Birth Archives - AskTheRav

Questions about birth on Shabbos; What serves as a proper “Shinui” on Shabbos?

1) When needing to call a taxi to go to the hospital, is a shinui of the left hand suffice? Along those lines when there is no cut toilet…

Does one need to ask a Rav before being induced? Is there any Halachic issue?

If there is an issue, how about in the following situation: Labor has been on and off for a few nights in a row. Finally, contractions are steady enough…

Can one use an ovulation test on Yom Tov or Shabbos?

Under normal circumstances, it should not be done on Shabbos. Sources: נשמת אברהם או״ח שיח, ב - ע׳ שסא. אה״ע א ע׳ י. שש״כ לג, כ ובהערה…

Until what age should we place Shir Hamaalos on a child’s crib, car seat etc.? Is this the same as to how long they should be up on the doors of the house?

For shmira purposes, it’s enough to keep it for three or seven days (or, according to some, four weeks or thirty days). However, there is an additional reason why we…

Some questions about a C-section:

Is a heter needed from a Rov for a scheduled C-section? If medically mandated, there is no need for a heter. Can a husband be in the room…

I have many boys KAH. Is it proper to pray to Hashem to be blessed with a girl?

Yes. Sources: ויש בזה קיום מצות פו״ר. וכמו שמצינו בלאה שהתפללה כן - ברכות ס, א. ומש״א שם ובשו״ע או״ח רל, א - היינו ע״ד הרגיל. ולהעיר מב״ב…

I’m due for a baby a couple days after Rosh Hashanah. I usually run late. If I go into labor on Yom Kippur…

...What is allowed in regard to drinking/eating, showering, or anything else to ease that time? Once active labor has begun you should drink regularly - not small amounts at…

I am making meals for Shabbos for several kimpatur, plus a meal during the week for another kimpatur (Shifra & Puah). I want to know if I may use Maaser money to buy the ingredients needed to cook the food?

Making food for such a mother would be considered a non-obligatory Mitzvah and therefore would be allowed to be paid for from Maaser funds (and you do not need to…

When one had a baby boy and did not say הטוב והמטיב immediately, what is the time limit to making this Bracha? (Same question with regard to שהחיינו for a baby girl).

So long the Simcha is still fresh and strong. טעמים ומקורות: כמה שיטות בדבר, ראה בהנסמן לקמן. וההכרעה כבפנים: ראה מו״ק להיעב״ץ רכד. פמ״ג בא״א רכג, ג. משנ״ב…

Can a baby boy wear gender neutral clothing that a baby girl has worn before?

Yes. However, the very first garment after birth should not be one that the opposite gender has worn before. In today’s day and age where mothers give birth in the hospital, people…

שאלה: האם יש התייחסות מהרבי להשקלא וטריא אם ללדת בבית או בבית הרפואה?

תשובה בשיחת י״ט כסלו תשמ״ז (סה״ש תשמ״ז א ע׳ 146 ובהערה 10) בקשר עם תליית שיר המעלות בבית הרפואה, נזכר בדרך אגב, ש״בימינו אלה מסיבות רפואיות יולדות הנשים בבית…

Can one make a Shehechiyanu on the birth of a baby girl during Sefiras Haomer?

Yes. Sources: ובמכ״ש מבין המצרים כשיפסיד הברכה - ראה שו״ע או״ח תקנא, יז. רמ״א שם. ולהדיא כתב כן בסי׳ יעב״ץ דיני ביהמ״צ ח, ברואה חבירו ביהמ״צ. וראה גם…

Regarding a Kiddush for my daughter’s birth, can I do it on Friday night after the meal? Similarly, can I do it during the week?

The custom of hosting a celebratory feast for the birth of a daughter has early origins. The Gemoro in Bava Basra (91a) states that Boaz had thirty sons and…

Is it In accordance with the code of Jewish law for an unmarried 37 year old Jewish woman to go through the procedure of having her eggs frozen?

First of all, I want to give her a Brocha that she find her Bashert very soon so this answer will only have to be theoretical. There is room…

I am pregnant and have had to do an ultrasound as per Dr request. In such cases, should I ask the technician specifically not to tell me the baby’s gender? In other words is there a Makor for not finding out before birth?

One should avoid discovering the gender of the fetus. Sources: ראה ב״ר סה, יב: שבעה דברים מכוסים מבני אדם וכו׳ ואין אדם יודע מה בעבורה של אשה. וכ״ה…

Can one bring a Shir Hamolas card into the labor room to be visible during labor (for the woman to feel safer)? Can it be see through? Would these issues apply to a picture of a Tzadik?

It must be covered with two covers, one of then not visible. This does not apply according to Halacha to a picture of a Tzadik. Nonetheless, Chassidim have a…

At what point can one consider a woman a Yoledes and can start calling a taxi and do Melachos with a Shinui?

See here and here.

לאחד מהמקורבים שלנו נולדו בן ובת תאומים, הם רוצים לקיים מנהג ישראל לעשות סעודת הודאה/קידוש לכבוד הבת, האם יכולים לצאת ידי חובה בסעודת הברית בתור סעודת הודאה על הבת או צריכים אירוע נפרד?

יש לעשות קידוש או סעודה בנפרד, או לפחות כשאי אפשר או כשיש צורך - לייחד משהו מיוחד (תבשיל מיוחד, אורח מיוחד וכו׳) בסעודת הברית עבור - ולזכות - הבת. …

What is the Chabad Minhag in regarding purchasing new items for a baby before he/she were born. And does it also apply to things that are necessary immediately after leaving the hospital?

Although some have the custom to refrain from buying clothing and other items for a baby until it is born, there is no explicit Torah source supporting this tradition.…