Am I the only one who can’t do it?

amother

Pear

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 12:17 am

I had to break my fast for the first time ever, it was my worst fast. I’m nursing a 17 month old a couple times during the night, and I’m newly pregnant. I knew it wouldn’t go well because already like an hour after the fast started I was hungry and had a headache. I felt totally weak, hungry, dizzy and nauseous all day with a pounding headache, I couldn’t stand for more than a minute. I broke it like an hour before the end after much hesitation because I’ve never broken a fast before, but I really couldn’t anymore. I ate and drank but still felt really sick, until I threw up and felt somewhat better. Hopefully I’ll get over this quickly because I’m making an upshernish tomorrow iyH.

amother

Amaryllis

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 12:57 am

I don't know what "most" feel like, but yes, OP, you obviously have it harder than the women who fast without a hiccup.

I've fasted pretty much every Tisha B'Av since I got married either pregnant, nursing, or both. The worst I had was a little weakness for 5 minutes, low supply so nursing more frequently, or more braxton hicks than usual. This year I'm nursing a 22 month old and 7 months pregnant.

My temper might be shorter, I'm not as present or patient a mother, but overall it's really not a major deal.

If it's harder for you, that's because it is legitimately harder for you! Your body obviously tolerates fasting worse. You're not being a baby or weak-minded or spoiled.

amother

Lawngreen ↓

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 1:05 am

amother OP wrote:

Broke my fast today at about 4 o’clock, I was falling apart. Currently nursing a 7 month old. I have never managed to fast while pregnant or nursing. I only try YK and TB but I always end up doing shiurim/breaking it.
When I spoke to my Rav about it he said pregnant and nursing women are not exempt from these fasts so I should fast until I feel so bad that I literally can’t stand anymore.
So my question is this, am I uncommonly weak?
Are most women able to handle fasting while pregnant and/or nursing?

I don’t know what he is talking about.
I have never fasted well. Taking care of children takes a huge toll too, physically and mentally.
A rav who makes sweeping generalizations is also not trustworthy for me.

amother

↑ Lawngreen

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 1:10 am

amother Mauve wrote:

I’m nursing a four month old and also broke my fast at 4! I’m still not feeling well since I broke the fast. I feel like I’m the only one also!

That means that you should have broken earlier. I break at the slightest discomfort. I am in charge of little kids and can’t afford to be dysfunctional.

amother

Moonstone

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 1:16 am

My 9 month old (then) baby stopped nursing the day after Tisha bav and never nursed again. Since then I don't fast on Tisha bav at all when nursing, only YK, even if I'm feeling fine.

amother

Crystal

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 1:19 am

I would run an Iron TIBC and Ferritin Panel and check if the ferritin level is at least 40. If not bring it up to that level with iron supplementation. This, even if the hgb and iron are in normal range. Perhaps that will give you more energy and reserve to fall back on.

amother

Violet

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 1:32 am

I have no problem fasting, but nursing is a different story. I have a newborn and got a psak to do shiurim (yes it's a think for Tisha B'av, not just Yom Kippur). It felt weird breaking my fast at chatzos when physically I felt fine, but honestly I should have broken it before, already was having supply issues and baby was hungry (had to supplement).

soproud

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 3:27 am

amother Buttercup wrote:

Tablets of mixed herbs and minerals.
Builds up milk supply.
sufficient supply for several post-fast days.
Prevents dizziness and deheydration.

Where is this information sourced from?

amother

Amethyst

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 3:38 am

Usually people who fast that poorly have certain underlying chronic medical situations ie like low blood sugar or adrenals.

In my experience, using the week before the fast to prep my body worked amazing. Tons of fruit and soups as meals leading up to fast to hydrate well and getting off all sugar & caffeine inthe week leading up. I am not a Dr but this absolutely turned it around to fasting isn't the huge deal it used to be for me.

amother

↑ Lilac

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 4:22 am

amother Dustypink wrote:

Does anyone know if kalei tzom is safe/approved for nursing moms?

I have no clue. But I've had excellent experience (compared to without it) using it over the years with 6 nursing babies - from infancy through toddlerhood.

amother

Cerulean

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 4:32 am

amother OP wrote:

So thinking about YK, what is in those kalei tzom pills? Unregulated supplements make me nervous…

They help. I don't take them when pregnant because unregulated.... but nursing I do.

I still don't fast well when nursing but usually with kali tzom it's better than without

This time I took time release electrolytes. I'm not nursing but they definitely seemed to make the fast easier!

amother

Dimgray

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 5:08 am

I fasted yesterday while nursing a newborn every 2-3 hours. I felt fine yesterday, just very thirsty
I stayed in bed majority of the day
I feel worse now

Tao

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 5:48 am

Acttually, this is so interesting! This was my worst fast in an extremely long time, and I've fasted while pregnant no problem. But I've never been nursing during a fast (both my older kids, I had just stopped nursing recently by Tisha Bav and they were about 8/9 months old, so no YK either)
This is my first fast nursing and I found it extremely extremely difficult. I didn't make the connection but now you made me think, lol

amother

Tulip

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 7:07 am

It is so hard when nursing a lot but I have learnt after needing shuirim on Yom Kippur some tips:
Tips for future pump before or give formula
Try to keep very low key profile like in bed / couch prep stuff for kids
Rories electrolyte drink few days before
Eat a lot of whole grains and fruit day or 2 before

amother

↑ SandyBrown

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 10:10 am

I posted earlier but just wanted to add, kalei tzom did nothing for me when I was nursing. I felt awful and threw up as usual. Pumping doesn’t either help because my body is still producing milk. Nothing helps me when I’m nursing.

amother

Vanilla

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 10:22 am

I’m such a bad faster even when not pregnant or nursing and it’s so much worse when I am .. I literally dread fast days and nervous about them all year. I feel for you! So jealous of all the people who have no problem it’s crazy hard for me

amother

Sand

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 10:25 am

Tao wrote:

Yes, I find fasting while nursing to be harder than fasting while pregnant, definitely.

This year I took the slow release electrolyte pill and it seemed to have helped. Was still very hard, but not like some other times when I literally was unable to stand up from early afternoon and on.

amother

Lightpink

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 10:53 am

Tisha B’Av is a lot different than Yom Kippur. They’re both important but Yom Kippur is much more serious. That’s why most rabbis will say to do shiurim on YK if there’s a need but on Tisha Bav they say break your fast if you have to.
I had to break my fast at 6 on Tisha Bav when I was nursing. I didn’t ask what to do before the fast because I never have a problem fasting and never had a problem when I was pregnant. For Yom Kippur I prepared before the fast, pumped bottles in advance and spent most of the day on the couch. I was told I could do shiurim if I needed but managed without.
Everyone should ask their own rabbi.

amother

DarkRed

Wed, Aug 14 2024, 11:19 am

I would say if you had a bad fast nursing on tisha ba'av, then maybe start introducing a bottle of formula so that by the time yom kippur comes around your baby can take a few formula bottle on yom kippur so that u wont feel so horrible.