24 replies to this topic

[Iman]

Assalam alaykum,

A question for the mum's who have breastfed their little one - I'm after your experiences

Did you fast during shahr Ramadan while breastfeeding? If yes, how old was your baby and how did you manage?

I dont think I will be fasting this year but am interested in other women's experiences - what was it like? Did the thirst which is common with breastfeeding get to you even more? Did it effect your milk supply? I may try fasting a couple of days but I hear it is very difficult and I dont want the milk to be effected.

[hameedeh]

Yes, you can breastfeed while you are fasting, but I do not recommend it. The thirst you have is not any different than the thirst when you are not breastfeeding. With no fluid coming in, your milk production does decrease, but after you break your fast the milk comes back up immediately, alhamdulillah. My son was 9 months old and had no problems feeding while I was fasting, but when I did not miss any days of fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan, I realized that I was pregnant. My unborn did not have any physical or mental problems, however I did worry about that and I would not want anyone else to worry. The ulema say that breastfeeding women do not have to fast, so listen to them. They have your best interest at heart. ♥

[Chaotic Muslem]

hameedeh, on 19 July 2012 - 02:46 AM, said:

Yes, you can breastfeed while you are fasting, but I do not recommend it. The thirst you have is not any different than the thirst when you are not breastfeeding. With no fluid coming in, your milk production does decrease, but after you break your fast the milk comes back up immediately, alhamdulillah. My son was 9 months old and had no problems feeding while I was fasting, but when I did not miss any days of fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan, I realized that I was pregnant. My unborn did not have any physical or mental problems, however I did worry about that and I would not want anyone else to worry. The ulema say that breastfeeding women do not have to fast, so listen to them. They have your best interest at heart. ♥

i thought that rule is conditioned not optional

[Sapphire]

I am an amateur in this field

[Gypsy]

I would advise against fasting since it may dry your milk.

Here's the law http://www.sistani.o...&id=48&pid=2280

Quote

1738. If a woman is suckling a child, whether she is the mother or a nurse, or suckles it free, and the quantity of her milk is small, and if fasting is harmful to her or to the child, it will not be obligatory on her to fast. And she should give one mudd of food per day to poor.
In both the cases, she will later give qadha for the fasts left out. But this rule is specifically applicable in a circumstance where this is the only way of feeding milk to the child - (as an obligatory precaution). But if there is an alternative, like, when more than one woman offer to suckle the child, then establishing this rule is a matter of Ishkal.

[hameedeh]

Chaotic Muslem, on 19 July 2012 - 03:32 AM, said:

i thought that rule is conditioned not optional

Imami ulema agree that a pregnant woman or a nursing (breastfeeding) woman should break her fast because it is not valid to continue fasting due to the impermissibility of harm. Of course she must make up the days of fasting that she missed (perform the qada') after childbirth or after the breastfeeding is finished.

Ulema differ on the subissues. Some say if the harm is feared for the baby she must give fidyah. Some say if she fears only for her own health she does not need to give fidyah. Fidyah is not the same as kaffara. Perhaps someone could explain about fidyah and karrara.

[Gypsy]

Iman,
The other thing you may want to consider here is that your baby is not on any types of solid food. You are his only source of nourishment.

[ImAli]

I am not sure what to do this Ramadan. My boy is almost 2 so he will be nursing for a few more months. He eats other foods but he still nurses on demand because he has an allergy to cow milk. I don't have much milk during the day as it is (prolactin levels are naturally higher at night) so I am very confused as to what to do. I will feel guilty if I am not fasting and I will feel guilty if I am too low on milk since he can't take cow milk .

[Chaotic Muslem]

Im Ali:

pump and store


http://www.pamf.org/...ng/storing.html

hameedeh, on 19 July 2012 - 07:11 AM, said:

Imami ulema agree that a pregnant woman or a nursing (breastfeeding) woman should break her fast because it is not valid to continue fasting due to the impermissibility of harm. Of course she must make up the days of fasting that she missed (perform the qada') after childbirth or after the breastfeeding is finished.

