Carrying out fasting during young pregnancy is actually legitimate to do. According to Islamic beliefs, actually pregnant women are not required to fast. However, if you want to continue fasting during a young pregnancy, it’s not a big problem.
In conditions of young pregnancy or trimester third is the period of pregnancy when the baby shows rapid growth. During this period, babies need more nutrients and larger amounts of minerals and vitamins to maintain rapid growth.
Is fasting safe for mother and baby during pregnancy?
Based on research conducted by University of Manchester in England, fasting during young pregnancy is actually not harmful to the mother or the baby in the womb.
Apart from that, there are other things that you also need to know that fasting is not considered safe if you have diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
This condition is because fasting can affect blood sugar levels. When fasting during the day, blood sugar levels can drop and you can become dehydrated.
If you don’t feel well enough to fast, or are concerned about your baby’s health, it’s best to talk to your doctor first. and get a general health check before deciding.
Research on fasting during pregnancy
According to Babycentre UKHowever, recent research on fasting during pregnancy has shown little to no effect on newborns. However, some women may experience dehydration or lack of energy, due to fasting.
Here’s what the research says so far:
- Fasting does not make babies born prematurely (prematurely).
- Fasting during pregnancy does not mean that the baby is likely to have a lower birth weight.
- You may have less energy if you fast, because you don’t consume as much food and water as you need.
- Fasting during the second trimester of pregnancy can reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes and prevent weight gain.
Fasting during young pregnancy
There is no difference in scores Apgar between babies born to fasting women and women who are not fasting.
Fasting during pregnancy can cause babies to have lower birth weights, especially if fasting occurs on trimester First. However, other studies have found that the difference in birth weight in babies is very small.
Babies born to mothers who fast during pregnancy may grow to be slightly shorter and thinner. But don’t worry too much, this difference is very small.
Even though the blood balance changes during fasting, this is not dangerous for you or the baby in the womb.
Various studies regarding pregnancy and fasting are still ongoing today. The debate about fasting during young pregnancy is also still being discussed by various medical experts.
If you want to continue fasting during your young pregnancy, you don’t need to worry too much. The following are guidelines that can be done before deciding to fast:
How to keep fasting smooth during young pregnancy?
- Do an examination or consult a doctor before starting fasting. If you turn out to have diabetes, fasting during pregnancy is not recommended you know.
- Reduce consumption of drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea and cola.
- Drink lots of water so you don’t get dehydrated
- Limit working hours and avoid burnout
- Avoid physical activity that drains energy
- Adjust nutritional intake during fasting and sahur. Choose a menu that can be good for your health.
- Avoid stress
- Take supplements and multivitamins.
Even though fasting in a young pregnancy is not prohibited, you must be vigilant when your body gives signs that are not good. If the body continues to indicate a worsening condition, it is better to stop fasting.
When to stop fasting during pregnancy?
Do not force yourself if during fasting your body experiences the following symptoms:
- Reduced frequency of urination accompanied by a feeling of frequent thirst.
- If you experience nausea and vomiting, it is better to see a doctor immediately.
- Headache, pain in other body parts and fever.
- Dark urine color and strong smell.
- Extreme fatigue.
Tips for breaking the fast for young pregnant women
So, apart from the tips above, you also have to be careful when it’s time to break your fast. Make sure you follow these steps:
- Don’t eat in a hurry
When fasting the digestive system is resting so eat slowly. In addition, consume food in small pieces so that the body is not surprised when digesting it.
Avoid breaking your fast with caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, green tea and cola. Just drink water to restore fluids in your body that were lost during fasting.
We recommend that when breaking the fast, do not consume processed meat foods such as sausages, nuggets and other foods that are high in fat content.
Preparation for fasting during young pregnancy
According to the explanation from the page Babycentre UKit’s best to plan to make things easier when you decide to fast in Ramadan:
- Talk to a midwife who can check health. Pregnancy can be a tough time for the body, because both mother and baby need lots of nutrients and enough fluids. You also need to do more frequent checks during fasting.
- If you have diabetes and want to fast, do an examination and make sure the food and drinks you consume are in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations.
- If you are used to consuming caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea and cola, reduce it before fasting to prevent headaches. You should not consume more than 200 mg of caffeine while pregnant. Remember that chocolate and green tea also contain small amounts of caffeine.
