That depends—how long of a fast are we talking about?
Fasting can take many different forms and has been performed for centuries by various religious groups. Intermittent fasting in particular has become quite popular in media throughout recent years, mainly for its weight loss and blood sugar regulating effects. Although the research1 is there, there haven’t been many studies done to assess the effects of intermittent fasting specifically during pregnancy. From what we do know, fasting for prolonged periods of time can restrict your nutrient intake, which isn’t ideal when you’re growing a baby inside you.
To make sure you’re eating enough to support yourself and your baby’s development, listen to your body. It’s likely that if you were to even try intermittent fasting, your body would be screaming at you to eat before you ever got to 16 hours. The takeaway is to eat based on your hunger and satiety cues. That’s always the best option.
