Eating disorder in pregnancy?

[Emmiedarling]

Looking for anyone with an eating disorder in pregnancy.. I'm 26 weeks and really struggling. Can't be alone?

Hi Emmie

I don't have any experience but didn't want to leave it unanswered. Have you spoken to your MW or anyone about it? What's the problem if you don't mind me asking?

This might not be helpful - you will gain a bit of weight but that's good - means little one is growing and healthy :). Can you disassociate your weight and baby as they're different, so stay away from scales. People like pg ladies with cute little bumps so don't worry about what others might be thinking - is it more how you feel? You can still eat healthily and do a bit of exercise, both v good for you and little one.

I hope someone comes along soon. Pls chat to you MW or someone :)

Hi Emmie
I'm 23 wks struggle daily with this. I've never had an official ED but have had ishhhhooos for years. Not being able to control my body shape this time (is second child) is really hard.

Not weighing myself helps because I know i cannot handle seeing the scales so high even though I know why it's happening.

Right now panic for me is not now but not being able to lose wt afterwards.

I'm happy to chat and for support to you if you need to? I'd love that too.

How are you coping?

Hi Emmie,

When I was pg with DD I was bulimic and had been for about 7 years (it sort of alternated with anorexia, and I just happened to be in a bulimic phase when I became pg IYSWiM). I think being pg really helped me because I suddenly had to focus on the health if my baby, and my body suddenly became this fantastic thing that was capable of growing my precious baby.
So I started to eat properly and really dividers on the nutritional values of what I was eating, but I also saw my body in a positive light for the first time in years.
I'm now pg with number two and I have to say that, since giving birth to DD, I have found it much easier to stuck to healthy eating and positive thinking, though I have struggled sometimes. Am only about 7 weeks into this pg but the focus, again, is really on the baby and I can't wait to have a bump because actually, I loved my body when I had my bump last time.
I think focussing on your baby might help, but you may want additional support from your MW or GP (depending on who you feel you can trust) and also your DH/DP?
I was really lucky in that I found pg so positive, but I know that's not the case for everyone. You really do have my full sympathy and if you want to PM me please do.
I wish you all the luck in the world for your pregnancy and beyond.

Thank you so much for everyone 's replies, it really does mean a lot. I was very anorexic for many years. I'd just managed to get my weight up to have my first period in a long while, and I got pregnant straight away!!

Anyway, since falling pregnant my anorexia has turned into very bad bulimia and I have gained 3 stone. I'm absolutely terrified of what I might be doing to baby and obviously body image issues are huge.

I just can't seem to gain any normality with it all. I do have a therapist, but I've had one for 10 years!! I'm not finding it all that helpful :-/