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

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Hargashah and dark brown stains

20 June, 2019

Question:

I am nursing my 5 month old and have started supplementing a little with formula. I had this feeling so I went to wipe and saw a dark brown clot on the toilet paper. (I did not urinate, just wiped). Am I considered niddah? I have not seen any red, I have seen some dark spotting since. I also took my progesterone pill a little later than usual one night earlier this week so I am not sure if that is that cause. Either way, can you help me with my status?


Answer:

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!

Your status depends on the precise nature of the feeling you had, and on the color you saw. If you felt your whole body shaking or your uterus opening, or experienced a feeling that comes only when you have bleeding, then you might be in niddah. We would need more details about the sensation, how much time elapsed between the sensation and wiping, and the exact shade of brown that you observed.

Otherwise, even if you felt a flow of liquid leaving your vagina, then what you saw is considered a stain. A stain on toilet paper (not after urinating or a sensation of menses) does not make a woman niddah. For more information, please see our site’s articles “Stains” and “Toilet Paper“.

Please write back or, for a quicker response, call our hotline, with any follow up questions.


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