- Can having had an eating disorder affect a woman's fertility?
- Is it dangerous to get pregnant if you have anorexia or bulimia?
- My daughter is 17 years old, has anorexia nervosa, and hasn't had her period in a long time. Will she ever have it again and be able to have children?
- How can a disorder like ARFID or anorexia affect fetal development?
- I'm recovering from an eating disorder and I want to be a mom, but I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the changes in my body. What can I do?
- I'm obsessed with getting my figure back after becoming a mother… Could I have an eating disorder now?
- How can I prepare myself to have a healthy pregnancy?
- Can I breastfeed my baby if I have an eating disorder?
- I'm having trouble feeding my children without getting overwhelmed or suffering. How can I do it?
- I've struggled with food my whole life, and now that I'm a mother, I'm afraid of unintentionally passing this obsession on to my daughter…
- What signs can we detect in a pregnant woman to know that she is developing an eating disorder?
- How can we, as midwives, support a woman with an eating disorder?
- Do women with eating disorders who want to become mothers need special treatment?
- How can we help a woman with an eating disorder to exclusively breastfeed without causing excessive mental stress?
Is it dangerous to get pregnant if you have anorexia or bulimia?
Yes, having any eating disorder carries a higher risk of complications during pregnancy and for the normal development of the baby, such as:
- Intrauterine growth retardation.
- Premature births.
- Cesarean sections.
- Preeclampsia.
- Worst experience of the process.
- Increased anxiety.
- Higher likelihood of postpartum depression.
But it's also important to consider that pregnancy itself affects the course of our eating disorder . The changes inherent in pregnancy (increased energy needs, changes in appetite, nausea, vomiting, bodily changes, stress due to life changes, etc.) and the way this process is supported (concern about weight, normalization of pathological behaviors by society, prescription of diets, weight stigma, the presence of medical fatphobia) can negatively impact the eating disorder , as there is a greater risk of energy deficit, stress, excessive concern about health, or body dissatisfaction.
In many cases, pregnancy has been shown to lessen symptoms , likely due to the social acceptance of bodily changes and weight gain during this stage. In the postpartum period, this acceptance generally disappears, and the pressure to regain one's pre-pregnancy figure returns with renewed force. This, along with the stress and demands of raising a child, often exacerbates symptoms.