The status of women in such circumstances is expressed in the classical fatwa literature as follows:
“Pregnant or breastfeeding women, if they fear for their own health or for the health of their child, may refrain from fasting. No expiation (kaffārah) is required of them; rather, they make up their fasts after Ramadan.”
(al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, 1/207)
With regard to this matter, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Allah, the Exalted, has lifted fasting and half of the prayer from the traveler, and He has lifted fasting from the pregnant and breastfeeding woman.”
(Nasāʾī, Ṣiyām 50; Ibn Mājah, Ṣiyām 3)
What is meant here by the lifting of fasting is not the complete removal of the obligation in an absolute sense. Rather, such individuals do not fast under the aforementioned conditions, but subsequently make up the days they were unable to observe.
The essential consideration in this matter is whether fasting would cause harm to such women. This is determined either through medical consultation or through predominant judgment (ẓann ghālib) and personal experience. If fasting is likely to cause harm to them or to their child, they refrain from fasting and make up the missed days after Ramadan.