of your miscarriage.
The stain you saw on toilet paper did not invalidate your clean days, since you waited after urinating before wiping.
Ideally, one should perform daily bedikot during the seven clean days. But if staining is making it difficult to get through the clean days, you may reduce the number of bedikot performed to the hefsek taharah, and one bedikah each on day 1, day 7, and one of the intermediate clean days. Since you noticed you were staining, it was acceptable–and advisable–to hold off with the bedikah that day. You did the right thing.
We also want to suggest you look into the Tahor app, which can be very helpful for evaluating stains in a situation where there is no local halachic authority to whom you can turn.
Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.
B’Hatzlacha!
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