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Section: Halacha   Category: Tshuvos

Rav Moshe Shternbuch on Inducing Childbirth

In this very unequivocal Tshuva (1:894) Rav Moshe Shternbuch says that you should not induce labor "Chas V'Shalom".  Hashem has scheduled the baby to come out exactly at the right time and it should not be influenced by a doctor's schedule.  The additional time may help the baby complete development of its body or mind.  Additionally, the baby's Mazal is dependent on its coming out in the appropriate time.  He says in the name of the Arizal that you should not write a K'meiya for a woman to speed childbirth because it can alter the baby's mazal and cause it a life of poverty, pain and early death. He quotes an Igros Moshe (YD 2:74) that says that all child birth is life threatening.  Although bringing yourself into a life threatening situation is not permitted, since it is the nature of the world, a woman is permitted to get pregnant.  However, to induce labor before the natural time is tampering with nature and it is prohibited to put yourself in this  dangerous predicament. If the doctor says that it is dangerous to the mother or the baby to wait then it is certainly permitted to take the baby out by any means. Disclaimer: We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. Please also understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions.

RELATED ARTICLES:childbirth  halacha  inducing labor  Rav Moshe Feinstein  Rav Moshe Shternbuch

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Visitor Comments: 2 Anonymous, 2007-11-27 07:59:29 thanks so much. i really enjoy reading these tshuvos. Anonymous, 2007-11-27 08:04:26 Thanks a lot.These tshuvos teach me that so many things I thought was ok might be problematic and now I can go to a Rov and ask a shaaylo about it. If it weren't for you, I would never have asked such shaaylos. Thank you very much. You are mamash mezake es horabim.