Ulema differ on the subissues. Some say if the harm is feared for the baby she must give fidyah. Some say if she fears only for her own health she does not need to give fidyah. Fidyah is not the same as kaffara. Perhaps someone could explain about fidyah and karrara.

according to Sistani website , the fear of harm that can not be avoided by another means of feeding the baby or fear of harm on the mother herself is the only condition that allow the pregnant and breastfeeding woman to break her fast , otherwise , if she feared no harm on herself or the baby she should fast the month of Ramadhan
i dont think harm means exhaustion and tiredness in the usual form
Kafara is paied when you invalidate your fasting
Fediyah is paid when you can not fast Ramadhan at all , like the case of teh very old people or the chronic ill persons who will never be able to fast Ramadhan ie will never be able to do qadha (there are more details but money fiqh isnt my field )

Edited by Chaotic Muslem, 19 July 2012 - 08:30 AM.

[ImAli]

Chaotic Muslem, on 19 July 2012 - 08:27 AM, said:

Im Ali:

pump and store

I only have enough to pump at night....I'm gonna sleep since my sleep is very limited already.

[Gypsy]

We still have at least a day before the fast. Maybe you ladies should try to abstain from drinking and eating today and see how it works. If you can't feed your child, then you would know what decision to make when the official fast starts soon.

The obligation to feed your baby takes a priority over the fasting.

Edited by Gypsy, 19 July 2012 - 08:36 AM.

[ImAli]

Well I tried nursing a child and fasting today.....it was disastrous. My boy has a few months to go before turning 2 so I can't refuse him. My milk supply was low but he still insisted on having milk from me even after giving him more than normal at his meals, lots of juice, and extra snacks. To cut a long story short my blood sugar plummeted after a few feedings but by that time I only had a few hours remaining until iftar so I thought it wouldn't be worth it to give up. Then when I had to cook my head was spinning and the smells caused me to run to the bathroom, dry heave, and throw up a bit of stomach acid . I thew up stomach acid 2 times in 2 hours and when it was time to eat everything I tried to swallow felt like fire and acid being poured down my throat. Lovely day.

Edited by ImAli, 21 July 2012 - 10:10 PM.

[Naz_]

ImAli, on 21 July 2012 - 09:57 PM, said:

Well I tried nursing a child and fasting today.....it was disastrous. My boy has a few months to go before turning 2 so I can't refuse him. My milk supply was low but he still insisted on having milk from me even after giving him more than normal at his meals, lots of juice, and extra snacks. To cut a long story short my blood sugar plummeted after a few feedings but by that time I only had a few hours remaining until iftar so I thought it wouldn't be worth it to give up. Then when I had to cook my head was spinning and the smells caused me to run to the bathroom, dry heave, and throw up a bit of stomach acid . I thew up stomach acid 2 times in 2 hours and when it was time to eat everything I tried to swallow felt like fire and acid being poured down my throat. Lovely day.

Salam alaykum, have you tried giving your son any other kind of milk? Eg. Soya milk/goats milk?

[ImAli]

Naz_, on 21 July 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

Salam alaykum, have you tried giving your son any other kind of milk? Eg. Soya milk/goats milk?

He can't have cow milk due to an allergy and yes I have given him soy milk in a cup but he still cries for my milk, hangs on to me, and grabs for my shirt.

Edited by ImAli, 21 July 2012 - 11:04 PM.

[Iman]

Gypsy, on 19 July 2012 - 07:22 AM, said:

Iman,
The other thing you may want to consider here is that your baby is not on any types of solid food. You are his only source of nourishment.

Absolutely - she's only 5 weeks, Allah ye7miha. She's been sick with a cough and cold the last week and hasnt been well generally the little darling . There's no way on earth I'm risking my milk being affected by me fasting, and it being her only source of nutrition/antibodies.

Chaotic Muslem, on 19 July 2012 - 08:27 AM, said:

according to Sistani website , the fear of harm that can not be avoided by another means of feeding the baby or fear of harm on the mother herself is the only condition that allow the pregnant and breastfeeding woman to break her fast , otherwise , if she feared no harm on herself or the baby she should fast the month of Ramadhan
i dont think harm means exhaustion and tiredness in the usual form
Kafara is paied when you invalidate your fasting
Fediyah is paid when you can not fast Ramadhan at all , like the case of teh very old people or the chronic ill persons who will never be able to fast Ramadhan ie will never be able to do qadha (there are more details but money fiqh isnt my field )

Re. the fear of harm - that would be very subjective wouldnt it? anything that could potentially negatively affect your baby could be considered, rightly so I'd say, 'fear of harm'?

