If
you think you are pregnant, or if you want to become pregnant, tell your physician
as soon as possible.
Cooperate with prenatal care
to increase the chances that your baby will be born healthy. Also, this would
be a good time to check with a counselor who can help you manage your doubts,
fears, and worries as you proceed through pregnancy. A couple of classes on pregnancy,
childbirth, and child development after birth can give you reassuring information
about what to expect.
Eventually
some women who have, or have had, an eating disorder decide to have a baby but
are worried that they might have done something that will hurt the baby, themselves,
or both. Here you will find some basic information about eating disorders and
pregnancy. For specific questions and more infromation, I encourage you to ask
your physician for help and support to increase your chances of having a healthy
pregnancy and baby.
Because of the dangers you present
to yourself and your baby, you should not attempt to get pregnant until you are
well on your way to recovery, or recovered.
Sufferers
from eating disorders (be it anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder) have
a higher chance of experiencing difficulties during their pregnancy and put their
lifes and the life of their baby in danger. They have higher rates of miscarriages
and their baby may be born prematurely which puts them at risk for many medical
problems. It is important for all pregnant women to receive proper prenatal care
and have regular pre-natal visits. In addition, an enrollment in a prenatal exercise
class is a good idea. It is essential that you take action to increase the
probability of having a healthy baby. The good news is that the majority of
women with eating disorders can have healthy babies. Also, if you eat right and
gain normal weight throughout your pregnancy, there should be no greater risk
of complications or birth defects.
Important
Questions & Answers about Pregnancy and Eating Disorders
Here
you will find some basic information about eating disorders and pregnancy. For
specific questions, I encourage you to ask your physician for help and support
to increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and infant.
How
do eating disorders affect fertility?
Eating disorders,
especially anorexia, affect fertility by decreasing your chances of conceiving.
Most women with anorexia do not have menstrual cycles, and about half of the women
struggling with bulimia do not have normal menstrual cycles. The absence of menstruation
is caused by a very low calorie intake, excessive exercise, and/or psychological
stress. Getting pregnant can be difficult, if a woman is not having regular periods.
Eating disorders hamper fertility beyond menstruation and
ovulation. If by chance ovulation and fertilization are successful, the uterus
is often not conducive to implantation.
How do eating disorders
affect pregnancy?
Eating disorders affect pregnancy negatively
in many ways. The following complications are associated with eating disorders
during pregnancy:
Premature labor
Low birth weight
Stillbirth
or fetal death
Intrauterine growth retardation
Likelihood of
Cesarean birth
Low APGAR scores
Delayed fetal growth
Respiratory
problems
Gestational diabetes
Complications during labor
Low amniotic fluid
Miscarriage - the most common type of pregnancy loss
Preeclampsia
(Toxemia/Pregnancy induced Hypertension PIH) - a condition of high blood pressure
during pregnancy. Your blood pressure goes up, you retain water, and protein is
found in your urine.
Women with eating disorders have higher rates
of postpartum depression and are more likely to have problems with breastfeeding.
What about laxative, diuretics and diet pills abuse during pregnancy?
The
abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, and other medications is harmful to
the developing baby because these substances take away nutrients and fluids before
they are able to be used to feed and nourish the baby. As well, it is possible
they may lead to fetal abnormalities particularly if they are used on a regular
basis.
Breastfeeding and Eating Disorders?
When
you are pregnant your baby depends on you for everything it gets... when you are
breastfeeding nothing changes. What you eat is still directly translated to your
baby; the only difference now is that the baby can breathe on its own. It is important
after the birth of your new baby to make sure you continue to eat right and get
the proper nutrition. When your diet is deficient during breastfeeding the baby
can no longer take reserves stored in your own body to make up what it needs.
Your child is stuck with whatever breastmilk you make. So if you are going to
breastfeed, you will have to be prepared to regularily eat healthy and balanced
meals. For more information, please talk to you doctor!
Weight gain during pregnancy is
essential and helps your baby grow. The extra weight you gain during pregnancy
provides nourishment to your developing baby and is also stored for breastfeeding
your baby after delivery. Gaining weight at a steady rate within recommended boundaries
can also lower your chances of having hemorrhoids, varicose veins, stretch marks,
backache, fatigue, indigestion, and shortness of breath during pregnancy.
Some
women with eating disorders welcome pregnancy as a 'vacation from weight worries'.
They believe they are doing something important by having a baby and are able
to set aside their fear of fat in service to the health of the child. Others fall
into black depression and intolerable anxiety when their bellies begin to swell.
Most women fall somewhere between these two extremes.
American
Pregnancy Association is a national health organization committed to promoting
reproductive and pregnancy wellness through education, research, advocacy, and
community awareness. This website also provides lots of useful information
on pregnancy and eating disorders.