- Make a note of the food menu that you consume, so you can maintain a healthy diet during fasting during young pregnancy.
Also read: Is it true that gastric acid must increase during fasting? Here’s the Medical Explanation!
The benefits of fasting during pregnancy
You need to know that the benefits felt by pregnant women when fasting are not much different from people in general. The following is a row of the benefits of fasting for pregnant women:
1. Weight control
In general, mothers who are undergoing pregnancy will feel hungry faster, thereby increasing weight gain significantly.
But when fasting, you will only eat in the afternoon and at night. This can also make weight gain during pregnancy more controlled.
2. Able to improve body metabolism
When fasting, the cells in the body will clean up the remnants of dirt and repair disturbances in the body’s metabolic system.
3. Reduce the risk of diabetes
In addition, other benefits that you can feel are lowering blood sugar levels in the body and increasing insulin performance. The benefits of fasting can put pregnant women at a lower risk of developing diabetes.
4. Maintain heart health
Fasting can reduce the risk of a number of diseases in pregnant women. Examples include hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease. However, the benefits of fasting in pregnant women still need further research.
Sport and pregnancy
Here are some sports that you can do while you are pregnant:
There’s nothing better than walking outdoors to get some fresh air, swimming or doing aqua fitness for low-impact moves, and exercise bikes to tone the body and build stamina.
These activities are healthy and pose no risks during pregnancy if done in moderation. Runners can continue running until they are five months pregnant, as long as they do it on level ground and at a moderate pace.
During the last trimester, a pregnant woman’s body is more susceptible to joint and ligament damage. To prevent this from happening, reduce large movements, prioritizing activities where you are not at risk of spraining such as doing a treadmill or exercise bike.
When to stop exercising during pregnancy?
In certain cases you have to stop doing physical activity during or after pregnancy. These things are marked when you experience one of the following situations, and you should immediately talk to your midwife or gynecologist:
- If you have ever had a miscarriage.
- If you give birth prematurely.
- Have a risk of giving birth prematurely.
- If you have a low-lying placenta.
- Have had chronic bleeding.
- If you have ever had lower back or hip problems.
- If you suffer from hypertension.
Safe fasting contains nutrients that pregnant women must consume
1. Proteins
Protein is essential for ensuring the proper growth of the baby’s tissues and organs, including the brain. It also helps the growth of breast and uterine tissue during pregnancy.
It even plays a role in increasing the blood supply, to allow more blood to be delivered to the baby.
Protein requirements increase each trimester of pregnancy. Research shows that protein intake during pregnancy should be higher than some current recommendations.
You need to eat around 70 to 100 grams of protein sources every day. A good source of protein as reported from Healthline:
- Lean beef and pork
- Chicken
- Salmon
- Peanut butter
- Peas.
2. Calcium
Calcium helps build baby’s bones and regulates the body’s use of fluids. Pregnant women need 1,000 mg of calcium, ideally in two 500 mg doses, per day.
You may need extra calcium to supplement your regular prenatal vitamins. Good sources of calcium include:
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Low-mercury fish and seafood, such as salmon, shrimp, catfish and canned tuna
- Tofu contains calcium
- Dark green leafy vegetables.
3. Folate
Folate is also known as folic acid which plays an important role in reducing the risk of neural tube defects. These are major birth defects that affect a baby’s brain and spinal cord, such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
During pregnancy, it is recommended to consume foods that contain as much as 600 to 800 mcg of folate. You can get folate from these foods:
- Peanut.
- Egg
- Nuts and peanut butter.
- Dark green leafy vegetables.
4. Iron
Iron works with sodium, potassium, and water to increase blood flow. This helps ensure that sufficient oxygen is provided for both mother and baby.
You should get 27 mg of iron per day, preferably with some vitamin C to increase absorption. These good sources of nutrients include:
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Citrus fruit
- Bread or cereal
- Lean beef and poultry
- Egg.
The content of other nutrients that are good for pregnant women
Other nutrients are needed to keep you growing during pregnancy such as choline, salt and B vitamins.
In addition to eating well, it’s important to drink at least eight glasses of water daily and take a prenatal vitamin.
It’s hard to get adequate amounts of certain nutrients, including folate, iron, and choline, from food alone. Be sure to talk to your doctor about which prenatal vitamins to take.
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