Eating Disorders

How can I overcome my eating disorder now that I am expecting a baby?

Eating Disorders During Pregnancy
Gaining weight is a fact of pregnancy. You do not have to gain a tremendous amount of weight to have a successful and healthy pregnancy, but some weight gain is required to deal with the demands of a growing baby. However, some women can not get a grasp on that fact and struggle with the idea of gaining weight to support a pregnancy. An estimated 15-20% of all pregnant women experience some kind of eating disorder while they are pregnant. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating are all common eating disorders that women are faced with. All of the disorders are very dangerous for both mother and baby and can cause serious harm. Women who are pregnant and have an eating disorder need extra care in order to have a healthy pregnancy. Because a woman's body needs extra calories to support a developing baby, it is critical that women experiencing eating disorders get the treatment they need.

Eating disorders are not healthy for anybody and can limit your ability to become pregnant. Women struggling with anorexia and bulimia typically do not have regular periods and are less likely to become pregnant. If you are recovering from an eating disorder in hopes of getting pregnant, it is important to remember that it takes a while for your body to regulate its hormones and it may take a while to begin regular ovulation. Approximately 20% of women seeking fertility treatment suffer from an eating disorder.

A woman that experiences an eating disorder during pregnancy is likely to be considered high risk. Eating disorders in the mother puts their baby at high risk for developing medical conditions and can cause fetal death from improper nutrition. Mothers who do not eat right and fail to gain an adequate amount of weight during their pregnancy are at an increased risk for miscarriage and stillbirth than women who do not suffer from eating disorders. Remember, your baby gets the majority of his nutrition from what you consume. Babies that are born to mothers with eating disorders are more likely to be born prematurely, with low birth weights, low Apgar scores, respiratory problems, coronary problems, blindness, Cerebral Palsey and other physical impairments. These babies might suffer from lower IQ scores and may have other developmental delays.

Not only does the baby suffer from an eating disorder, the mother does as well. Because your baby depends on your for his nutritional needs, he will take as much vitamins, minerals and calories that he can. If you are not eating enough or are exercising excessively, you may feel extremely weak and have trouble breathing, walking and maintaining daily activities. Mothers with eating disorders are highly likely to become dehydrated during pregnancy and need intravenous fluids. Your baby will take calcium from you if he needs it and if you are not consuming enough calcium, you will suffer. Calcium is what makes your bones and teeth strong and if the baby is taking this from you, osteporosis is a possibility. Your bones and teeth will become weak and brittle and may hurt. Heart damage, liver damage and kidney damage can become worse during pregnacy if you suffer from an eating disorder. Pregnant women with eating disorders are more likely to experience complications during birth as well.

Psychological problems are associated with eating disorders. Pregnancy can be stressful and the added stress of an eating disorder can be overwhelming. Most women who experience eating disorders during pregnancy will begin to feel out of control. Sometimes they become depressed and might have thoughts of hurting themselves or their babies. This can also be true during the postpartum period. It is important to remember that even after pregnancy, your baby depends on you to be healthy to care for him properly. If you are breastfeeding, it is crucial that you follow a well-balanced diet to supply good nutrtition to your developing infant.

If you are pregnant and suffer from an eating disorder, you should speak with your caregiver about treatment options. Treatment is available, but you need to discuss this with your doctor. Support groups for expectant mothers with eating disorders are available and can be a great source of encouragement, advice and support.

Comments: Eating Disorders

Comments 1 to 3 of about 3.

EvaV - 312 days ago.
Women in third world countries are able to BF sucessfully with very poor nutrition. The scary thing is that BF requires a lot of Calcium, and if you are not eating enough and getting the proper nutrition, your body will take from your reserves (bones). With Bulimia though- the purging I think would adversely affect your milk supply since it causes dehydration. If laxative abuse is occuring, the strong laxatives are secreted in breastmilk. Being pregnant and having a baby forced me to change my whole perspective on my body/self-image/eating. It is still so important to me to stay focused while BF so that I can be healthy and baby can be healthy! Hopefully, I will continue my progress so that I can be a wonderful example to my daughter of a healthy lifestyle with everything in moderations!

Just♥Mommy - 313 days ago.
What can bulimia do to your milk supply?

HaNnAh17 - 331 days ago.
hi all i have a beautiful daugter who has just turned one and ive been ready al these things about aeting disorders and for the first time ever its hit me i think i may have bulimia i have been sick about more then once everysingle day since she was bor n to try n get bk to my pre pregnancy figure but wen i look in the mirror i still see this obeses pregnant whale i dont know what to do but i have an addiction to being think please help