Whether you are motivated by religious devotion or enjoy an occasional detox, you are sure to be accustomed to fasting. This common practice, however, comes under the scanner when you are pregnant, and understandably so. While you are carrying, the food you eat provides nourishment, not just to you but also to your growing baby. Read on for the different views people have on fasting during pregnancy, precautions to take if you do decide to fast, and alternatives to fasting if you decide to forgo it.
There is no clear answer to this question. On one hand, women have been fasting during pregnancy for centuries and still have healthy children. On the other hand, new research has been warning women of risks involved in this practice.
Studies have indicated that during the first trimester, fasting may result in low birth weight in babies, but the difference is marginal. Furthermore, studies have also shown that children may grow to be slightly shorter and thinner than average but again the difference is negligible. It is recommended, however, that expert advice is sought from medical professionals before fasting in the early stages of pregnancy.
The third trimester is that period of pregnancy when the baby displays fast growth. During this period the baby needs more nutrition and greater amounts of minerals and vitamins to sustain the accelerated growth. Some studies do suggest that besides possible adverse effects on the speed of growth, fasting during pregnancy in the third trimester is by and large safe. It is recommended that proper medical advice is sought before making the decision to fast. Your doctor will be able to check for any complications that could arise if you forgo food for some time, and advise you accordingly.
Fasting during pregnancy can have several effects. Some of them are short-term effects and would subside with time whereas others may have implications for the long term. Here are some of the possible effects of fasting.
If you decide to go ahead and observe a fast during pregnancy, here are some tips and advice to do so safely:
While there are some precautions to be taken while fasting during pregnancy there are also some warning signs to look out for. These include the following:
There are some precautions to be taken while breaking your fast to avoid any damage to your health. These include the following:
Depending on which culture you follow, some occasions may require you to fast for more than a single day at a stretch. All available alternatives to daily fasts should be explored during pregnancy.
Pregnancy involves a lot of changes to the body, the gain in weight and the fact that there is a baby which needs constant nutrition means that there are certain disadvantages of fasting during pregnancy, they are as follows:
While there is an ongoing debate about the effects of fasting during pregnancy and there are no clear answers yet. Women who choose to fast during pregnancy must keep the following in mind:
While not being able to hold a fast might affect women emotionally – especially if it is a religious fast they really want to, or are expected to hold – please do remember that your health and that of your baby is more important than anything else in the world. Also, there’s always the next year when you may fast! Offer your sincerest apologies to the Almighty, and skip fasting altogether if you can. Never push your body to do things it may not be able to bear!