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

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Repeated miscarriages

1 December, 2020
Question:

Thank you for this service. Sadly I was just informed I’ve experienced another miscarriage, 6 months after my first miscarriage. I’m wondering if you know of any support groups for religious women in Israel suffering after pregnancy loss? Are there any Jewish books about miscarriage? Lastly what is the halachic recommendation in a situation of multiple miscarriages regarding contraception? On one hand I don’t want to miss out on a chance to have another child please G-d, on the other hand I’ve lost a lot of faith and I’m not sure how many more miscarriages I can go through without breaking down.


Answer:

We are very sorry to hear of your repeat miscarriages and of the emotional toll that they have taken on you.

Many of the organizations listed on our Fertility Resources page also offer support to couples experiencing pregnancy loss.

An excellent book in Hebrew is Kachalom Ya’uf, by Avraham Stav (Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook, 2020). To Mourn a Child, edited by Rabbis Jeffrey Saks and Joel Wolowelsky, is a fine English book, though its focus is more neonatal loss than miscarriage.

Following repeat miscarriages, a couple may use contraception for as long as is medically indicated. Emotional concerns, including worries about going through another loss, can also provide grounds for using contraception, though they require more individual attention. As questions arise, you are welcome to write back to us to follow up.

In addition to seeking emotional support, we also suggest that you raise your concerns with your physician, and ask to discuss testing and other measures to prevent a recurrence.

We wish you a refuah sheleimah, refuat hanefesh urfuat haguf, healing body and soul, and continued faith and strength.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

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