BF and eating disorders

[needtoknowmore]

I hope you'll forgive the namechange but I don't really want to put this under my name. I have struggled with an eating disorder for years now. I am bulimic but i go through stages of barely eating as well, and purging what I do eat. While I have been pregnant it has thankfully not reared its head and I feel as 'normal' as I have done for years wrt food. I really really want to bf my baby. My question is mainly, should I relapse (and this is a big IF, I certainly don't 'intend' to) is it still safe to BF or should I just give it up as a bad job? Will my baby still get everything it needs in the milk if I am not necessarily eating a great deal? I hope you don't jump on me for this. As I say since being pg everything has been pretty good. But realistically, am I putting my baby (or myself??) at risk? I'm going to bed now so I'm not disappearing, but would love to know your thoughts on this when I come back in the morning. Thnaks

Hi, I'm glad you are feeling well now.
If you breastfeed your baby, your baby will take all the goodness from you (but you should eat food too for your baby.) Womon who breastfeed use up an extra 500 calories a day and generally feel hungrier (I don't know much about bulimia or other eating disorders) but your body should tell you that you need more food.

If it does slip back though, you will know, and keep a check on your baby's weight gain. Breastfeeding your baby is best for your baby, providing that it isn't making you ill - if it makes you ill because of your lack of food, then it will probably effect your milk supply.

Have you had professional help for your illness? I'm sure you don't need me to tell you this, but your child (as he or she grows) will notice what you are doing - however discrete you are, and this could effect him or her too.

Anyway... if you are eating well then there is no need to formula feed, unless you feel that there is a problem. I would suggest giving breastfeeding a go and if you feel your illness surfacing again - speak to your doctor and see what they suggest regarding feeding your baby.

Wishing you all the luck in the world.

Redonherhead is right. women in concentration camps have bf, starving women in Africa bf and the milk is the last thing to go. You will lose teeth, hair, bodyfat and muscle first.

you need to keep an eye on what it does to your body image and your need to be in control, could be good or bad.

I am speaking as someone who has struggled with an eating disorder for 20 years. I have never been as comfortable with my body as I was during pregnancy and almost a year of bf. My body seems to have a purpose now. the result is that I am now far too heavy .

But you may well react the other way, and then you will have to seek help if you can, not because of the milk, but because it may make you a very unhappy mummy.

forgot to say, let me know if you want to chat by email or facebook or whatever. My situation is different from yours, but I may understand more than most.

I came back online this morning to look for info for you, but to be honest, I couldn't find an awful lot apart from the usual "seek medical advice" line....

so... I got my LLL book off the shelf (i'm a breastfeeding support peer by the way) and trawled through that - I have to say, I was surprised that there wasn't a chapter on breastfeeding and eating disorders, but i did find this bit of information for you:

"Crash diets, fad diets and quick weight loss present problems for nursing mothers. In the past, there was concern that losing weight too quickly would release environmental contaminants into the nursing mother's blood and increase the levels in her milk. However, more recent research shows that this is not a risk. Exceptionally high protein/low carbohydrate diets are potentially harmful for breastfeeding mothers because of the substances released into the milk by the mother's altered metabolism. Any kind of drastic weight loss carries the risk of a drop in milk supply. Good nutrition will also help you combat the fatigue and emotional ups and downs that are and inevitable part of new motherhood."

As Madmouse said, women throughout history have breastfed their children when there is little food for themselves, but you have to take care of your own health too. Even though your baby will be healthy, you have to be healthy for your child.

Try to focus on the positives when you have your baby, go with the flow, and like i said in my post last night, if it does start to creep back then you will be able seek advice then. I would also suggest seeking some sort of help now, while you are feeling well - maybe some advice from your gp about nutritional needs of your baby. I forgot to say yesterday, how strong you are in asking for info - you have clearly put your baby's health first - and you will need to put your health right up there too, to be able to care for him or her.

As I said before, all the luck in the world.

needtoknowmore I can try to answer questions about this as have some personal experience of it (not bulimia though).

I have bf two dcs now, the first to a year old. Both times I have lost a lot of weight being unable really to eat any extra while I am feeding. Have I felt pleased about it and shouldnt? Yes slightly. But this has been offset by the feeling that my body can actually be a beautiful and useful and productive thing.

My bfeeding hasnt suffered at all because of my eating, as Madmouse points out the baby will take what it needs first and leave you with whatevers left. So dont worry about this. If you get too tired your doctor will be able to prescribe some nutrition shakes anyway.

I found that I actually enjoyed food more when I was bf because you're so genuinely hungry and food tastes great, all you need to do is eat whenever you are hungry and you'll be fine.

good luck. bfing is incredible, it makes you feel really strong, the opposite to how you feel with an eating disorder, I can really recommend it, it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Thank you for all the replies. I have thought about seking some help now just in case Ineed it at a later date. I have put on a LOT of weight in this pregnancy, but I have been able to push the thought of it aside iyswim? I know that afterwards I will be bigger than I've ever been and I don't relish the thought but I am trying to prepare myself for it and really it doesn't matter in the scheme of things i suppose. But so often habits creep back without me really knowing But it's good to know that my baby will be alright and that I can give bf a good shot. Thanks again