Ramadan

[bumpbear]

Hi,

I am looking for some advice- Ramadan starts on Monday and despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to get my 15 month old to feed less than three times a day. She is a boob fiend.

From Monday, if I observe the fast, I will be having nil by mouth between 3am-9.15pm. Is this likely to affect my supply? It's consistently over 30C here and I don't want to risk LO not getting any milk as its still her main source of hydration (she's terrible at taking anything more than an ounce from a sippy cup).

There is the option of not fasting this year as nursing is an exemption until age 2, but id rather observe the fast if its not a risk to my supply because (a) I really enjoy taking part in the holy month and (b) I'd rather avoid having to make up the missed days at a later date.

Some people have suggested that if my supply does drop, it might encourage LO to wean but I'm not sure this is the nicest way to approach weaning. I am living in dreamland and hope she will miraculously self wean very soon as I don't want her to still be nursing beyond 18 months.

Any advice would be really helpful!

 

[Button#]

I'm not sure about supply but it would certainly have an effect on me, especially in this weather if I went that long and was nursing. Personally I think the exemptions are there are for a reason.

Btw I'm not Muslim so feel free to ignore me but I have been discussing this with a Muslim friend.

 

[missk1989]

As for supply, you should be well established by now so it shouldn't hurt it as long as you at making up for the calories during the hours you can, or as many as possible. That doesn't mean you won't be uncomfortable though.

 

[tinytabby]

I'm not a Muslim, but I agree that doing the fast and bf would be hard.

Can you semi-fast? I mean, eat fruit and drink smoothies? Is that a ridiculous idea?

 

[Cinnamon Girl]

Does nil by mouth mean no water either

The most important thing is hydration

But I think you will be ok even with out Water if lo qas younger and solely reliant on bm I would worry but lo will get fluid through food and what you get lo to brink feom a cup
Your milk may become more concentrated.

Good luck and when Ramadan is finished please share your bfing journey through it for us all to learn.

 

[summer rain]

Fasting in Islam is all or nothing, if you aren't able to do the full fast then you have to make it up another time. There is another option and that is fast every other day or every third day or even every fourth day, that way you still get to take part in fasting but it will have a less heavy impact on supply and you will have less days to make up in the end. Xx

 

[Rachel_C]

Could you just try it and see? I know that if I don't drink enough and still BF as usual, I'm not actually in a fit state to look after the kids at all (migraines) but I'm not sure if it affects my milk. I suspect not because LO always seems to be her usual happy and very loud self while I'm rolling around in agony from the migraine! That is just the odd day or night when I've not drunk enough though, I think a whole month of it might affect it but I don't think it would be a sudden thing. So you could start off with a few days and mentally keep track of how LO is feeding. If it increases a lot, I'd suspect you're not making as much milk so maybe don't fast the next day and play it by ear.

 

[babyjan]

I will be fasting this year (I didn't fast 2011 & 2012 due to pregnancy and breastfeeding)
My 18 month old relies on breastfeeding loads still and tbh I have to fast this year, I really can't miss another year, if he weans that would be fine as I don't want to go past 2 years with breastfeeding anyway.

Sorry, obviously not much advice there x

 

[BintUmmi]

I'm in a very similar position my daughter is still feeds a lot during the day although she does eat solids well and drinks a good amount of water too. I'm going to fast and see how it goes. I didn't fast a full month last year because of breastfeeding I did what I could manage and have been making up the (many) missed days since.

I will add though that I was recently ill with gallstone pain. I didn't manage to eat anything for 2 or 3 straight days and also vomited up all water I drank. It didn't seem to have any affect on my supply and that is obviously a lot more extreme than fasting so I am quite optimistic that I will be fine!

I would say give it a go, if you feel its causing supply issues skip a day or so. Just drink lots when you can and maybe try to eat lactation cookies and other foods that are supposed to help supply maybe?

 

[babyjan]

Yeah I would also advice fast what you can and if you feel it's effecting your supply just make up the days, Do not burden yourself, give it a go and see how it goes xx

 

[bumpbear]

I think I'll give it a bash and see how it goes. I'm also on a two week wait this month so a bit worried about fasting on that front too. I'll get to test in a weeks time so I guess a week of fasting wont do any harm if we get lucky this month.

 

[MissCurly]

I have been having many discussions in my head about this!

My boy feeds A LOT, and this would be my third ramadan that i will miss- and its a crazy amount to be making up!

If he was feeding three times a day, i would most likely continue to fast- as i think it would be easier to make up the calorie content from foods for three feeds, and obv will need to drink a bit more.

I will be attempted like summer rain suggested to keep the odd fast!

(BTW, would love to talk to other mums about fasting and bf!).

 

[stephie_corin]

This was discussed by my local LLL and the general consensus was fasting is fine but super hydrate over night because dehydration is the biggest risk. Good luck!

 

[babyjan]

Ramadan Mubarak!

I thought this might be helpful: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1028957/breastfeeding-and-fasting

 

[susannah14]

I have no idea about ramadan, but I recently had the stomach flu (9.5 months pp) and I didn't eat for 24 hours and my milk supply was reduced by about a third. Hope that helps.