ImAli, on 19 July 2012 - 08:32 AM, said:

I only have enough to pump at night....I'm gonna sleep since my sleep is very limited already.

Said like a true mum ! Nothing like sleep deprivation ...but at the same time, like right now for me my little one is asleep and I miss her! I'm not about to wake her but I just want to see her beautiful face mashallah and cuddle her lol. She's so cute!

Big hugs ImAli re your difficult day today. May Allah (swt) accept all your a'mal - what you get through and what you intend to do (but dont!). I have to tell myself that with my late prayers and all the rest given the demands of looking after a newborn.

May Allah (swt) give us strength - the most challenging but most beautiful job in the world

[UmmAhmad]

ImAli, on 21 July 2012 - 09:57 PM, said:

Well I tried nursing a child and fasting today.....it was disastrous. My boy has a few months to go before turning 2 so I can't refuse him. My milk supply was low but he still insisted on having milk from me even after giving him more than normal at his meals, lots of juice, and extra snacks. To cut a long story short my blood sugar plummeted after a few feedings but by that time I only had a few hours remaining until iftar so I thought it wouldn't be worth it to give up. Then when I had to cook my head was spinning and the smells caused me to run to the bathroom, dry heave, and throw up a bit of stomach acid . I thew up stomach acid 2 times in 2 hours and when it was time to eat everything I tried to swallow felt like fire and acid being poured down my throat. Lovely day.

This happened to me as well, and my little one is 6 months old almost 7 and breastfeeds a lot. He only eats solids in the morning and evening. My husband said that it is probably best to not fast this year, AGAIN. I was sick feeling all night and finally feel better, but alas, I am not fasting today.

Iman, on 22 July 2012 - 06:02 AM, said:

Absolutely - she's only 5 weeks, Allah ye7miha. She's been sick with a cough and cold the last week and hasnt been well generally the little darling . There's no way on earth I'm risking my milk being affected by me fasting, and it being her only source of nutrition/antibodies.



Re. the fear of harm - that would be very subjective wouldnt it? anything that could potentially negatively affect your baby could be considered, rightly so I'd say, 'fear of harm'?



Said like a true mum ! Nothing like sleep deprivation ...but at the same time, like right now for me my little one is asleep and I miss her! I'm not about to wake her but I just want to see her beautiful face mashallah and cuddle her lol. She's so cute!

Big hugs ImAli re your difficult day today. May Allah (swt) accept all your a'mal - what you get through and what you intend to do (but dont!). I have to tell myself that with my late prayers and all the rest given the demands of looking after a newborn.

May Allah (swt) give us strength - the most challenging but most beautiful job in the world

Congratulations on your new little one! 5 weeks old, such a sweet age. <3

[ImAli]

UmmAhmad, on 22 July 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

This happened to me as well, and my little one is 6 months old almost 7 and breastfeeds a lot. He only eats solids in the morning and evening. My husband said that it is probably best to not fast this year, AGAIN. I was sick feeling all night and finally feel better, but alas, I am not fasting today.

How exactly did it hit you? Normally if I fast I just feel  hungry close to what would be lunch time, then the hunger passes and I feel thirsty the rest of the day (of course accompanied by a migraine). However after a couple of feeding sessions with the little one I just felt horribly sick completely skipping the hunger part ( I don't even remember being hungry yesterday). The feeling was 2 or 3 times worse than the normal morning sickness in pregnancy, my legs turned to jello, my head was spinning, and I could hear literally my heart beating.

Oh well you can use your extra energy to cook and make things extra comfortable for those who are fasting.

Edited by ImAli, 22 July 2012 - 02:27 PM.

[Gypsy]

The same here. I get hungry at lunchtime, and then it just passes away. Strange.

[UmmAhmad]

ImAli, on 22 July 2012 - 02:21 PM, said:

How exactly did it hit you? Normally if I fast I just feel  hungry close to what would be lunch time, then the hunger passes and I feel thirsty the rest of the day (of course accompanied by a migraine). However after a couple of feeding sessions with the little one I just felt horribly sick completely skipping the hunger part ( I don't even remember being hungry yesterday). The feeling was 2 or 3 times worse than the normal morning sickness in pregnancy, my legs turned to jello, my head was spinning, and I could hear literally my heart beating.

