Coping With Eating Disorders During Pregnancy

Coping with an Eating Disorder During Pregnancy

Eating disorders are dangerous, being the second most deadliest mental illness that an individual can have. Although eating disorders can affect people of any age, race, gender, or background, they disproportionately impact women. What if this issue arises during your pregnancy? It is estimated that 1 in 20 pregnant women suffer with an eating disorder.

Why is the Prevalence of Eating Disorders During Pregnancy so High?

Pregnancy is a challenging, stressful, and life-changing event in a woman’s life. Pregnant women not only face the stress of hormonal, psychological, and physical changes to their body, they also experience increased scrutiny on their body and their health choices. This stressful time, accompanied by rapid weight gain and change in body shape, can worsen a pre-existing eating disorder or trigger one.

Pregnancy affects each of us differently and can increase the risk of developing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or other types of eating disorders. Particularly, pregnancy is a high risk time for the onset of Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Frequent dieters may view pregnancy as a time to drop all food restrictions which could lead to a loss of control while eating and recurrent episodes of extreme overeating, characteristic of BED.

The Dangers of Suffering with an Eating Disorder During Pregnancy:

All eating disorders have serious consequences on every organ in the human body and put pregnant women at an increased risk of miscarrying their baby.

Pregnant women with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, face an increased risk of:

- premature labour

- babies with a low birth weight

- slower fetal growth

- babies born with chemical imbalances or cardiac irregularities

Whereas, pregnant women with BED face an increased risk of:

- gestational diabetes

- pregnancy-induced hypertension

- babies with a high birth weight

What an Eating Disorder May Look and Feel Like During Pregnancy:

Symptoms of eating disorders can be physical and/or psychological.

Physical symptoms of eating disorders include:

- inadequate weight gain throughout your pregnancy

- excessive exercise

- unusually large intake of food

- avoiding eating

- restricting intake of food and/or certain foods (ex. no carbohydrates)

- abnormal laboratory findings (low electrolyte levels, anemia, low thyroid/hormone levels, low blood cell count)

- repeatedly weighing yourself

Psychological symptoms of eating disorders include:

- anxiety about eating

- feeling a lack of control when eating

- intense fear of gaining weight

- preoccupation with weight, body shape and size, food, and/or calories

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above or believe you may have an eating disorder please seek medical attention.

Dealing with an Eating Disorder During your Pregnancy:

Having an eating disorder or disordered eating habits during your pregnancy may bring about feelings of guilt and shame. Although you may feel ashamed, it is important to talk to your healthcare providers about what you are experiencing. Individual counselling during and/or after your pregnancy can help you cope with eating disorder symptoms or fears regarding food, weight gain, body image, and your baby. The faster you seek help, the lower the risk to yourself and to your baby.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing any symptoms of an eating disorder please reach out to us. One of our trained therapists can help you work through these feelings to make pregnancy a more enjoyable time in your life.