1,644. A Nursing Mother

Hilchos Ishus 21:10

If a woman refuses to perform any of her obligatory tasks, she can be compelled to do so. [The Rambam says “even with a rod” but this doesn’t mean that a husband has the right to beat his wife. Rather, it means that he can take her to court and they can go so far as to coerce her.] If a husband complains that his wife is not fulfilling her obligatory duties and she says that she is, the court asks a third-party woman to stay with them or they consult with the couple’s neighbors, investigating the matter in the manner they best see fit.

Hilchos Ishus 21:11

When a woman is nursing, she is not required to perform as many household chores as usual. Wine and foods that are good for nursing are added to her allotted food. If she was provided with appropriate foods but she wants more or different food because of her cravings, then she can eat whatever she wants using her own funds. Her husband cannot object on the basis that she might overeat or eat foods that might prove harmful to the baby. Rather, her physical discomfort takes priority.