There are various types of eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, which usually begin during adolescence. Maybe you haven’t been diagnosed with an eating disorder or met the right person who helped you identify your thoughts – but nevertheless feel that you have (or have had) unhealthy thoughts about diet, exercise and how it affects your body.

This can involve judgemental thoughts about your own weight, counting every calorie you consume, getting anxious at mealtimes, or eating to relieve a negative emotion that ultimately contributes to more anxiety. Unhealthy thoughts about your body and food arise when you place values on yourself that contribute to worry/anxiety/nausea etc. that affect your everyday life and your well-being. It is important to understand that healthcare professionals will not judge, and instead want to give you and your foetus the right conditions to thrive.

There is research that shows that eating disorders can also start during pregnancy. Many pregnant women who previously had eating disorders feel that they can relate better to thoughts about food during pregnancy, but there is a certain risk of relapse due to bodily changes. There are many people who gain a new positive perspective on their body during pregnancy and are amazed at what the body is capable of.

Perhaps your thoughts and values about your body shift from yourself to the fact that it is actually making another little person and needs energy. Others find it difficult not to influence the body’s growth and change. If you vomit a lot during pregnancy, it may take you back to a time of vomiting when you weren’t feeling well. If you do not have a healthy relationship with your body, it can also be difficult to imagine that a child would want to nurse on your breasts or require physical closeness.

For pregnant women with current or historic eating disorders, various research articles have shown that there is an increased risk of, among other things, anaemia (lack of red blood cells), premature birth, hyperemesis (extreme nausea), lower birth weight, increased risk of postpartum depression and attachment problems. It is therefore important that you tell your midwife if you previously had an eating disorder or have unhealthy thoughts around food and your body image so that you can get the right help.

During your pregnancy, you may be offered extra support and checks to ensure that both you and your foetus are as well as possible when you discuss these thoughts or experiences with your midwife. When you have given birth to your baby, the children’s health centre will take over, and you can get help and support there so that you feel as well as possible and will help improve attachment to your baby. Don’t be afraid to ask for help to make sure you feel as well as possible during your pregnancy and early motherhood.

Tell your midwife and/or children’s health centre nurse if you:
• Have or had an eating disorder
• Have anxiety and/or unhealthy thoughts about food and bodily changes (including excessive exercise)

You can get help through:
• Support calls with your own midwife/children’s health centre nurse
• Contact with a psychologist for discussions/therapy/treatment
• Dietician
• Physiotherapist
• There are also specialised clinics for eating disorders that bring together healthcare staff to deal with eating disorder issues, in both the private and public sectors. You can apply to the clinics yourself by sending a self-referral or via a referral from your midwife (or other healthcare provider)

Examples of clinics include local eating disorder centers or specialized treatment clinics in your area.

If you need urgent support, there are non-profit associations that have support lines/chats:

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ 
https://www.eatingdisorderssupport.co.uk/