There has been much discussion over the years regarding fasting on Yom Kippur precipitating labor in pregnant women. Many women insist this is simply a myth while others state with absolute certainty that there is a connection between the 25-hour fast and the large number of child births on Yom Kippur.

According to a study conducted by Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University involving thousands of pregnant women over the past 23 years, the fast day does increase the chances of premature labor.

The researchers explain the fasting brings on sudden dehydration in some women, which leads to premature labor, which is being defined as child birth prior to week 37. It is reported that the Jewish women who fast on Yom Kippur are twice as likely to have premature labor as the Jewish pregnant women who did not fast.

It is added the study does not include religious Islamic women that fast from the morning until sunset during the month of Ramadan.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)