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If she feels strongly, could she do a modified version similar to what children do? I've never really known anyone who was Muslim who would expect a pregnant woman to fast. My understanding is that they don't expect that if you are pregnant or very young. Maybe she feels strongly because she sees the pregnancy as a blessing and fasting as a way to show thanks/respect for that blessing? I can sort of understand that, but I hope that she has some other Muslim friends who can help her to be comfortable with not needing to fast. It just seems harsh during pregnancy.

I think that pregnant women are excluded from ramadan...as are women on their periods. I'm not totally sure on that, but I vaguely remember a friend of mine mentioning this.

So I'm not religious, so I really don't get this in general, but it seems REALLY unwise to do this while pregnant. I don't understand why she's even thinking about doing that when her OB, of the same religion, has told her NOT to AND her religion gives allowances for pregnancy and to do the fast later! WHAT is she thinking???

@Adira: ha! Amen.

No, I wouldn't. I like the idea that she can fast after pregnancy to make up for missing the fasting period. If I was religious and my religion required this (with the exception of pregnancy) I would take that option. Hopefully she has supportive people around her who will help her continue with a healthy pregnancy and keep pushing her to skip the fast this time!

No. My understanding is that the scripture and the teachings allow for a pregnant woman to leave the fast if there is a reason to fear harm to her or the baby. I would say that there is reason to fear harm in this case (especially since her doctor agrees that there is) from dehydration mainly. In her position, I would continue to drink water (no other drinks), eat small, modest meals during the day (no treats!) and make an extra special effort to serve others during the month. Then, once she has had the baby, she can make the fast days up.

I know this is an old post, but it's correct to say that pregnant women, along with anyone for whom fasting would cause bad health, are expressly exempt from fasting. Going further, fasting and any other religious act that may cause harm become prohibited due to the legal maxim that elevates the health of one's body over the obligatory status of an act of worship. Worship can only be performed when it harms no one else, including your own self.

I hadn't thought about this with respect to our fasting days during Lent. I don't know that there is an exemption specifically for pregnant women in my religion, but I can tell you that if I am still pregnant on Good Friday (9 days after my EDD), it is very unlikely that I am fasting. That sounds awful.

Eta: apparently, pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt from the fast as well:

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/lent/questions-and-answers-about-lent.cfm

Good to know.

@mozahsuf: exactly.
Once worship dips into the gray area if being potentially harmful to self, it becomes forbidden.
Example: if my doctor said: "you will kill your child I you fast" then I better not. If I did and anything bad happened to my baby, I would be 100% responsible.

@Mrs. Twine: unfortunately, in Islam, there is not a modified version. They do it for children as a way to ease them in. You just have to it do correctly. I personally made mine up during December, when days were 11h long and it was cool outside:)

Diabetics are exempt from fasting as well because they would hurt themselves if they do.

@rachiecakes: wow! Try are troopers. How far along we're they? My OB told me that if I was full term she would've said 'go for it' because if anything did happen, they could induce right away.

i definitely would not. I am also pretty sure my muslim friend who is very religious did not fast during any of her pregnancies.