The Impact of Eating Disorders During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of profound physical and emotional changes. While it’s a period of immense joy and anticipation for many, it can also present unique challenges for those with a history of eating disorders or those who develop them during pregnancy. The physical and emotional changes that come with pregnancy can trigger or exacerbate disordered eating behaviors, making it crucial to address these issues for the health and well-being of both the parent and the baby.Let’s explore the most prevalent types of eating disorders that can impact pregnant individuals and how you can better advocate for yourself or support loved ones grappling with these complex issues during pregnancy.

Common Eating Disorders During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, certain eating disorders can pose significant risks to both parent and baby. The most prevalent types include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder (BED). These conditions can lead to nutritional deficiencies, low birth weight, and complications during delivery. Expectant individuals should seek professional help if they’re struggling with disordered eating patterns during their pregnancy. At Resilience DBT and Eating Recovery, we offer tailored support to help individuals manage these challenges safely and effectively.

Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restrictive eating and an intense fear of gaining weight. During pregnancy, the natural weight gain and body changes required for a healthy pregnancy can be especially distressing for someone struggling with food and body image.

Individuals with an unresolved history of anorexia may engage in behaviors such as extreme calorie restriction, excessive exercise, or skipping meals to control weight. Severe malnutrition can lead to complications such as anemia, low blood pressure, and electrolyte imbalances. Poor nutrition can also restrict fetal growth, leading to low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental issues.

Atypical Anorexia is when someone may be in a higher weight or larger body but have the same restrictive eating behaviors. Atypical Anorexia is just as serious and is often less recognized by medical professionals. We take you seriously. At any body size or shape.

At Resilience DBT and Eating Recovery, we use  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help women rebuild a healthy relationship with food and body image while ensuring proper nutritional intake during pregnancy.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves patterns of binge eating followed by purging activities such as vomiting, use of laxatives, or excessive exercise. Pregnancy’s hormonal and emotional changes can increase the risk of binge-purge  episodes, and the physical strain of purging can be particularly harmful during this time.

Repeated vomiting can lead to dehydration, esophageal damage, and electrolyte imbalances, and even risk of sudden heart attack, to an expecting mother. For the infant,  bulimia can increase the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, and complications during delivery.

Through Cognitive Behavior Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), we help individuals manage their urges to binge or purge, equipping them with coping skills that foster lasting recovery and emotional stability.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by episodes of consuming large quantities of food in a short time, often accompanied by feelings of guilt or loss of control. Unlike bulimia, individuals with BED do not engage in compensatory behaviors. Pregnancy cravings and emotional stress can sometimes heighten the risk of binge-eating episodes.

BED can lead to excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure. Increased maternal weight can elevate the risk of macrosomia (a baby that is significantly larger than average) and complications during labor and delivery.

At Resilience DBT and Eating Recovery, we integrate Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and structured meal planning to help individuals develop healthier eating patterns and emotional regulation strategies.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)

Not all eating disorders fit neatly into the neat categories of anorexia, bulimia, or BED. OSFED includes a range of disordered eating behaviors that can still have significant physical and emotional impacts. For example, some individuals may experience orthorexia, an obsession with eating “clean” or “pure” foods, which can also lead to nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy.

At Resilience DBT and Eating Recovery, we help clients navigate these complex issues by providing personalized, research-backed interventions that promote overall health and well-being.

What Causes These Eating Disorders?

Pre-existing Conditions

Women with a history of eating disorders are at heightened risk for relapse during pregnancy. Past experiences with body image and food can resurface, triggered by the physical changes and heightened feelings of hunger and increased need for nutrition  and calories that accompany pregnancy.

Pregnancy-Related Factors

Hormonal fluctuations, rapid weight gain, and shifting body proportions can exacerbate or spark eating disorder behaviors. Some may feel a loss of control over their changing body in our beauty-obsessed culture, leading to restrictive eating or compensatory behaviors. Societal pressures around the “ideal” pregnant body can intensify these struggles.

Seeking Help: A Path Toward Happy Peri-Natal Experience

Eating disorders during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both parent and baby. Seeking professional help is vital to ensuring a healthy pregnancy, post-partum and and lasting recovery. At Resilience Therapy, we provide specialized care that addresses the intersection of pregnancy and eating disorders, healthy and happy post-partum experience, helping new mothers sustain control of their health in a safe, supportive environment.

The Resilience Team of  Eating Disorder Experts offers a compassionate, evidence-based approach tailored to the unique needs of expectant mothers. Whether through CBT-E and DBT, we work closely with clients to develop sustainable coping mechanisms, build resilience, and foster a positive body image. Resilience Therapy is an HAES – Health at Every Size provider.

If you or a loved one is struggling during child-bearing experience, don’t wait.  For a happy and healthy pregnancy and optimal post-partum experience, take the first step towards proper support today.

References:

1. Watson, H. J., & Bulik, C. M. (2013). Update on the treatment of eating disorders: A scientific review. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 46(3), 60-76.
2. Easter, A., Bye, A., Taborelli, E., Corfield, F., Schmidt, U., & Treasure, J. (2013). Recognizing the symptoms: How common are eating disorders in pregnancy? European Eating Disorders Review, 21(5), 340-344.
3. Koubaa, S., Hallstrom, T., Lindholm, C., Hirschberg, A. L. (2005). Pregnancy and anorexia nervosa: A longitudinal study of pregnancy outcomes. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 112(5), 624-629.