Laws relating to breastfeeding and breast milk on Shabbos-Part 2 -Squeezing out the milk on Shabbos

Laws relating to breastfeeding and breast milk on Shabbos-Part 2-Q&A

Summary of Part 1:

Is forbidden for a woman to squeeze breast milk into a vessel due to the Biblical detaching prohibition. However, it is permitted for a woman to squeeze out some milk and have it trickle down her skin in order to stimulate her child to nurse. As well, it is permitted for her to squeeze milk onto the ground in order to relieve breast pain caused by the milk. It is forbidden to squeeze breastmilk on Shabbos for other purposes.

Q&A

During nursing, may woman press on her breasts in order to help more milk come out into the baby’s mouth?[1]

Yes.[2]

Q&A on squirting to stimulate child

May one squirt the milk directly into the baby’s mouth in order to stimulate it to eat?[3]

Some Poskim[4] rule that it is permitted to squeeze the milk directly into the baby’s mouth, and some[5] understand that this is in fact the preferred method. Other Poskim[6], however, rule that it is forbidden to squirt the milk into the mouth of the baby, as in such a case it is not going to waste and thus squeezing it contains a Biblical prohibition. Practically, Admur[7] implies like the latter opinion and hence one is to be stringent and have the milk trickle down the skin and go to waste.

Q&A on squirting to release pain and other purposes

May one squeeze out milk for the sake of relieving future breast pain, even if at the moment there is no pain?

Some Poskim[8] arbitrate that doing so is allowed.

If a woman is particular not to nurse her child after she gets angry or frightened due to danger[9], may she squeeze out this milk on Shabbos?[10]

Yes, so long as it will go to waste.

May a woman squeeze out her milk on Shabbos in order to prevent herself from getting wet from the milk [during sleep, or when going to Shul etc]?[11]

No.[12] This applies even if the milk will go to waste.

May a woman squeeze out her milk on Shabbos in order to prevent her milk supply from drying up, if for whatever reason she’s not currently nursing her child?[13]

Some Poskim[14] rule that it is permitted to do so if the milk goes to waste. Some[15], however, write that according to the experts, not nursing for one day will not affect the milk supply or its quality, with exception to unique cases. Accordingly, a woman should not squeeze out her milk simply because she doesn’t want to go one day without nursing due to worry of losing her milk supply.

Q&A-Coming up in Part 3

1. May a woman use a pump to release milk in order to relieve breast pain?
2. May a woman pump out milk to bottle feed her baby if he refuses to nurse?
3. Is breastmilk Muktzah on Shabbos?
4. May a woman wear nursing pads on Shabbos?
5. May a woman wear a milk collector cup on Shabbos?

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[1] Piskeiy Teshvuvos 330 footnote 80

[2] The reason: As the milk is going directly into his mouth, and is the form of eating, and receives the same allowance for all nursing.

[3] See Or Sameiach on Rambam Shabbos 8:10; Migdanos Eliyahu 3:53; Chayeh Halevi 5:35; Megilas Sefer 7:5 in name of Rav SZ”A; Piskeiy Teshuvos 330:10 footnote 80

[4] Chayeh Adam 69:10; Shibulei Haleket 123; Mishneh Berurah 328:112 (However, see Shaar HaTziyon ibid in which he questions as to why this is allowed.); See Kaf Hachaim 328:206 that in his understanding this applies according to all opinions, even Admur ibid

[5] See Kaf Hachaim 328:206 that in his understanding this applies according to all opinions, even Admur ibid, and the dispute is on the contrary if it may be squirted onto the ground; Thus, he concludes that it is better to squirt it into the mouth and not onto the floor unless it is a time of need

[6] Ketzos Hashulchan 138 footnote 30; P”M 328 A”A 41, as understood by Shaar Hatziyon 328:81; Tehila Ledavid 328:59;  See Tosefes Shabbos 328:59 who questions the allowance of Shibulei Haleket; See Shaar Hatziyon 328:81 who also questions the allowance of Shibulei Haleket and leaves this matter with a Tzaruch Iyun; See Kaf Hachaim 328:206 that so is implied from Admur ibid and Olas Shabbos ibid, however, he understands their ruling to simply permitting even squeezing onto the ground and not excluding squirting into the mouth; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 330:10

[7] Implication of Admur ibid who in his reasoning writes that the milk is going to waste; Ketzos Hashulchan 138 footnote 30

[8] Mishneh Yosef 9:34 based on Rashi Shabbos 135a who writes of having too much milk can lead to illness, hence implying that currently there is no illness; Piskeiy Teshuvos 330:12 footnote 92

[9] See Zivcheiy Tzedek Y.D. 116:90; Kaf Hachaim 116:148

[10] Tiferes Yisrael Kalkeles Hashabbos Dash 5; Kaf Hachaim 328:210; Ketzos Hashulchan 130 footnote 30; Shevisas Hashabbos Dash 35; Piskeiy Teshuvos 330:12 footnote 92

[11] Piskeiy Teshuvos 330:11 footnote 82

[12] The reason: As the allowance to squeeze milk even when it goes to waste is only allowed when done for the sake of the child, such as to stimulate it, or for the sake of relieving physical pain, and not simply for the sake of not getting wet in which case it would be a rabbinical prohibition to squeeze out the milk even if it goes to waste.

[13] Piskeiy Teshuvos 330:12 footnote 93

[14] SSH”K 36:21

[15] Maor Hashabbos 14:105