Breastfeeding whilst fasting

[Hope54321]

Does anyone know if fasting for a month can impact milk supply. Baby will be 3 months then.

Can you expand on what you mean by "fasting for a month"?

Is this for a diet or Ramadan?

Major reduction in calorie intake isn't generally recommended whilst you're breastfeeding - especially not whikst baby is getting all their nutrition from your milk which would be the case in an exclusively breastfed 3 month old. These articles may help:
kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/fasting/
kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-weightloss/
kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-calories-fluids/

Why are you planning to fast for a month?

I wouldn’t think it’s a great idea tbh, I was always starving when I was feeding and would have been really irritable and grumpy if I’d been hungry, tired and having to deal with a baby.

I assume that women in famine areas can still breastfeed their babies? (That would be the only option open to them), but those areas would I imagine have a high infant mortality rate, so I don’t think it’s a great comparison.

I think I need more information about your reasons of wanting to fast when you have such a tiny baby.

Is it for religious reasons? Surely there would be exceptions for breastfeeding mothers (and pregnant women for that matter).

Terrible idea to fast when breastfeeding.

This is for Ramadan, not a diet. There most definitely is exemption for breastfeeding ladies. I was just wondering if it’s possible to fast without affecting milk supply.

No, I don’t think it is possible to do so without affecting milk supply. The exemptions for breastfeeding mothers are there for a reason for Ramadan, take them this year

I've not fasted whilst breast feeding, but I could see the impact of not eating.

If I felt unwell and lost my appetite, or didn't eat much as I was busy rushing around, I would definitely see a drop in milk, feeds would take longer and baby seem less satisfied.

In Ramadan are you meant to stop drinking too? Because that will absolutely decrease supply. Breastfeeding made me so thirsty, you need more liquid, not less

Some relevant research on this (from KellyMom, a pp also linked to this):

Rakicioğlu et. al. (2006) studied mothers with babies aged 2-5 months who fasted during Ramadan (no food or fluids between 5:00 am and 7:30 pm). They found that although infant growth and macronutrient content of breastmilk was not affected, levels of several nutrients in breastmilk (zinc, magnesium and potassium) decreased and the nutritional status of the breastfeeding mothers was affected. These authors noted that “it would seem prudent to excuse lactating women from fasting during Ramadan.”

@Hope54321

This is for Ramadan, not a diet. There most definitely is exemption for breastfeeding ladies. I was just wondering if it’s possible to fast without affecting milk supply.

It's a bad idea. The exemption is there for a reason. It'll impact milk supply and also the nutrients present in the milk. I'm not muslim but I was under the impression that you could defer a fast if you felt uncomfortable not doing it at all.

Don't you get a dispensation? I'm Jewish and pregnant/breastfeeding women don't have to fast for Yom Kippur and the other fasts in the calendar.

If Islam is anything like Judaism, there will be some sort of exception.

There's a reason for the exemption. Not a good idea.
I'm breastfeeding my 11 week old and I'm starving and thirsty all the time.

No, your milk supply would be seriously affected, possibly long term. Please don't.

There's an exemption for a reason

Fasting does affect the milk supply. I had to defer the fasts as my DD wasn't getting enough milk. In the end I just made them up in winter, when she only needed a feed at breakfast and bedtime . Both times were within 2-3 hrs of me eating so I wasn't as tired or thirsty.
Breastfeeding and menstruation are two examples where you don't need to fast, you Judy make them up at another time.

@Hope54321

Does anyone know if fasting for a month can impact milk supply. Baby will be 3 months then.

Asa. If you're thinking about Sawm, then you should be aware that nursing mothers like pregnant women are exempt from fasting, because the health of the baby is of paramount importance and yes, it can affect bfing.