Effect of fasting on prenatal care in Shahrekord

There is controversy about the effects of fasting on prenatal care. Therefore this study was performed to assess prenatal care changes during Ramadan. Six hundred and twenty-three women were selected by simple sampling method. Three urine samples were collected for each case: One week before Ramadan in the morning One hour before Eftar on the 14th and 28th of Ramadan. Blood pressure, weight, height of pelvis, fetal heart rate and fetal activity were examined at the same intervals. Four hundred and sixty-six cases that did not fast in the first half of Ramadan, were chosen as the control group. 152 cases had 7 days of fasting, 130 cases had 15 days of fasting and 488 cases did not fast. Fifty-five percent, 26% and 19% of the cases were in the third, in the second and in the first trimester, respectively. Body mass index was not significantly different between case (fasting) and control (non fasting) group. The heart activity and fetal heart rate hearing was 45.5% before and 75.6% at the end of Ramadan. At the middle and at the end of Ramadan, the positive ketone was higher in fasting women compared to that of the control group. Systolic and diastolic pressures were not significantly different between two groups. This study showed that fasting may not be a serious problem for pregnant women if they receive proper medical care.