Fasting: How to do it safely during pregnancy

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Being pregnant and fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan are blessings for Muslim women, but they may find themselves confused when the two come together at the same time.

The question is whether they can fulfill their religious obligation, because they fear that the fetus may suffer nutritional deficiencies.

According to an obstetrician with the Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital in North Jakarta, Soemanadi, such concerns are groundless, and a pregnant woman can perform fasting if she wishes as long as both she and the unborn baby are in good health.

"Both the mother and unborn baby will not experience nutritional deficiencies during Ramadhan if the mother consumes balanced meals, consisting of various food groups for the adequate supply of protein, carbohydrates, fat as well as vitamins and minerals.

Balanced meals, he said, should be taken at sahur (predawn meal) and buka puasa (breaking the fast) and in between the two.

Consultation with an obstetrician prior to fasting is also advised to ensure the expectant mother can go ahead with her plan.

"I may provide the expectant mother with food supplements to ensure adequate nutritional intake. But if their daily diet already consists of balanced meals, even a supplement is not necessary."

Soemanadi explained that fasting was only a shift of meal times and pregnant women can still eat three or four meals a day without having to worry about depriving the unborn baby of their nutritional needs for healthy growth during the fasting hours.

Moreover, the human body has nutritional deposits which can be used whenever needed -- like when a person's diet does not meet his or her daily requirements -- providing a natural balancing mechanism.

"This is why as long as it does not affect the mother and the unborn baby's condition, fasting is OK," he said.

However, if the expectant mother feels very weak, develops headache or other pregnancy-related health problems, such as hypertension, she would be advised to stop fasting immediately and start taking light meals and drinks to restore energy.

"Even though they have made up their minds to fast, any indications of health problems should not be taken lightly for the sake of her own and her unborn baby's health."

He also advised against fasting for women in their first trimester who suffer from severe vomiting, bleeding or whose unborn baby has growth problems.

For those who do fast, the obstetrician stressed the need for a healthy diet that at least includes a glass of milk and a variety of fresh fruit. Ideally, two glasses of milk should be taken every day -- one during the predawn meal and the other while breaking the fast.

Women should also watch their diet, and limit items (or eliminate entirely if possible) items that are not recommended during pregnancy like coffee, tea, canned food, food containing preservatives, high salt and sugar content as well as junk food.

Instead, they are advised to select natural, fresh ingredients or freshly cooked meals to prevent bacterial contamination, or properly washed raw food to ensure they are no longer contaminated by harmful chemicals like pesticide.

And since the digestive organs are in "resting" mode while fasting, Soemanadi said that fasting people -- not only pregnant women -- should eat moderately and break their fast with light meals and liquid to restore energy, and then they can partake of a heavier, complete meal.

He advised pregnant women to be open to their obstetrician about any conditions they experience during fasting. By doing this, the obstetrician can fully monitor their health and decide whether they should be allowed to continue fasting.

Fasting is a religious duty that requires determination, but it does not mean pregnant women need to force themselves to perform it, especially when they are in no condition to do so.

"Besides, according to Islamic teaching, pregnant women are not obligated to fast and they can compensate it by performing it later, after giving birth, and by performing fidyah (feeding the poor)," said Soemanadi.