Oh well you can use your extra energy to cook and make things extra comfortable for those who are fasting.

Well, I never have a problem with hungry, I don't know why, food is never a temptation for me. I was just very thirsty, then I started to get body chills, my vision got a little blurry. By then it was time to cook, every time I smelled something I felt very nauseated, for a moment I thought that maybe I was pregnant again. LOL Husband came home we ate, and it seemed when I broke my fast I felt 100x's worse. Then I got an UTI. In the end, my husband cleaned the kitchen for me and we went to bed early. He said that fasting isn't good for me again this year since our little one still breastfeeds a lot.

By the way, I have fasted before when I was single on those days that are not an obligation, and I had no problems. Sometimes I feel sad, last Ramadan- was my first- I couldn't fast because I was pregnant and was already measuring small and had a lot of fainting spells, and now this Ramadan I can't either.

[Maryammm]

UmmAhmad, on 23 July 2012 - 12:57 PM, said:

Well, I never have a problem with hungry, I don't know why, food is never a temptation for me. I was just very thirsty, then I started to get body chills, my vision got a little blurry. By then it was time to cook, every time I smelled something I felt very nauseated, for a moment I thought that maybe I was pregnant again. LOL Husband came home we ate, and it seemed when I broke my fast I felt 100x's worse. Then I got an UTI. In the end, my husband cleaned the kitchen for me and we went to bed early. He said that fasting isn't good for me again this year since our little one still breastfeeds a lot.

By the way, I have fasted before when I was single on those days that are not an obligation, and I had no problems. Sometimes I feel sad, last Ramadan- was my first- I couldn't fast because I was pregnant and was already measuring small and had a lot of fainting spells, and now this Ramadan I can't either.

Salam, you are so lucky mashallah, to have a beautiful child, and such a blessed reason not to fast! I only know what it's like to not be able to fast due to the usual monthly women's reasons, and that is annoying enough because you feel like you have missed out on a week of spiritual benefits! But seeing as you aren't fasting, but presumably can still pray, touch and read the Qur'an etc I suggest trying to do as much of that tyoe of worship as you can to kind of fill up the spiritual void that is left from not being able to fast inshallah! You just have to remember that Allah(swt) places no burden on you beyond what you can bare, and so as a gift to you he has given you the option of not fasting and still getting a lot of reward from nursing and taking care of your child and family, as well as other acts of worship inshallah! wishing you all the best inshallah and may Allah(swt) grant you and your family a blessed month of Ramadhan Kareem filled with prayer and closeness to Allah(swt) and many more wonderful months of Ramadhan to come inshallah!

Salams and duas inshallah!

[UmmAhmad]

Maryammm, on 03 August 2012 - 10:02 AM, said:

Salam, you are so lucky mashallah, to have a beautiful child, and such a blessed reason not to fast! I only know what it's like to not be able to fast due to the usual monthly women's reasons, and that is annoying enough because you feel like you have missed out on a week of spiritual benefits! But seeing as you aren't fasting, but presumably can still pray, touch and read the Qur'an etc I suggest trying to do as much of that tyoe of worship as you can to kind of fill up the spiritual void that is left from not being able to fast inshallah! You just have to remember that Allah(swt) places no burden on you beyond what you can bare, and so as a gift to you he has given you the option of not fasting and still getting a lot of reward from nursing and taking care of your child and family, as well as other acts of worship inshallah! wishing you all the best inshallah and may Allah(swt) grant you and your family a blessed month of Ramadhan Kareem filled with prayer and closeness to Allah(swt) and many more wonderful months of Ramadhan to come inshallah!

Salams and duas inshallah!

Sadly enough, I take the depo shot as a form of birth control, which makes my menses all wacky. I have had it for 11 days straight now. I am getting upset with missing the greatest month of the year!

[LoveFatimah]

Asalam sisters,
Sisters we should use the mose beautiful given to us by Bibi Fatimah a.s, her blessed Tasbih. Whenever I feel overwhelmed and very tired after recieting the Tasbih you feel suddenly energized... Alhamdulilah the most special gift for us mothers,wifes, and women.
My baby is 4 months I have tried cow milk but he refuses so currently I am fasting and feeding, and I have 3 other small children . Alahamdulilah I have only skipped 2 days of fasting. I also have no family members her to help out with children or chores. Tasbih is my strength.

