How Eating Disorders Affect Pregnancy

By Chesley Maldonado

Eating disorders can harm a woman's body and cause serious complications for her baby if she is pregnant. Proper diet is a crucial part of continued health, both for the mother and her unborn child, and not treating an eating disorder during pregnancy can be life-threatening.

The Importance of Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Nutritionist Tanya Jolliffe explains that pregnant women should make sure that they eat enough food during pregnancy, and that they do not eat too much. Both overeating and under-eating during pregnancy can cause problems.

The recommended weight gain is 25-30 pounds over the course of the full pregnancy. Experts recommend that underweight women should try to gain 28-40 pounds.

Healthy eating has many important benefits for both the expectant mother and her baby. These include increased resistance to infection, reduced risk of anemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia), and a reduced risk of pre-term labor.

A healthy diet can also reduce the risk of infertility for those trying to get pregnant.

How Eating Disorders Affect Fertility

A healthy weight is important for regular menstrual activity, including ovulation. Obesity and undernourishment have both been linked to irregularities in the menstrual cycle, such as a lack of ovulation. Jan Willem van der Steeg, MD, of Amsterdam's Academic Medical Center, confirmed that obesity is a major risk factor for infertility.

Anorexia has been known to reduce reproductive hormones, such as estrogen and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). This disorder can also cause amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation. These conditions, in turn, can cause infertility.

Complications that Affect the Expectant Mother

Women who have eating disorders and become pregnant can experience a variety of complications. Problems related to the heart, kidneys and liver are common.

There is a high risk that the expectant mother may suffer dehydration, cardiac irregularities, depression (during and after pregnancy), preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and decreased calcium in the bones (which can eventually cause osteoporosis).

Pregnant women who do not have a healthy diet are more likely to have labor complications and may need a Cesarean section (C-section). Premature labor is also a risk.

Complications that Affect the Baby

The unborn baby can be lost in a miscarriage, suffer placental separation or be stillborn. If the placenta is separated from the uterus prematurely, the baby can be cut off from oxygen and nutrients from the mother.

Even if the baby is carried full-term and is born alive, other problems may be present. Undernourished newborns may have a low birth weight or birth defects. If the mother does not eat properly, the growth of the fetus may be delayed, which means that it can be born underdeveloped, even if it is carried full-term. Respiratory problems and feeding difficulties may also be a result.

As the baby grows into a toddler, signs of mental problems may appear, such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy or a low IQ.

Getting Help

Given the effects of eating disorders on female hormones and the menstrual cycle, pregnancy is not common, but does sometimes occur in women struggling with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. It is important to receive proper prenatal care and manage the physical and psychological issues related to having an eating disorder.

Pregnant women should protect themselves and their unborn child by considering the following suggestions:

Be open and honest with your health provider. Let them know that you have struggled, or currently struggle, with an eating disorder.

You might need more than the average number of prenatal care visits. In order to ensure that your health and your baby's health are well-monitored, visit your doctor a few extra times throughout your pregnancy.

Consult a nutritionist about your eating habits. This is to make sure that you and your baby are receiving all of the appropriate vitamins and nutrients. Continue these visits even after the baby is born.

Some limited prenatal exercise can be beneficial for you and the baby. Discuss this with your doctor before engaging in any type of exercise routine.

Find a local support group for women who struggle with eating disorders and attend regularly. Private counseling or an eating disorder treatment program, such as Sierra Tucson, a premier eating disorder treatment facility in Arizona, is also recommended, so that you can alleviate concerns regarding weight gain, parenting and body image.

Let your doctor track your weight gain during the pregnancy. Even if you have to ask that the doctor not disclose that information to you, let them monitor your weight to ensure that the baby can develop normally and have a healthy birth weight.

If you struggle with depression or other psychological issues, get the help you need. A number of depression treatments are available and safe for pregnant women.

Remember that you do not have to do this alone. Do not believe the myth that you don't need help from others. Reach out for the help that is available to you, as it can save your life and your baby's life.