Fasting in Pregnancy

As Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, approaches, you may be wondering if you should fast in pregnancy. While it is also wise to ask your own Rabbi, the answer is typically that a pregnant or nursing mother should not fast if it would hurt her or the baby. Probably the best answer is to try to fast some and to avoid "fun" foods, foods that are more luxury than need.  An example would be an apple for breakfast as opposed to a doughnut; eating cheese and crackers rather than a bagel and lox, spacing your meals enough to be truly hungry rather than eating by a clock. In the end you need to do what is best for you and baby physically and spiritually. I wish you a meaningful fast.