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SJS,
I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean to say that natural family planning is against halacha, and I never asked a rav about this. I just meant that practically speaking, if one is using natural family planning as the only method of preventing pregnancy, it seems to me that this would be a difficult method to use while keeping the halachos of taharas hamishpacha.
For those who maintain that any form of birth control is prohibited when used for childbirth spacing, what about mothers nursing their babies? Generally speaking, mothers who nurse their babies for a year or two (as recommended in the
Torah) are less likely to become pregnant for several months to a year after giving birth than those who don’t.
anon, In Igros Moshe (Even Haezer vol 1 beggining of no. 64), Reb Moshe states that “spacing” for non-medical reasons is completely assur. Nursing is highly recommended and completely muttar regardless that it reduces the likelihood of pregnancy while nursing.
anon, In Igros Moshe (Even Haezer vol 1 beggining of no. 64), Reb Moshe states that “spacing” for non-medical reasons is completely assur. Nursing is highly recommended and completely muttar regardless that it reduces the likelihood of pregnancy while nursing.
Anon, ah that makes more sense. But schedule alterations are technically available.
I actually think more people (including me) should start charting – it might help them understand their ferility issues if they arise (changes, mikvah schedule etc).
Where in the Torah does it recommend nursing? Thats great!
While BC for “convenience” is not permitted, many Rabbonim who are in touch with current realities do allow “spacing” and BC for financial reasons. The explanation being that women today are not physically strong enough to have children too close together and “spacing” may be a medical necessity. Also financial crisis can affect a person’s physical health, so preventing a nervous breakdown is a medical necessity. Nursing is not a reliable form of birth control, though it does reduce the chances. Nursing purely for purposes of preventing pregnancy is no more permitted than taking the pill, and I am familiar with cases where people malnourished their infants to nurse them exclusively for two years just to space the future children. They baby cried the whole day from hunger, but the parents would not supplement with formula or baby food because it would reduce the contraceptive effectiveness.
The bottom line is that BC is bot to be taken lightly, but is permitted in many circumstances. Each person should ask a Rav who is both qualified and knows their personal situation.
Zalman,
Thank you for sharing that. The Igros Moshe quoted by GAW seems less absolute, unless I am misunderstanding.
Anon:
My understanding is that it depends on the type.
As always, ask your Rav.
Zalman: No-one is saying BC is ideal, it takes a rav to decide that it is the least worse thing.
We recently read in Parshas Yayeishev how when Er and Onan attempted to frustrate procreation with Tamar, this behavior was evil in the eyes of Hashem.
Only a competent Rav, who personally knows the couple involved can render a halachic opinion on when it may be muter to take action in order to avoid pregnancy.
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