Fasting and breastfeeding

Emma (Saima) • Muslim convert, happily married wife, mama of two, environmental scientist and bookworm.

Salaam all

I hope your first fasts of Ramadan are all going well InshaAllah.

I know this topic has been done again and again, so apologies in advance.

I’m not looking for the facts - I know I don’t have to fast while nursing - but I’m struggling to make a decision.

I was so excited to fast this year after two years of not. But we’re just over half way through the first one and I feel like crying. It’s so much more difficult than I imagined. The thing is, my son is 19 months old now, not a little baby anymore, and I feel like people will judge me if I don’t fast? He just has so much milk though and I don’t want to deny him his right to that comfort and nutrition, at least not before the full two year term.

What would you do? I’m so conflicted. I want to fast, but I also want to do right by my son. Will people think I am being dramatic and finding excuses? I honestly always loved fasting and regularly fasted twice a week before my pregnancy, but I feel so detached from that practice after the last couple of years of pregnancy and nursing.

Just looking for your thoughts ladies xx