Can You Breastfeed While Fasting? 5 Surprising Insights from Recent Science and Tradition

For many Muslim mothers, the holy month of Ramadan presents a profound emotional and spiritual crossroads. The deep desire to honor the tradition of siyam (fasting) is often met with the fundamental maternal worry: will refraining from food and drink from dawn until sunset alter the "liquid gold" that sustains their growing infant?

Whether breastfeeding and fasting can safely coexist is a question of "biological efficiency" and religious jurisprudence. Recent clinical research from Turkey, Egypt, and the UAE, coupled with a closer look at Islamic legal tradition, offers specific, reassuring data and cultural nuances to help mothers navigate this sacred month.

1. The Remarkable Resilience of Milk Composition

A cornerstone of recent lactation science is the body’s ability to prioritize the infant’s nutritional needs even during temporary calorie restriction. Studies conducted in Turkey (Başıbüyük et al., 2023) and the United Arab Emirates (Bener et al.) have meticulously analyzed breast milk macronutrients during Ramadan.

Despite fasting periods ranging from 11 to 18 hours, the levels of energy, protein, carbohydrates, and lipids in breast milk remain remarkably stable. While the composition is partially dependent on the mother’s diet, the body utilizes its own stores to ensure the milk's quality does not waver. Clinical evidence suggests that mild to moderate variations in maternal intake generally do not affect milk production or essential macronutrient delivery.

"Religious fasting of mothers does not affect the energy and macronutrient content of breast milk. In addition, fasting does not seem to affect the weight of mothers and babies." — Başıbüyük et al., 2023

2. The Underused "Rukhsa" (Legal Dispensation)

Islamic jurisprudence provides a specific legal concession known as rukhsa—a dispensation where an obligatory act (fasting) may be set aside due to necessity. For a lactating mother, this falls under the legal ruling of the "assessment of illness."

The various Islamic Schools of Thought (Madhabs) agree that if a breastfeeding woman fears harm to herself or her infant—including the risk of illness, extreme fatigue, or hardship—she is permitted to abstain. While this precedent is "uncontroversial" and "established," research by Yate and Soliman suggests it is often underutilized due to social or spiritual pressure. The "assessment of illness" serves as a clinical and spiritual gateway to ensure the health of both mother and child.

As defined in the clinical literature by Yate and Soliman (2022):

"The idea of harm, or potential threat of harm includes if siyam: (1) makes your condition/personal state worse; (2) prevents your healing; or (3) leads you to become sick so that you cannot observe siyam at all."

3. Higher Education and Religiosity as Predictors of Fasting

Who chooses to fast while breastfeeding? Data from Egypt (El-Kurdy et al., 2025) and Saudi Arabia (Al-Qahtani et al., 2020) reveal that the decision is often driven by educational and spiritual factors. In the Egyptian study, 83.7% of lactating mothers observed the fast.

The study found a strong correlation with education: university and postgraduate victims had a significantly higher Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) of 4.88 for fasting compared to those with less than a secondary education. Furthermore, mothers with high "intrinsic religiosity"—a deep personal commitment to faith—were more likely to fast (AOR 2.70). Interestingly, non-working mothers and housewives had higher fasting rates (85.5%), likely because they could avoid the physical and cognitive "stress of work" and high energy expenditure required by a job during the day.

4. Infant Growth Parameters Remain Robust

Perhaps the most reassuring finding for mothers is that siyam does not negatively impact infant growth. While many mothers perceive a drop in supply, the objective clinical data suggests otherwise.

In the 2023 Turkish study, researchers found a statistically significant p-value of 0.026 regarding weight gain, but not in the direction many expect: the infants of fasting mothers actually gained an average of 890.5g during the period, compared to 790.4g in the non-fasting control group. This confirms that even if daily intake is restricted, the biological "safety net" ensures infants receive sufficient nutrition to keep growth on a normal, and sometimes even more robust, trajectory.

5. The "Hidden" Dietary Shift in Fasting Mothers

The stability of breast milk macronutrients (Takeaway 1) is likely explained by a "hidden" shift in dietary quality during non-fasting hours. When researchers compared the diets of fasting mothers to the Turkish Nutrition Guide (TÜBER 2015), they discovered that these women were not merely eating "more" at night—they were eating "better."

The 2023 Turkish data revealed that while fasting mothers ate less frequently, their intake of specific micronutrients—including lipids, sodium, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, and chloride—was significantly higher than that of the control group. This suggests that the "quality" of Iftar and Sahoor meals is the engine behind milk resilience. The biological efficiency of the body is supported by an intuitive or intentional move toward nutrient-dense foods once the sun goes down, bridging the gap between daytime restriction and the constant needs of the infant.

Conclusion: A Forward-Looking Balance

The synthesis of modern science and ancient tradition suggests a path of empowerment rather than restriction. For a well-nourished woman, the data confirms that breastfeeding during Ramadan is generally safe and does not compromise the "liquid gold" required for infant growth. However, the rukhsa exists as a vital safeguard for a reason.

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