Ramadan and pregnancy: to fast or not, and talking to your doctor

By Dr Najib Boudra, obstetrician gynecologist. Updated on 11 November 2026.

Every year, as Ramadan approaches, the same question comes up in consultation: “Doctor, can I fast?” For a pregnant woman, it combines faith, family habits, the wish to share this month with loved ones, and concern for the baby.

There is no single answer. Every pregnancy is different, and the decision is made case by case. Dr Najib Boudra gives you guidance to discuss it calmly with your doctor during your pregnancy follow-up in Fes (page in French).

A personal decision, informed by the doctor

Pregnancy is one of the situations where fasting can be postponed or made up. Yet many pregnant women choose to fast for all or part of the month, out of conviction or to experience Ramadan with their family.

The doctor’s role is not to decide for you, but to assess whether your pregnancy allows fasting without unnecessary risk, and to help you recognise the signs that mean you should stop. For the religious side, you can of course consult a trusted person of your choice.

Imagine a woman five months pregnant, healthy, with no past problems, who wants to fast the first days and see how she feels. Now imagine another woman seven months pregnant with anaemia who works in the mornings. The two situations are very different, and the medical answer will not be the same. So do not rely on a friend’s or relative’s experience; ask for advice about your own health and your own pregnancy.

What we know today

Studies on fasting during pregnancy are few and their results do not all agree. The British Nutrition Foundation and the charity Tommy’s point out that fasting mainly carries a risk of dehydration and low blood sugar, which is greater when days are long and hot.

For a healthy woman whose pregnancy is going normally, well-prepared fasting is sometimes possible. However, some situations make fasting clearly inadvisable.

When fasting is not advised

Talk to your doctor before Ramadan, because fasting is generally not advised with:

• diabetes, whether present before pregnancy or gestational. Our article on gestational diabetes screening explains the test;
• significant anaemia;
• high blood pressure or past pre-eclampsia;
• kidney disease or repeated urinary infections;
• twin pregnancy;
• poor growth of the baby or a risk of premature labour;
• severe vomiting in early pregnancy;
• treatment that must be taken at fixed times during the day.

The stage of pregnancy also matters. In the first trimester, nausea often makes fasting hard. In the third, tiredness and heat weigh more.

Signs that mean you should break the fast

If you fast, stay attentive to your body. Leicester’s hospitals in the UK advise breaking the fast as soon as you feel unwell, are thirsty or have dark urine, and checking your baby’s movements every day. The usual pregnancy warning signs also apply. Break the fast and seek advice if you have:

• a baby moving less than usual;
• dizziness or feeling faint;
• persistent headaches or blurred vision;
• intense thirst, passing little dark urine;
• contractions or abdominal pain;
• vomiting that stops you drinking;
• fever or burning when passing urine.

Breaking the fast in these situations is not a failure: it protects your health and your baby’s. If you have any doubt, call your doctor.

Organising yourself if you fast

Never skip suhoor

The pre-dawn meal is essential. Choose foods that keep you full for a long time: wholegrain bread, oats, eggs, dairy, pulses, fruit.

Drink regularly between iftar and suhoor

Spread water across the evening rather than drinking it all at once. Limit very sweet tea and coffee, which make you pass more urine.

Break the fast gently

Dates, water, a soup such as harira, then a balanced meal. Fried foods and very sweet pastries such as chebakia should stay occasional, in small portions.

Rest

Avoid effort in the hot hours, nap if you can and adjust your working hours. For food guidance in pregnancy, read our article on eating during pregnancy.

Why see your doctor before Ramadan

The ideal time to discuss it is a few weeks before the month begins. The doctor can then:

• check your blood pressure, weight and the baby’s growth;
• check your haemoglobin and blood sugar;
• adjust the timing of treatments, such as iron, to take them at iftar or suhoor;
• tell you clearly whether fasting is possible in your case, and under what conditions.

If you are in very early pregnancy and not yet followed, it is also a chance to book your first pregnancy scan.

Review your situation before Ramadan in Fes

At the Boudra Fertility Center, Dr Najib Boudra and his team support mothers-to-be throughout pregnancy, listening with respect for your beliefs. A consultation before Ramadan helps you make an informed decision with peace of mind.

For an appointment, call 05 35 93 08 18.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. For any question about your situation, talk to your doctor.