Pregnant Women Fasting on Yom Kippur

I just found out that I’m pregnant and I will be in my 9th week (first trimester) on Yom Kippur. Since it’s my first child and I’ve heard about many people miscarrying I’m concerned about fasting on Yom Kippur. Does Halacha say that I should still fast on Yom Kippur?

The whole subject of fasting during pregnancy is complicated. On the one hand the Shulchan Aruch writes that pregnant women need to fast on Yom Kippur, yet there are opinions that today women are weaker than in the past. Therefore each case needs to be looked at individually, based on past medical history, the current pregnancy and other factors to see whether the doctors and the rabbis think that fasting is dangerous. I suggest that you ask your gynecologist and then speak to your Rav. You may also call Machon Puah 972-1599-505-022 in Israel and speak to one of the rabbis there.