Coping with an Eating Disorder and Pregnancy
© Heather Mudgett.
So, I am going to repeat my 11/13/98 article on Eating Disorders and Pregnancy. But before I do, I'd like to mention a few things that husbands, significant others, family & friends can try to AVOID saying to a pregnant person with an eating disorder, that would really help her out... A. Don't ask her how much weight she's gained so far (trust me, she is WELL aware how much she's gained, and does not need you to remind her) B. Don't ask her if she's worried about being able to lose the weight after the baby's born (believe me, she KNOWS ways to lose that weight, and brining it up will only make her obsess about it more than she already is!) C. If she lifts up her blouse to show you her newly expanding belly, please don't reply with "Are you sure you just haven't been eating too many cookies?" Now, I know it may seem silly to even mention these comments to you, but believe it or not these are all things that were said to me in my first pregnancy.
Enough of that. The following is a re-run of my 11/13/98 article.
It's a unique situation, isn't it? On the one hand, you are struggling with an often overwhelming disorder in which a preoccupation with your weight and body image is a paramount issue. On the other hand, you are growing a new life inside you, and like it or not, gaining weight may be an important part of having a healthy baby.
The rule of thumb over the past few years, seems to be that the average woman should gain between 25 and 35 pound during a healthy pregnancy. Well, take my word for it, telling a anorexic or bulimic to be OK with gaining 25 or 35 pounds is like asking a "normal" person to be OK with gaining 150 pounds. Pretty overwhelming, wouldn't you agree? But it is so very necessary. I've heard horror stories about women who have let themselves continue to starve during their pregnancy, gained no weight (or even LOST weight throughout the pregnancy), and have had premature babies, miscarriages or stillbirths. ANRED's Eating Disorders & Pregnancy page states that "Women with eating disorders have higher rates of miscarriage than do healthy, normal women." (I'll give you a link to the ANRED page later in the article.) Of course, I'm sure there are women out there who might proudly proclaim that they made it through their pregnancy without gaining a pound, and still had a healthy baby. But is it really worth the risk to the infant to do it?
