Bulimic & pregnant...

[Lolabelle]

Never really had the balls to mention my illness befpore despite this being my second pregnancy whilst a MNET member but trying to juggle counselling/therapy/2yr old DD/work etc and just wish i wasn't gripped in this illness so severely. My unborn child is SO important to me but this illness is bigger than I ever give it credit for. Does anyone else suffer from an eating disorder?? Sometimes I feel like i'm the only one...

Just wanted to post to let Lolabelle know she's certainly not alone. I was actively bulimic for years, but for me it formed part of a whole host of issues linked to depression and anxiety including other self harming behaviour. For me, learning to live with my depression and anxiety, esp with help of CBT, was the thing that resolved my bulimia.

(I'm also a Christian and I found rediscovering my faith a key thing - but I realise that's a very individual response )

I too am suffering from an eating disorder whilst pregnant and very ashamed. I'm 10 weeks now and go between compulsive overeating to the odd bout of bulimia.
Am very depressed about not being able to knock this on the head for the sake of my baby but i have suffered for nearly 20 years and it's one hell of an addiction. I go to bed so sad and low and guilty and would really appreciate hearing feedback from anyone facing the same. NEVER in a million years did I think I would keep on with this behaviour when I got pregnant. sad

I suffer from bulimia. I haven't had a bulimic episode in about 4 months and I have got to say it does feel good. I have been bulimic for 11 years (my goodness). I have 2 dc's and had bouts of bulimics episodes during both pregnancies and after. I don't know what to tell you except the baby will be ok it's you that suffers the baby will take from your store. My teeth are terrible with years of abuse and my self esteem is only now starting to recover. Exercise has really helped me and my boys. Eating when they eat and find things to do for myself. I still think I need to see a counsellor as I am pregnant again (no problems so far). I hear and feel your struggle and am struggling with you.

MM - have you sought any professional assistance? Combatting eating disorders on your own can be very difficult - breaking out the destructive cycle can be very difficult - more so if you have been suffering for 20 years.
Please dont beat yourself up about this - you have made a really important step coming online with this.

Lolabelle (and others) have you considered hypnotherapy of any kind? Although I wouldn't go so far to say I had an eating disorder, but my relationship with food was not what it should have been, and I was constantly overeating.

I found a local hypnotherapist through here: www.hypnotherapists.org.uk/ and had 10 hour long sessions. Although I'd tried counselling before, I felt like the hypnotherapy went straight to the root of the cause rather than going through my childhood in tiny details. It really changed the way I thought about myself, and my attitude to food. Not only that, but I found the sessions themselves very relaxing and strengthening.

I hope this helps

This is my first pregnancy and I'm anxious about the weight I've gained- I've gone from 115 at 5'9 to 130 in the first 17 weeks which is more than I've ever weighed in my life!
Not being a native of the UK I'm finding it difficult to work out the health service here and find recommendations to good private doctors for treating bulemia...also having trouble finding support from my husband- he doesn't seem to realize that I'm not a size sero anymore and he thinks my requests for maternity clothes are an excuse to go shopping!

HB - at that weight for your height, you were very underweight when you fell pregnant. I know because I too am 5 ft 9 and once weighed 105 pounds - was not well. By the time i fell pregnant, weight had come up with the help of a therapist but was still underweight. I gained 14 pounds in the first trimester which finally bought me up to a healthy weight range.
I know personally that pregnancy and weight gain is not easy in these circumstances and I really do advise seeking some professional guidance. I cannot rave enough about the experts who work in these fields.
HB - if you are not native in the UK, can you not register with a GP as a start? I dont know how it works.
Failing that - the best advice I can give is stay away from scales, dont weigh yourself - I havent since week 12.
Secondly - get out of your pre pregnancy clothes and pack them away- mine are all up in the loft boxed. I dont need to try them on and see how tight they are on me. Go get maternity clothes.
Third - accept that you are going to gain weight! It is the only way you will have a healthy baby. Keep telling yourself this - you arent gaining weight because you have no willpower or are being greedy, you are growing a little bub!
Finally - have faith in yourself. Let your body do what it is going to do, safe in the knowledge that once baby is delivered, you will be able to lose the weight.

I have had a history with eating disorders but touchwood since seeking help and doing the above, am not letting weight gain ruin my pregnancy (which it could have done before i sought help)

I hope this post helps - sorry if i have rambled on.

Oh and p.s. talk to your husband. openly and honestly about the support you need. He wont know what you need otherwise.

I just wanted to thank cryingoutloud and dal21 and those who responded for their support. It really helped me knowing I'm not alone...I'm new to these discussion boards so only logged on last night and was encouraged by others experiences.
So far things have improved last couple of days and I'm trying to find a councellor, as the 12 step meetings I went to - one on Wed night and one last night didn't help me. I felt shamed or maybe that was just me but a lot of people don't understand how I could possibly carry on this behaviour when I'm pregnant, even other overeaters etc. They may just have been dud meetings so I won't give up.

MM - am glad to hear that the last few days have been good - well done! and that isnt meant patronisingly, every day that goes by and it is more under control is a huge feat!. Please dont worry about what others may think - you need to concentrate on you.
If I had not gotten help when I did - I dont know that I alone would have had the ability to knock my problems on the head before getting pregnant. It is never too late and am so glad you are trying to find a counsellor.
Just know that this can be beaten - and you can get your life back. And it is great when you do break free from letting food control your life! I hope you continue to post to get the support you need.

take care