A wound at the site of the examination

Shalom Rabbi, My wife, may she live and be well, has recently given birth. She began doing the bedikot (internal checks) for the hefsek taharah and the seven clean days, and they showed a reddish appearance. However, she says she feels that this is from a wound at the opening of the area (the vagina). I told her to try to skip over the spot where she feels the wound. And indeed, the cloth came out clean. But she says that the area is very tight and she was not able to insert her finger very far. Is this acceptable, and can we rely on these checks for the hefsek taharah and for the seven clean days? She is asking whether it is possible to take into account the check she did the previous day, in which a reddish appearance is seen at the exact point where the wound is, and rely on it for the hefsek taharah? She did two checks, and on both of them in exactly the same spot there is a reddish appearance, and everything else is clean. Only on the next day did I tell her to skip the point with the wound, and it came out clean. In addition, since there is a wound, I told her not to wear white underwear. Was I right, and is that correct? And if not, is there any way to avoid going to a bodeket (female examiner)? She really does not want to. A few years ago there was a similar case, and I told her to place a cloth over the area of the wound and insert another cloth to do the internal check. And it turned out fine. At that time I spoke with a rabbi, whom we unfortunately have since lost, and he said that this is excellent. I do not want to permit this on my own. Is this acceptable? Yeyasher koach.

Shalom u’vracha,

a. One may not rely on a hefsek taharah in which there is a spot of blood, even if we are certain that the reason is a wound.

b. Whatever she succeeded in inserting (finger/cloth) is effective and is considered a valid bedikah.

c. If the wound bleeds on its own, there is no need for her to wear white underwear.

d. It definitely helps if she covers the site of the wound with paper or cotton/pad, and then performs the bedikah in the usual way, both for the hefsek taharah and for the rest of the seven clean days.

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