Fasting On Karwa Chauth During Pregnancy: Is It Safe? Expert Explains

We spoke with Dr Jagriti Varshney, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, to better understand the health effects of fasting during pregnancy. She advises that women who are pregnant should not perform Nirjala Vrat.

Can Pregnant Women Observe Fast On Karwa Chauth?

According to her, babies in pregnant women receive all of their nutrition from their mothers, which means everything the mother eats will be supplied to the baby. For this reason, it is advised that pregnant women consume enough water and maintain a nutrient-rich diet.

The stored food in the mother is also limited and the baby can only acquire nutrients from the mother's stored food for a little time duration. So, it is adviced that pregnant women should have small meals every three to four hours.

However, during Karwachauth fast, women go without food or water for 12- to 14-hour which is bad for both their health and the health of their unborn children.

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How Pregnant Women Can Perform Karwa Chauth Fast?

Pregnant women are advised not to perform the nirjala vrat (in nirjalal fast women neither eat nor take a drop of water throughout the day).

However, they can observe the falahari vrat, in which they can eat fruits, milk products, and other falhari dishes but they should be eating after every two to three hours.

Total food abstinence for 12 to 14 hours can be harmful to both the mother's and the child's health.

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Fasting Effect On Baby

After fasting for more than ten hours, one's blood glucose levels may drop too low. According toresearch, pregnant women with low glucose levels due to fasting took a longer time to detect fetal movements. Low frequency of fetal movements is often considered a warning sign and they should be taken seriously,Healthline reported.

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