Pregnant Muslim women may be religiously exempt from fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan, especially if there is concern for undue hardship or harm to maternal or fetal health. However, several studies demonstrate that most women still choose to fast during pregnancy and avoid discussing fasting with their providers. When you are pregnant, you may take an exception or rukhsah and not fast. So, if you can, the default is to fast. And if you think it’s hard to fast pregnant in the summer, try fasting in the summer while you’re nursing and with a baby around (which is where you’ll be in Ramadan one year from now!). Although pregnant women are exempt from this Islamic law, the majority nevertheless choose to fast. This review aims to identify the effects of Ramadan fasting on the offspring of Muslim mothers, particularly on fetal growth, birth indices, cognitive effects and long-term effects. Islamic rulings offer flexibility to pregnant and breastfeeding women during Ramadan, allowing you to choose whether to fast or to opt out. If you decide not to fast, you can make up the missed fasts at a later date or perform Fidyah (a fixed sum of charitable donation) instead. Fasting during Ramadan has been mainly associated with signs and symptoms of maternal fatigue and dehydration, with a minimal decrease in weight gain. There is conflicting data regarding the association with gestational diabetes mellitus and insufficient data on maternal hypertension. Pregnant Muslim women may be religiously exempt from fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan, especially if there is concern for undue hardship or harm to maternal or fetal health. However, several studies demonstrate that most women still choose to fast during pregnancy and avoid discussing fasting with their providers. Although exempt, many pregnant Muslim women partake in the daily fast during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan. In other contexts an impoverished diet during pregnancy impacts on birth weight. Ramadan fasting does not affect maternal outcomes during pregnancy. Keywords: Ramadan, Fasting, Preterm delivery, Gestational diabetes mellitus. Ramadan is the ninth month in the lunar calendar. During this month Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They are required to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual act during this time period. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether Ramadan fasting by pregnant women affects perinatal outcomes. Primary outcomes investigated were perinatal mortality, preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Some fast in Ramadan not knowing they are pregnant (yet)! This is a personalized decision and a conversation you should have with your physician before Ramadan starts. Alright, I have a healthy pregnancy and want to fast. Should I do it? To optimize the health of baby and mom, there are some important factors to consider when fasting. Background Ramadan during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring health outcomes. Recent evidence from Europe indicates that maternal diet during non-fasting hours might alleviate these effects. This study describes fasting, diet, and sleep habits among pregnant Muslims in Kaduna, Nigeria, and assesses impacts on neonatal health in this setting. Methods Between July 2023 and February I advised my wife not to fast during last Ramadan and she was not fasting because she was pregnant. She was weak and anemic last time when she was pregnant. She had miscarried by the end of Ramadan when she was 12 weeks pregnant. What is the ruling about her missed fasting during Ramadan? Does she have to complete them before next Ramadan? Last year I was pregnant and could not fast Ramadan due to fear for my unborn child as well as extreme dizziness in my case. Therefore, I did not fast the entire month of Ramadan. This year, I am breastfeeding and was unable to make up the days that I missed last year. Of the 13 reviews included, three were systematic reviews with meta-analysis, 17, 21, 22 six were systematic reviews without meta-analysis, 23-28 and the remaining four were narrative reviews. 29-32 Among the six systematic reviews without meta-analysis, four summarized the evidence for the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, during which fasting is obligatory for all healthy individuals. Although pregnant women are exempt from this Islamic law, the majority nevertheless choose to fast. This review aims to identify the effects of Ramadan fasting on the offspring of Muslim mothers, particularly on fetal growth, birth indices, cognitive effects and long-term effects. A Of the 13 reviews included, three were systematic reviews with meta-analysis, 17, 21, 22 six were systematic reviews without meta-analysis, 23-28 and the remaining four were narrative reviews. 29-32 Among the six systematic reviews without meta-analysis, four summarized the evidence for the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on Conclusion. Fasting during pregnancy is a personal decision that depends on religious beliefs, medical conditions, and individual endurance. Islam offers flexibility, prioritizing the health of both the mother and the baby. What do other pregnant women do during Ramadan? Many pregnant women choose not to fast during Ramadan. It’s thought that at least 70% of pregnant Muslim women avoid fasting for at least part of the month. Many choose to make up for missed fasting days after they’ve given birth and when Ramadan is over. The impact of fasting during pregnancy may depend on the overall health of the mother, the stage of pregnancy and the time of year Ramadan occurs. More research is needed to fully understand what impact fasting may have on the health and development of the baby and what that may mean for the child’s health in later life. A part of the literature on the health implications of Ramadan during pregnancy mainly finds associations among those for whom Ramadan during pregnancy occurs in early pregnancy . Our finding that fasting rates are highest in the first pregnancy trimester might partly explain these previous findings, as some studies use intent-to-treat designs
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