Eating disorders do not discriminate, as even pregnant women become targets. Every year, eating disorders affect at least 7,000,000 women, and this tends to worsen as they get pregnant.
Pregnancy is a time where the body undergoes immense changes. If a woman is already dealing with an eating disorder, the upcoming nine months can overwhelm and aggravate the existing body image problem.
For those who have recovered from an eating disorder, pregnancy can trigger them into having a relapse.
With a child growing inside, it isn’t just one person that may suffer. Stop and think about how your life will be and how it will affect your child.
How It Affects Fertility
A study from the United Kingdom revealed that women who suffer from bulimia or anorexia or have suffered from these have more fertility problems. They also have more counts of unplanned pregnancies, as well as negative views about having children than women who have not suffered from these disorders.
Women who suffer from eating disorders may also undergo Amenorrhea and excessive exercise.
Amenorrhea affects most women with anorexia and about 50 percent of those with bulimia. Extreme weight loss can result in the suppression of hormones; hence, the inability to produce the right amount of estrogen. Without maintaining the right amount of estrogen, infertility develops.
Exercising too much is a factor that can lead to infertility. It can also cause osteoporosis, amenorrhea, and eating disorders.
How It Affects Pregnancy
Not only does it put your health at risk, but your baby’s as well.
Having these problems while you’re pregnant can lead to dehydration, cardiac irregularities, premature births, and poor nutrition, to name a few. As for the babies, they can suffer from respiratory distress, perinatal complications, low birth weight, and poor development.
If there are signs showing that you or someone you know might be having an eating disorder, seek professional help immediately, especially if they’re trying to get pregnant. These kinds of problems are no simple matters because not only do they affect you, but the people around you as well. Remember, there are effective ways to help you get through this.
