ABSTRACT
Preterm -Labor increases the expenses of health costs. If it starts, there is no definite treatment. Some studies argue about prolonged starvation and Ramadan fasting in pregnancy with preterm Labor. This study is to clarify Ramadan fasting in pregnancy and preterm labor relationship. Two-hundred and seventy preterm labors as case group and 966 term. labor controls are studied regarding Ramadan fasting in pregnancy, In 2003 fasting interval was about 12 hours. Maternal age, parity, gravity, abortion and history of preterm labor was similar in two groups. One-hundred and nine [40.4.%] out of 270 preterm labor cases were fasting in pregnancy and 161 [54.6%] were not. Three hundred and ninety eight [41.2%] out of 966 term labors were fasting and 568 [58.8%] were not. Ramadan fasting in pregnancy did not increase preterm labor probability [P: 0.76]. In the subgroup of Ramadan fasting in the first pregnancy, fasting caused a decrease in preterm labor probability [p: 0.000]. About 12 hours Ramadan fasting in pregnancy does not increase preterm labor probability
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Fasting , Pregnancy , Starvation , Maternal Age , Parity , Abortion, SpontaneousABSTRACT
Muslim pregnant women desire to fast in Ramadan month. On the other hand, they worry about fetal health. Obstetricians do not have a clear idea about this issue. A cross-sectional study was done to determine fasting in pregnancy and birth weight interrelationship in term delivered pregnant women in Hamadan province. Four thousand three hundred and forty three appropriate pregnant women took part in the study, in 4 groups, according to the number of fasting days. Non-fasting group [28.9%] did not keep fast in Ramadan at all. Other women kept fast for 1 = 9 days [group A], 10 = 19 days [group B], and more than 20 days [group C]. Mean birth weights of 4 groups were statistically significant according to variance analysis [p=0.0006]. Newman-keuls procedure revealed that mean birth weight was higher in group C [3198.2 grams] in comparison to non-fasting group [3142 grams] and group A [3137.1 grams]. Four groups were similar regarding low birth weight. Ramadan fasting did not affect mean of birth weight regardless of pregnancy trimester. Low birth weight [LBW] among newborns of second trimester fasting women showed an increase although it was not significant [p=0.09]. In conclusion, in the present study Ramadan fasting in pregnancy did not affect birth weight of term infants