When I first joined the church, I was a teenager and the only member in my family. Having never fasted before, the Law of the Fast was a difficult one for me to follow, especially when everyone around me was eating. Nevertheless I persevered in abstaining from food and water, but I don’t think I ever had a purpose in my fast—no blessing I was fasting for. And I wasn’t praying. In reality, I dreaded fasting.
When I went to college, my fasts became much more meaningful. They were still difficult, but there was also a joy in the sacrifice. I felt like I was denying my natural self and allowing my spiritual self to reign during a fast. At this time, I also began to fast with a purpose. I was seeking some blessing for myself or for others. And so when I was tempted to eat or struggling with the fast, I used the hunger pains to remind me of the hunger I should have for the things of God. And then I would remember to pray for the blessings I sought. I remembered that I was making this sacrifice to achieve some purpose. It made my fasts much more meaningful and strengthened me.
But soon I was married and pregnant for the first time. Suddenly, I was no longer able to fast because while I could go without food and water for a day, my growing baby could not. And even after the feed my baby. In the beginning, I just stopped fasting. But I soon began to miss the spiritual power derived from the fast and denying your physical self for a short while. Over the years I have tried many different versions of “fasting” while pregnant and breastfeeding. Here are some examples.
1. Fasting sweets. I love sweets. I love to eat sweets. They are just so wonderful. For a long time, when I couldn’t participate in a full fast, I would fast sweets. This meant no treats, no sweet cereal, not even jelly on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was surprisingly hard to do. But I felt that even though I couldn’t participate in a full fast, that I was keeping the spirit of the fast by sacrificing something in search of a spiritual blessing.
2. Fasting cooked foods. This became particularly more important as our children got older and began fasting, too. It seemed utterly cruel for me to cook a warm meal and have the aromas wafting through the house while other people were abstaining from food. And it was a sacrifice that I could make while not depriving my baby one bit. So I refrained from heating things in the microwave, toasting bread, or using the stove or oven.
3. Bread and water fasts. In this kind of fast, I would allow myself bread and water. It was enough that I could still take pre-natal vitamins and not be dehydrated. But it was still a sacrifice of physical things.
4. Fasting food, but not beverage. We have a large variety of protein shakes and meal replacement drinks in our house. Typically we used them for snacks for the kids or a real powerhouse of a chocolate milk drink! But I decided that they were packed with nutrients and vitamins and calories and protein and delivered in a drink would give me the water that I needed for my babies. So I followed the law of the fast by not eating, but did allow myself to drink these drinks during a fast.
My last two pregnancies were very close together and I did not have the opportunity to participate in a full fast between the two. When my last baby was about 10 months old, I realized that she was finally getting enough nutrition and calories from other sources and that she would be fine if I, once again, completed a full fast. I was a little nervous about a full fast. Fasting can be difficult and I hadn’t fasted in a very long time.
But I was also eager to participate in our family traditions surrounding a fast. In our house, at the end of the fast, my husband gathers together with everyone in the house who has fasted. They usually go to a quiet room where they will be undisturbed. Then he leads a discussion with them about what they fasted for (anyone is free to keep it a private matter) and how they felt. Did they receive an answer? Did they get any insights or instruction? Did they feel the Holy Ghost? Then one of them will say a prayer for the family. Then they each will say a personal, private prayer to end their fast. After that, we gather together for dinner.
Fasting again after so long was hard and yet wonderful. I wasn’t used to denying my physical self and I struggled. And yet the struggle was beautiful as I channeled that energy into seeking a blessing from the Lord. I felt a unity with my husband and children as we all made this sacrifice together, each with our own separate desires and purposes, but having faith that the Lord would bless us.
I am pregnant again now and won’t be participating in a full fast for a long while. I am grateful to make this sacrifice to bring a new spirit into our family. But I do look forward again to the blessings of participating in a full fast. It can be a difficult law to follow. But the blessings are commensurate with the sacrifice.
I thank God for your blog…. for a long time I have not felt confident in fasting because of my physical condition (I would either be pregnant or breastfeeding)….
With my first son I never fasted because of health issues — I was always fatigued and a blood test showed that I was slightly anemic………. however, ever since then the Lord has been calling me to ministry, but I haven’t known how to submerge myself in his presence through fasting beause I felt weakened by my condition…..
After giving birth, I was breastfeeding and I discovered the urgency in maintaining a proper nutrition in order to keep an adequate milk supply. I didn’t know how to fast then either…. a year later I became pregnant again. I had to stop breastfeeding, but I also wondered if I would ever be able to fast again!
Lately, the Lord is urging me to submerge myself into his presence through prayer and fasting, but the fasting part is the one I didn’t understand how to do… thankfully, I have had no difficulties with this pregnancy and I know now that I can conduct a proper fast without compromising my health, my baby, or my spirit.
I still have one question — how long would you fast for??? What time would you end the fast?
I would appreciate your input as well as any further guidance you can give me….
God bless!!
Rebeca
Thanks so much for your comment on our unofficial sites. It’s great that you’re trying to follow wisdom and the Lord’s guidance in fasting and praying for His will, and to seek His presence. In terms of length of fast and duration, that is a personal decision between you and the Lord. A 24-hour fast means as much to the Lord if our heart is right as anything else, and if we are unable to that due to physical conditions, the kind of shorter fast that is a giving-up of something we feel we can do, is an equally acceptable offering to God. He knows when we’re bringing him a heart ready to be filled and to give. He knows your intents and desires and will bless you. Ask Heavenly Father after you’ve thought through what you can do reasonably. Moderation in all things is important–so those who fast to the point of exhaustion are missing the mark and the Lord’s intent. We can also enter His presence through sincere prayer apart, and that door to revelation opens. Personally, I will add a fast until 5 some days just until dinner, and with water for particular reasons, which for me, is an offering. I think personally, when accompanied by service, it is especially effective. I’ve seen miracles over the past year and years through this process and the fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise that when we call Him, He will hear–promptly–when we do that in the right spirit. Again, I write as a lay person and in your case, you may want to consult a health practitioner too, in regard to what works with your body, and then after making a decision, ask if it’s right, and then execute that. For official information please visit lds dot org. There is also a great article on fasting and rejoicing that I would be happy to email you personally. Is there anything else we can help you with in terms of understanding Mormon’s faith and perspective in coming to Christ?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I’m a brand new mom and this helped me decide how to appropriately keep the law of the fast. I drank water and traded my meals for protein shakes and supplements, in case you’re wondering. I definitely felt like I was giving something up but without making baby pay the price. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience for fasting while pregnant.
Thank you so much for posting this! I am a first-time mom and not fasting has been so hard for me. How did your family start that tradition of discussing your fasts? I would love to have something like that in my family!
Hi Amanda! I’m so glad this post was so helpful for you. I think so many new moms struggle to know how to handle fasting while pregnant or breastfeeding and I think this is a wonderful guide on how you can do both (even if it’s sometimes in an unconventional way)! Unfortunately, Andrya no longer writes for our site, so I’m unsure of how her family started the tradition you mentioned — but I think your idea of adopting it is fabulous and that it can be customized to your family’s needs and circumstances.
Thank you so much for reaching out! I hope you find more helpful content as you look through the site!