[Maryammm]

UmmAhmad, on 03 August 2012 - 10:15 AM, said:

Sadly enough, I take the depo shot as a form of birth control, which makes my menses all wacky. I have had it for 11 days straight now. I am getting upset with missing the greatest month of the year!

I have had issues with bleeding too, but not all bleeding is to be considered as menstruation(haydh) in Islam and therefore not all the same rules apply. If you bleed for more then 10 days then you must consider it as a type of bleeding known as istihadha and begin doing your obligatory acts of worship. I don't know if you do taqlid of any scholar, but Sayed sistani(ha) is very good and he has fatwas on this issue. Check out either sistani.org or najaf.org for his rulings on kinds of blood seen by women, how to know which is which, and which ones mean you can't pray, read qur'an etc and which ones mean you can and what are the conditions for this with regards to ghusl and wudhu. Also, if any of the sisters on here know of the names of books with regards to rules around these kinds of women's issues, could you please post the titles inshallah!

Salams and duas and I hope that you can resolve this issue inshallah and be able to participate in the beautiful month of Ramadhan inshallah x

[UmmAhmad]

LoveFatimah, on 04 August 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

Asalam sisters,
Sisters we should use the mose beautiful given to us by Bibi Fatimah a.s, her blessed Tasbih. Whenever I feel overwhelmed and very tired after recieting the Tasbih you feel suddenly energized... Alhamdulilah the most special gift for us mothers,wifes, and women.
My baby is 4 months I have tried cow milk but he refuses so currently I am fasting and feeding, and I have 3 other small children . Alahamdulilah I have only skipped 2 days of fasting. I also have no family members her to help out with children or chores. Tasbih is my strength.

Wa alaikum salam sister, I am not sure if you know, but you really shouldn't give your baby dairy until he is at least 9 months of age, though most say 1 year is the best to wait.

http://www.homemade-...ds-to-baby.html

Alhamdulilah, Masha'Allah, that you are able to fast, I admire you. Subhanallah, isn't it amazing how Allah makes all of us differently?

Maryammm, on 04 August 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

I have had issues with bleeding too, but not all bleeding is to be considered as menstruation(haydh) in Islam and therefore not all the same rules apply. If you bleed for more then 10 days then you must consider it as a type of bleeding known as istihadha and begin doing your obligatory acts of worship. I don't know if you do taqlid of any scholar, but Sayed sistani(ha) is very good and he has fatwas on this issue. Check out either sistani.org or najaf.org for his rulings on kinds of blood seen by women, how to know which is which, and which ones mean you can't pray, read qur'an etc and which ones mean you can and what are the conditions for this with regards to ghusl and wudhu. Also, if any of the sisters on here know of the names of books with regards to rules around these kinds of women's issues, could you please post the titles inshallah!

Salams and duas and I hope that you can resolve this issue inshallah and be able to participate in the beautiful month of Ramadhan inshallah x

I know that applies to certain situations, but not only is my menses long, I can go without having a monthly for 40-60 days. The only reasonable answer to why my menses are long, is because I go without one for so long. I spoke with my OBGYN who is a Muslim, and he said when receiving the DEPO shot it is normal to have abnormal periods.

Edited by UmmAhmad, 06 August 2012 - 03:51 PM.

[MummyZ]

I breastfeed my 6month old son whilst fasting. My son did not take a bottle at all or any other form of food so i was cautious to start of with as my breastmilk was his only food intake. However i found that it did not effect his breastfeeding, also the fact he had turned 6 months meant i could start feeding him some solids which helped with some of the breastfeeding when supply may be a little less then usual. If he had been younger then i probably would not have fasted but around 5/6months you can start feeding them foods so that they are not entirely reliant on your breastmilk. Also if your breastmilk is drastically effected then it is best not to fast. It is permissable to not fast if fasting will harm in any way yourself or your child.

A word of advice do your fasts in ramadan they are so much easier to keep then doing them any other time of year. I had 36 days to make up and still have a few days left from the ramadan that i was pregnant and did not fast, and it is proving very hard even though the time to break the fast is so much less then during the month of ramadan.