Exemptions from Fasting

[ftannouss]

I saw a documentary recently about the development of a baby inside the womb and theories on it. an English scientist traveled around the world and when comparing placenta size with other nations in saudi arabia, he noted that it is smaller in saudi women compared to a lot of other nations. A doctor who he spoke representing his research said it was due to Ramadan.

Is it true to say that a pregnant should not fast for obvious reasons?

Thank you.

[UmHasan]

A pregnant woman is exempt from fasting if she feels that fasting will harm her unborn child. The same applies to a nursing mother.

I would like to see some conclusive evidence that fasting reduces the size of the placenta. Does his research categorically prove that the size difference is due to fasting or is it based on his own hypothesis? In fact, many women eat less whilst they are pregnant due to hormonal changes and morning sickness. The 'eating for two' myth has long been disapproved. A fasting person doesn't necessarily eat less when he/she is fasting. She has a breakfast and an evening meal and if she is fasting on a winter day, she'll most likely have another meal/snack later on in the day.

[saihah]

Is it true to say that a pregnant should not fast for obvious reasons?

Sister,

If a difference was noticed specifically between fasting women and non-fasting women then maybe such an assumption would have some beginning grounds for discussion. But results are confined to one specific country which raises the possibility of something genetic prevalent in that particular region (just like people in certain countries are shorter than the rest of teh world) because there are several other muslim nations where women fast.

Does the study also say that these women with smaller placenta have/had negative outcomes? If not, then there really are no 'obvious reasons' to say otherwise.

[ftannouss]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013ywz4

This is the link to the documentary I refered to. Dr Saleh Al Wasel was talking about the placenta being small from women in Saudi, I dont think he mentioned any other islamic country