Pregnancy during Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur will be coming soon, and I will be pregnant for it. I am currently 8 months pregnant and by Yom Kippur I will be over 9 months. I worry that the 25 hour fast will affect my baby. Am I excluded this year from Yom Kippur? Thank you.

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

A pregnant woman, who is having a normal and healthy pregnancy, and essentially feels fine, is required to fast as usual.

Such a woman should take extra precautions and preparations to have an easy fast, such as drinking large amounts of liquid, preferable water. We recommend consuming three to four liters of water on Erev Yom Kippur.

On Yom Kippur itself, a pregnant woman should ensure to rest as much as possible. The room should be properly air conditions.

A pregnant woman who feels contractions should begin drinking in “shiurim.” If this does not help then she can drink normally, as needed.

Nausea, although very uncomfortable, is not usually a reason to break the fast as it has no effect on the baby. If the nausea is accompanied with vomiting, which can cause dehydration, then she can drink “shiurim.”

When the hemoglobin is lower than 9, one should not fast, but rather, eat and drink in “shiurim.”

Of course, if there is anything abnormal or of concern during the pregnancy, a rabbi should be consulted who will likely want to consult with one’s doctor.

As a general rule, the “shiurim” are as follows:

Liquids: up to 40 CCs every 9 minutes.(if someone is very sick then he could be lenient to eat or drink every 2 minutes.)

Solids: up to 30 CCs -  which is like the size of a small matchbox - every 9 minutes. ( Since it is calculated according to volume one would consider the air holes of the bread, therefore its worth taking a more solid food)

One may consume both solids and liquids in the same 9 minutes.

One might want to consider using grape juice for one’s liquid allowance as it delivers the most energy in its quantity. But don’t forget that water is also important.

Azamroh Lishmecho page 20