Fast of Tisha B'Av - Inflammation Treated with Antibiotics
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Question
Hello, My wife is breastfeeding and suffering from breast inflammation, receiving a strong antibiotic (Augmentin 875 mg) from Monday for ten days, including Tisha B'Av. The question is whether she needs to fast, and if not, can she eat normally or should she eat in measured amounts, and should she perform Havdalah and on what. Thank you very much.
Answer
Shalom and blessings
She should not fast at all, and should eat and drink normally.
On Tisha B'Av, one who needs to eat and drink does so normally, and there is no requirement for measured amounts.
A sick person who eats during the fast must perform Havdalah over a cup before eating, and even someone who becomes ill on Tisha B'Av itself and needs to eat must perform Havdalah over a cup.
If those who are healthy and fasting hear Havdalah from him, they fulfill their obligation.
A woman who eats permissibly on Tisha B'Av, should perform Havdalah and drink the cup herself, and there is no concern in this.
Some say that her husband or another can perform Havdalah for her, and she drinks the cup, and even the one performing Havdalah fulfills the obligation of Havdalah. If she cannot drink the Havdalah cup, she should perform Havdalah and give it to a child who has reached the age of education [age 5-6] to drink the cup. If there is no child - she can eat before Havdalah and hear Havdalah after the fast ends.
The text of Havdalah for those performing it during the fast: do not say the verses before the Havdalah blessing "Behold, God, etc.", but begin with the blessing "Borei Pri Hagafen", and then the blessing "Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lechol". Do not bless over spices ]and if "Borei Meorei Ha'esh" has not yet been blessed, it should be blessed in Havdalah, and if it has already been blessed over the candle – do not bless in Havdalah[.
Those performing Havdalah during the fast should preferably do so over grape juice
The one performing Havdalah should drink a quarter of the cup)and although a full mouthful suffices, since ideally one should drink a quarter to avoid doubt regarding the final blessing, it is permitted for the sick to drink all that is needed for the final blessing(. Lch. One who drinks water permissibly on Tisha B'Av and does not eat - does not need to perform Havdalah before drinking