A moral dilemma to fast or not to fast?

WWYD? I asked our Rav abt fasting tomorrow... (I'm at the end of my 9th month) His answer was if you don't want to/ aren't feeling well, you don't have to, if you want to/ get things going (ie go into labor tomorrow) so fast. Not much of an answer if you ask me, and I'm rather torn. Confused

1) Why would I WANT to fast? (not to sound like an apikores, but aside from the fact that tomorrow starts such a horrible time in Jewish history, who ever wants to feel weak and ughy?)

2) I've really had it with being preg.

So.... WWYD and WHY?

Medically it's not a good idea to go into labour fasting, since you need your strength. Of course YK and TB are different if a rav says to fast. And I don't know ruchnius wise if it's so great to fast to jump-start labour - not exactly lishma (not that there's anything wrong with fasting for the wrong reasons for someone who should fast).

Having said that I have a dd born a few hours after YK. I fasted the whole fast even though I got contractions in the afternoon, and it was by far my quickest and easiest labour.

I was always told by my husband's rebbe that a pregnant women is not allowed to fast (aside from tb and yk)- so I can't help you with that, but I could tell you that before I asked I once fasted while I was pregnant, I got contractions, but did not stop fasting and it took my body about two weeks to feel better and normalize after having all those contractions. I felt horrible.

Gold Member Joined: Mar 14 2006 Posts: 1879

I'm only in 5th month, but I'm not fasting so my body can save my energy for 9 Av.
If your due date is not before 9 Av, I wouldnt do this one, so that I can do the next one slightly easier.

each person obviously has to refer to their rav...

here's what ours said if it helps:

pregnant and nursing women are not obligated to fast on the 'minor' fast days. we asked one time, and were told that we need not ask again for minor fasts, in those two states (of preg/nur).

in terms of Tisha B'Av and Yom Kippur, they are unless--just like anyone else--there is a major health problem in which case--we once had to ask for me during a pregnancy for both TBA and YK when I had a major problem if I didn't eat/drink properly and between the doctor and the rav it was decided that I was to eat and drink 1 oz of food, 1 oz of liquid every nine minutes...in order to maintain the status of fasting. now I did it, and trust me it pretty much still felt like fasting, and I still needed help with my kids.

that's the whole point of calling the rabbi. you know yourself, and if it would truly cause you a big health problem--then you should ask! and be sure to be clear. sometimes people call and are sort of wishy washy because they feel guilty or whatever, but rabbis need to hear clear facts and firm feelings to help you make the decision that is best for you.

I'm in my 5th month. My Rav said I do not need to fast tomorrow. I have no plans on trying to. I'll limit what I need and not indulge. (That means no candy bar!) On TB he said I should start the fast but the moement I feel I need something I should break the fast without feeling guilty. It will be wierd not fasting on TB, but I already passed out once this summer from dehydration and I do not want to do anything that will CVS endanger the baby.

Posted: Mon, Jul 02 2007, 1:52 pm Post subject:

the year my first dd was born I was having so much trouble fasting and the baby was screaming and I got sick ... the rov said to break the fast - it was tisha bav ... never knew you could ... I felt weird but had 1 meal and felt better and just fasted the rest of the afternoon ...
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im due in two weeks and im not planning on fasting. I get dizzy when not eating or drinking, and its a sakana at this point for me.
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Even if I'm not preg I dont fast, my dh thinks fasting is not for women, I feel weird not fasting cuz as a girl my father was very strict with it, and since I'm married I only fast y'k and tb.

While a pregnant woman who is nearing birth is not obligated to fast for 17th of Tammuz, there are choices besides fasting and not fasting. A person could fast until chatzos, or only take liquids according to the shiur Halacha. This is an amount less than an ounce every nine minutes. Someone could also give tzedukah in the amount that they would normally spend on food for the day. Some people wake up early and eat but at this time of year that may be 3 A.M.
Also some family customs prohibit pregnant and nursing mothers to fast other than Yom Kippur and Tisha B' Av. I know many women who married into such families and their husbands do not allow them to fast.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48156

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16951

in many chasidishe circles it;s accepted for women and girls not to fast the minor fasts.
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Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48156

Married women, maybe but girls? Not in Lubavitch.

im nursing so im not going to be fasting.

Posted: Mon, Jul 02 2007, 10:21 pm Post subject:

I won't be fasting either; I've already been dehydrated once this pregnancy!
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