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Pregnancyeating disorderseating disorderspregnancy
In This Post:
Average weight gain during pregnancy
Heath risks for mothers and babies
anorexia nervosabulimia nervosaMaudsley Therapy Maudsley Therapy
Tips for pregnant mothers with eating disorders
- The first step for anybody with an eating disorder is to inform their health professional about the problem.
- Seek the help of a nutritionist, who can help draft a healthy eating plan that will ensure you get all the nutrients you need, while gaining a healthy amount of weight.
- Consider therapy: Regular therapy sessions will enable you to express your mixed feelings about your pregnancy, without being judged. A good therapist will take the weight off your shoulders by teaching you the skills you need to adopt when you feel barraged by negative thoughts and worries about your body shape during pregnancy.
- Consider group meetings: Meeting other people who are facing the same struggle will help you feel like part of a community. Knowing you are not alone is always important when you are called upon to face big challenges.
- Be aware that if you are facing a concurrent medical condition such as severe depression, your health care provider may recommend medication.
- Lighten your exercise load: Focus on low impact exercises, such as prenatal yoga, walking and swimming. Don’t feel guilty about changing your schedule; remember that during this time, it is vital to keep energy levels high and that means doing only as much exercise as is reasonable.
- Monitor your weight gain alongside a health professional: You need to make sure you are putting on a healthy amount of weight during your pregnancy. If you do not want to see your weight, ask the health professional to record it down silently.
- Focus on having a happy pregnancy: Depriving body and mind of vital nutrients, or overloading your body through bingeing, can lead to a difficult pregnancy, characterized by mood swings, cravings, nausea, extreme tiredness or inordinate weight gain or loss. By eating according to a nutritionally sound plan, you and your baby both have a much better chance of lasting health and happiness.
Citations:Medical Issues From Anorexia, Bulimia and Other Eating DisordersEating Disorder StatisticsBabycentre.co.ukNews.UNCHealthcare.orgPregna