Women suffering with eating disorders should keep in mind that getting pregnant with those eating disorders will effect both the baby and mother. Therefore one should not get pregnant until you are not your way to recovery or already recovered. As it not only effects you, it also effects the baby causing many health issues which may also lead miscarriages, high risk pregnancies and sometimes even the death of the mother and baby.
Eating for Two…
Fertility problems in women becomes one of the distressing effect of eating disorders. As being overweight can lead to many problems one of which is difficulty in getting pregnant. Even after getting pregnant it becomes difficult to conceive as it results to high risk pregnancy. If you are in a way to recovery or recovered and facing problems with your fertility, talk to your doctor about the possibility of fertility testing.
It is the quantity and quality of food you put in your body that becomes important when you get pregnant. Eating on a limited basis doesn’t mean you should stop eating which will further become a major problem on a later basis. It means to eat a well-balanced meal, stay hydrated with plenty of fluids, take your pre-natal vitamins and have a relatively stress-free environment.
Many risks associated with having an Eating Disorder, which are as follows:
- Malnutrition
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalances (that can lead to kidney failure, heart attack and death)
All these above mentioned risks can lead to death of the fetus, sometimes can lead to high risk pregnancies. And the baby growing in your womb needs all the nutrients enough for it grow in a less risky environment.
Physical and Emotional health of the Mother:
Women suffering with eating disorders are both physically and emotionally tired.
Some of the complications associated during pregnant women having eating disorders are:
- Delayed fetal-growth
- Low birth-weight babies
- Jaundice
- Respiratory distress of the baby
It is also important after the birth of your new baby to make sure you continue to eat right and get the proper nutrition. You will have to keep your strength up to handle all the changes in your life that this new found bundle-of-joy will bring, and to handle any postpartum depression you may suffer from. If you are breastfeeding, eating right becomes even more important because you will pass along any vitamin deficiencies to the baby, or will not produce enough milk to feed it.
Questions to ask yourself before having a baby if you are suffering from eating disorders:
- How fast can you recover from the delivery
- Why are you having a baby
- Will you be able to handle the stress that comes along with your pregnancy
- Will you be able to handle the amount of food you take
- Are you ready to withstand your food cravings
- Postpartum stress can be quite depressive will you be able to handle it
- As much as babies are warm, sweet and cute to cuddle, are you prepared for the responsibilities also involved in being a parent?
You should also see the list of
Physical Dangers Associated with Having An Eating Disorder