Is it obligatory for a nursing mother who fears her milk will dry up to fast during Ramadan?
[AR_ID:2090]
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him):
If fasting does not harm the nursing mother or her infant, she must fast. If not breastfeeding the child and substituting the mother's milk with formula would harm the infant, the mother must break her fast and provide a compensation of three-quarters of a kilogram of food to a needy person for each day, and she must make up the fast later. If the formula does not harm the infant, the mother must fast.
Source: Answers to Inquiries, Q 747 + Special Inquiry + Fiqh of the Guardian.
Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him):
A nursing mother with low milk supply who fears harm to herself or her infant may break her fast, and she must make up the fast later and also provide compensation. The compensation can be giving 750 grams of wheat or its flour to a poor person, and any food, including bread or pasta, is sufficient.
It is strongly recommended that she only break her fast if breastfeeding is solely dependent on her and there is no other way to feed the child, even partially with formula.
However, if partial breastfeeding would harm the child, especially in the early days, and if using formula would prevent the child from drinking the mother's milk later, which would be harmful, she may also break her fast and must make up the fast and provide compensation as mentioned.
Source: Official website: 1, 2 + Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Book of Fasting, Chapter 8: Cases Permitting Breaking the Fast.
May you be successful in all good.