Male and Female conversing with one another via email before nikah

Q: 

  1. Is it permissible for a male and female to converse with one another via email before nikah is performed.
  2. If the couple is proposed and the girl talks to her future sister in law via e mail and she leaves a certain amount of text for the boy to read directly which he reads annnd replys directly to, is that halaal?
  3. Is it permissible if a third person reads the email/text message? If yes what requirments must the third person meet?

Nifaas

Q: After having a baby, you are on your periods for 40 days. Does that mean that its not allowed to read namaz for that time period?

Donating breast milk

Q: I have a question about whether it would be allowed for a Muslim to donate breast milk for use by babies. Secondly would it be allowed for a Muslim mom to allow her baby to use donated breast milk on a newborn infant.

Background information: bottle feeding is both expensive +\- minus R400 per month and needs to be sterilized. For the poor person who is unable to breast feed, mom who's dead or too ill this could lead to serious illness in the child. For instance over diluting to save money would lead to malnourishment. Or people without access to electricity may not heat the bottles leading to child getting severe infections.

Wearing Hijaab only

Q: I am 52 years old. I wear a hijab but not a nikab. An Alima advised me that this is fine as long as my neck & chest is covered. Please advise if this is true or am committing a sin by not wearing a nikab?

Water birth

Q: I would like to find out whether a water birth is permissible or not, also the lady is allowed to wear a loose top? Please clarify.