Eating Disorders and TTC/Pregnancy

[Petzy]

Does anyone know anything about this or have any thoughts? I have suffered from eating disorder since I was a little girl.. it is no longer a physical problem and I am in recovery, but i still struggle with body image and feelings of worth, etc - as im sure so many women do ! I know I will never return to physical symptoms and when the time comes i will have a joyous healthy pregnancy, but I cant help but consider it in my future plans

Thoughts???

 

[Cinnamon]

Hello, it's good that you consider it in your future plans because that means you recognize the symtoms and don't let them take over you. This means you are working day by day on your emotional and physical recovery. I don't know how long you had eating disorders so I can't tell you if it's had an impact on your health but if you've already sorted the issue out, chances are, if you take care and maybe take some supplements, or speak to your GP about your health, you will be able to have a wonderful pregnancy.
Another thing I'm thinking of, although I guess you've gone through that already, is that you could join a group with the same fears and goals as you and work your way out together. Also get engaged into some outside activity that you like and helps you build your strenth and confidence. I can tell you've made a great effort and that makes you very brave and with will power so congratulations and go for it!!! xxxxx

 

[eclipse]

Hey Petzy....I've suffered from bulimia and anorexia since high school. I've been in recovery for a number of years now, I did have a successful pregnancy. I did find that being honest with my doctor helped immensely...they had it on my chart and because weight wigs me out, I had special weighing rules. I would stand backwards on the scale and they were not to tell me my weight at all, unless it was a problem (gaining too much, or not enough). They never had to tell me! It helped a lot, that little step. I found it easier to behave and not be tempted when I was pregnant, honestly, because it wasn't all about me. If I fell back into old ways, I wasn't only hurting myself anymore, I was hurting my son. That helped a lot. I will be honest though, as I started gaining in the beginning before I really popped, my head tried to mess with me. I am now overweight for real because I have basically destroyed my metabolism, but I am slowly losing it the right way for the first time ever and am proud of myself. I will warn you though, it can sneak up on you even though you are in recovery, as you may already know. I just realized I was cutting down drastically on how much I was consuming during the day without even being conscious of it....it does happen. I wish you luck, take those vitamins, be honest and open with your doctor, and I even asked my husband to help me because he could keep me in check and is very protective when I am pregnant. Feel free to pm me, I have nothing to hide and have no shame, it is just part of me.

 

[jen1604]

I agree,be very honest with your midwife so that she can help you through it.
I know when I was pregnant I saw a psychologist who was a specialist in dealing with pregnant women because if Im honest,I did relapse a few times when I was pregnant.
At the end of the day 'recovery' is a long long and I think youre doing the right thing to consider how it will affect you in pregnancy xxx

 

[tasha41]

Been struggling with eating disorders for 7 years. Did great during my pregnancy, for the most part, because I wanted to be strong for my daughter and didn't want anything to happen to her. She's 5 weeks old and I think I am possibly relapsing/on the verge of it, but I'm trying so hard to keep it under control.. it's sooo hard after you have the baby though; every woman wants to lose the weight and probably feels fat afterwards, but I know you know what it's like.. I tell myself all the time I can't let this happen because I need to take care of Elyse, but I don't think I'm "ready" to let go yet; I'm still unhappy?

That being said I want to be better so badly because I never want Elyse to go through this or learn from me!!

 

[CharlieP]

Hi - I have suffered with EDs for about 16 years... I was hospitalised at the age of 15 for 4 months due to anorexia and then once I had recovered from Ana I suffered on and off with bulimia right up until I got my BFP...I have not made myself sick at all in the 8 weeks since i have known about the baby and I don't feel the urge to either.

So I guess 2 things for me... suffering did not harm my ability to concieve although I was scared it would (I concieved on our 2nd month of trying)... and I have never been so well since I got my BFP - It really shifted something inside me... I guess my maternal instincts and the need to protect my baby are far stronger than any ED urges.

I am struggling a bit with the weight gain, but I am better than I thought I would be, mainly because I know I can't do anything about it without potentially hurting the baby!!

Good luck to you when you start trying and I hope you are as successful as me.

x

 

[TheNewWife]

I'm in recovery from bulimia and have been doing alright this pregnancy. Not perfect, but okay. My body image is another thing though ... I feel absolutely terrible about how I look.

It's good to see that there are others who have the same problems/fears.