Eating Disorder + Pregnancy = Pregorexia

When I became pregnant for the first time, I was under the assumption that I had a very healthy attitude about weight gain. I honestly believed that gaining the now recommended 35 pounds was unhealthy, that it would make labor harder. I ate little, and walked a lot. I only gained eleven pounds. The women in my family (most with eating disorders of their own) kept complimenting me on how tiny I was. Everything appeared to be great until my baby girl was born weighing just five pounds and with a very low APGAR score. She also had trouble nursing in her first month.

Fast forward 17 years. I now know that I suffered from pregorexia. It is a new term to describe an old problem. Americans have been overly body conscious for decades, and eating disorders are nothing new. Pregorexia not only puts your life at risk, but endangers your unborn baby as well.

The media has always played a part in the way that we view our bodies, and now our pregnant bodies. We see celebrities like Heidi Klum staying wafer-thin during pregnancy, and rushing to shed any residual body weight before the next photo opportunity.

A prior history of an eating disorder can also play a part in pregorexia. Eating disorders never truly go away, it is a battle that most women will fight for the entirety of their lives. Women who have battled anorexia in the past may find themselves unable to cope with the natural and healthy weight gain associated with pregnancy, and therefore revert to unhealthy eating habits.

Comments from our friends and family like "You are getting soooooooo big!", may trigger a relapse into unhealthy eating disorder behaviors.

A lot of factors play into pregorexia. In addition to the media, prior eating disorders, and peer comments, fear of motherhood, relationship problems, and an increased awareness of our weight gain can contribute to an eating disorder during pregnancy.

Many risks are associated with pregorexia, not only to the mother, but to the unborn child as well. In an expectant mother, pregorexia can cause miscarriage, premature birth, and cardiac arrhythmia's. In the infant, pregorexia can result in low birth weight, low APGAR score, respiratory distress, as well as nursing problems.

If you notice that someone you know is displaying the signs of pregorexia, such as preoccupation with weight, criticism of her body during pregnancy, little weight gain, or dieting during pregnancy, you may want to intervene. Encourage the expectant mother to discuss her weight gain concerns with her OB-GYN, or seek counseling from another qualified professional.

www.momlogic.com
www.webmd.com