Karwa Chauth 2026: Should Pregnant Women Keep Nirjala Fast? Know The 4 Warning Signs.

New Delhi, Delhi, 29th of October, 2026 : On Karwa Chauth, women observe a nirjala fast for the whole day wearing solah shringar. But for pregnant women, this fast can be very difficult and risky.

Dr. Chanchal Sharma, Director and Gynaecologist at Asha Ayurveda, says that if you are pregnant and keeping a nirjala fast, you should take more care of your baby’s health than your own. If you notice any change in your body, you should immediately go to the doctor.

Dr. Sharma says that pregnant women should completely avoid nirjala vrat because dehydration can harm the baby in the womb. Apart from this, lack of water can cause fainting, restlessness and headache in pregnant women.

Do not ignore these 4 signs during Karwa Chauth fast:

1. Feeling faint due to low BP
   Karwa Chauth is a fast of about 16 to 18 hours. If you are not eating or drinking anything and are on a completely nirjala fast, there can be a serious lack of water in your body. Due to this, blood circulation can be affected, which can affect the health of the baby and the blood supply to him can slow down. Apart from this, pregnant women can feel fainting, weakness, low BP and headache.
2. No movement of the baby
   If you feel that due to fasting your baby’s movement has stopped and is not felt for a long time, then go to the doctor. This can happen more with women whose pregnancy is between 6 months to 9 months. This is because due to low blood sugar, hypoglycemia can occur, in which the supply of glucose to the baby is affected and his movement can be impacted.
3. Reduced blood circulation in the placenta
   Due to dehydration in nirjala fast, the speed of blood circulation in the uterine artery can reduce, due to which it becomes difficult to maintain normal amount of fluid for the placenta. Dr. Sharma says that in the third trimester, this can cause false or premature contractions. A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology states that lack of water from the third month of pregnancy to the last trimester can affect blood circulation to the placenta.
4. Spotting or bleeding
   During nirjala fast, many times women can feel spotting or bleeding due to lack of water. In the last trimester, lack of water can cause uterine contractions. This can cause spotting or bleeding. In such a situation, do not ignore this condition and show it to the doctor.

Do not keep Karwa Chauth fast in high-risk pregnancy at all

Dr. Sharma says that in high-risk pregnancy, you should completely avoid fasting. Especially if you have gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, anemia, history of premature delivery or twin pregnancy, then avoid Karwa Chauth fast.