Fasting during pregnancy
What the religious position is, what the research on fasting in pregnancy actually shows, who is advised not to fast and when to see a doctor.
The religious position
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are among the accepted grounds for not keeping the Ramadan fast. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may choose not to fast if they fear harm to themselves or to their child. In one respect they are treated as a person who is unwell, and there are hadiths granting them this dispensation (Nasā'ī, Ṣiyām, 51, 62; Ibn Mājah, Ṣiyām, 12).
A pregnant or breastfeeding woman may fast if she can bear it and the child will not be affected. It is appropriate to consult a doctor with expertise in the field. Women who cannot fast for legitimate reasons such as pregnancy or breastfeeding make up those fasts at another time when circumstances allow (Marghīnānī, al-Hidāya, II, 269).
What the research shows
A good deal of research has been done on fasting during Ramadan in pregnancy and breastfeeding, but the quality and reliability of these studies is low.
To give examples: some studies of women who fasted, particularly in the first three months, found lower IQ scores in their children after birth and a reduction in placental weight — while other studies found no difference. Some studies found reduced amniotic fluid in women fasting in the second and third trimesters; others found no effect. Some found an effect on birth weight; others did not.
In short, the evidence is not settled, and higher-quality studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Who is advised not to fast
- women with low or high blood pressure
- women with anaemia
- multiple pregnancies — twins, triplets
- mothers-to-be who are not gaining enough weight
- those who have previously given birth prematurely
- those with a urinary tract infection
- pregnant women with an eating disorder
- those who have previously had a baby of low birth weight
- pregnant women with diabetes
- those found to have low amniotic fluid or restricted growth in the baby
When to see a doctor
- nausea or vomiting
- not needing the toilet for a long period
- weakness, or failing to gain the necessary weight
- headache
- a rise in temperature
- dark urine, a sign of dehydration
Pregnant women whose doctor sees no objection to fasting should be careful about how they eat. A baby in a period of rapid growth and development needs enough energy and nutrients to complete that process healthily. Mothers who fast should make sure these needs are fully met between the evening and pre-dawn meals, both for the baby and for their own health.
Fasting in pregnancy is a personal decision, but it is important that the decision is taken in consultation with the obstetrician following the pregnancy.