Karva Chauth: Fasting tips for pregnant women

Here are some tips for healthy fasting.

A woman prays during the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth inside a temple in Chandigarh. Married Hindu women observe a one-day fast and offer prayers for the well-being of their husbands during the festival. The fast begins before sunrise and ends after they worship the moon in the evening. Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters

Karva Chauth is more of a faith than just a ritual. Married women follow this ritual for their husband’s health and happiness.

The faith is so deep that while observing this fast, many women don’t sip even a drop of water until the moon is worshiped in the evening. Expecting mothers, thus, are often in a fix when it comes to this fasting ritual.

It is an emotional choice between the want for their husband’s well-being on one hand and the healthy growth of the little one on the other!

For moms-to-be who are resolute about the fast, here are some tips for healthy fasting:

To begin with, seek the guidance of your gynecologist before starting the fast as it may lead to hypertension and gestational diabetes.

If you are in your first and third trimesters, it may be a little more difficult for you, but you can consider keeping a fast if you are in the second trimester (months 4-6).

Healthy fasting tips:

A complete no-food, no-water fast is typically not recommended during pregnancy.

You could start your day with sargi and a big glass of milk so that you are not left hungry after the night’s break.

Your body needs continuous energy so eat fruits and fruit juices every 2 hours.Hydration is important so consider coconut water.

Pregnancy increases your normal eating urges. Since you would have beeneating something or the other the entire day during your pregnancy, a diet consisting of just milk and fruits will seem like a fast to your body. If you experience acidity or fatigue at the end of the day, don’t worry, it will get better as you resume your normal diet.

Avoid high-calorie, fat-rich foods with excess sugar and salt to break your fast to keep problems such as gestational diabetes at bay.

Lead image used for representative purposes only.

Also See

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