ABSTRACT
Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the 9th lunar month. The duration of fasting varies from 13 to 18 hrs per day. Fasting individuals abstain from drinking liquids and eating foods. Many pregnant women and gynecologists are concerned about the possible complications associated with fasting and effects on fetal health. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on neonatal birth weight. The current historical cohort study was performed on pregnant women attending maternity hospitals in Kashan in 2008. Two fasting and non?fasting groups were compared. Multiple pregnancies and gestational age less than 37 weeks were considered as the exclusion criteria. In fasting and nonfasting groups, age, parity, gestational age, body mass index [BMI], mother's occupation, prenatal care attendance and intended or unintended pregnancy were matched. For the statistical analysis of the data, covariance analysis and SPSS v16.0 were used. In this study, 293 cases were evaluated among whom 31.7% did notfast. In the two groups, the mean age, gestational age, parity and weight gain during pregnancy were not significantly different. The mean birth weight was 3338 g [ +/- 498 g] and 3343 g [ +/- 339 g] in fasting and non?fasting groups respectively. The results showed that the mean birth weight of the neonates in fasting and non?fasting groups was not significantly different [P=0. 931]. The results of this study indicated that there is no significant relationship between the neonatal birth weight and maternal fasting during pregnancy. Therefore we declare that fasting for pregnant women who receive prenatal care has no effects on neonatal birth weight
ABSTRACT
Pregnancy affects all organs and systems in the body including skin. Some skin changes are physiologic, whereas others are pathologic such as the dermatoses of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of physiological skin changes during pregnancy in hospitalized women at postpartum unit at Shabih Khani Hospital in Kashan/Iran in 2009. One - hundred and eighty women were evaluated during their post partum periods for evidence of skin changes. Excluding factors were foreign citrizens, multiple pregnancies and gestational age under 20 weeks. Data were collected by using questionnaires before discharge from hospital. The frequencies of various observed changes included: melasma [33.9%], striae [82.3%], edema of eyelid [30%], increased acne severity [26.7%], hirsutism [17.2%] and decreased acne severity [1.7%]. Considering the high incidence of skin changes during pregnancy, it is recommended to instruct the mothers on skin care