02/13/2026
Nursing your little one and thinking about ? Consider the following:
👉Fasting for religious reasons? It may be helpful to investigate your options as many religions have exemptions for pregnant and lactating people.
🔋Energy demands: The age of your nursling & how often they feed is an important factor. The amount of energy you need to make enough milk for an older child who feeds only a few times a day, is very different from the energy you need to nurse a younger infant who feeds often or depends on your milk as their main source of nutrition.
📏What about my milk supply? A short period of lowered food intake is unlikely to lower your As long as you were previously healthy & well nourished, it's likely you could continue to make normal amounts of milk while your body uses up the energy and nutrients it stored during pregnancy.
🧑🏽🔬Research on fasting and breastfeeding for tells us that even though the mothers in the study typically took in slightly less food than the recommended daily amount for lactating people, the nutrient levels in their milk stayed fairly constant, & did not significantly impact the growth of the infants. Consider adding complex carbohydrates to your meals that take time to digest.
🚰Some people who fast during daylight hours choose to take in more water at night to try to compensate for a lack of fluids during the day. Keep in mind that significant hyper-hydration (too much fluid) & dehydration (not enough fluid) have been shown to decrease milk supply over time. Be cautious if you plan to drastically increase your water intake at night.
🚼You may notice your baby wants to nurse more often while you are fasting, this can be normal - but if your baby is overly fussy, has fewer wet or dirty diapers than usual, or if you're concerned at anytime that your baby isn't getting enough milk, stop fasting & consult with your healthcare provider.
⚠️Safety First: *ALWAYS* talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet. They can give you the information you need to decide if fasting is right for you & your unique situation. Need support? Visit our website or tap the link in our bio.
