Friday, January 23, 2009

Thin Pregnant Women

I cannot imagine worrying about what I looked like more than the health of my baby. This story makes me so sad! I always thought it was great how celebs show off their bellies now and don't wear moo moo's during pregnancy. I guess it backfired! I do remember seeing outfits and thinking they would look cute with a pregnant belly. Then I would try them on and realize my thighs were way too big for that outfit! Look at this picture of Nicole Richie during pregnancy. I remember seeing her at 6-7 months and thinking that's what I looked like at 2 months! I also remember meeting this pregnant woman at the mall one day who was 9 months and I was six months. I looked about twice as big as her. I did think,"Oh man1 I wish I hadn't seen her!" But I would have never stopped eating! I guess women with eating disorders might. I feel so bad for people who have that urge. That would make pregnancy even harder!


From Medical News Today: The nation's leading eating disorder treatment center, reports there's a new pressure to look perfect while pregnant."With the media giving so much focus to pregnant celebrities, there's an increased pressure to look perfect and thin during pregnancy," said Brenda Woods, MD, director of medical services at Remuda Ranch. "
Our society's 'thin' ideal has crossed over to pregnant women. Many women are feeling the pressure to not gain too much weight during pregnancy and to lose their pregnancy weight very quickly. Also, it's important to note that adolescents with eating disorder histories are in their reproductive years."
Remuda Ranch reports some of the warning signs that a woman is suffering from an eating disorder while pregnant include:
-- Failure to gain weight while pregnant
-- Poor fetal growth
-- Exercise beyond what is healthy while pregnant
If a woman is suffering from an eating disorder while pregnant, she faces many medical complications including:
--low birth weight in the infant
--possible neurological damage to the baby
--increased caesarean section rate
--and increased miscarriage early in pregnancy.
"A woman with a history of an eating disorder may be more vulnerable during pregnancy," adds Dr. Woods. "The emotional stressors of facing parenthood may push a woman with a history of an eating disorder back into those behaviors."Normal weight gain is 25 to 40 pounds during pregnancy for a woman who is already at a healthy weight. The numbers range from 35 to 50 pounds for an underweight woman. These numbers can cause extreme anxiety for women with eating disorders."Women need to be educated about what's normal when pregnant," said Dr. Woods. " Doctors need to screen pregnant women for eating disorder beliefs and practices. Pregnancy is a great time to make changes that will not only help you, but also guarantee a better future for your child."About Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety DisordersRemuda Ranch offers Christian inpatient and residential programs for individuals of all faiths suffering from eating or anxiety disorders. Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a Psychiatric and a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietitian, Masters Level therapist, Psychologist and Registered NurseRemuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disordershttp://www.remudaranch.com/

-NewsAnchorMom Jen
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6 comments:

Maria said...

Honestly, US doctors in many cases do not help. My French doctor said nothing of my weight. The US doctor was on me like a fly on... bee on flowers... about how much I gained, even though I was eating VERY healthy and exercising appropriately. When I got to Germany, I asked the doctor and he said my weight gain was fine. I asked my midwife, and she told me I was TOO THIN to start with and needed to gain extra for my sake and the baby's.

I did gain a lot, much at the end was water weight, but as you can see from the pictures of me now, I also lost it quickly, completely, and in a healthy manner. Had I stayed in the US, I would have been pressured by my doctor (who I will NEVER see again) to basically eat almost nothing because of the number on a scale. Ridiculous, IMO.

All that to say that it's not just the beautiful pictures of pregnant celebs-- doctors need to be careful in how they deal with their patients too.

Anonymous said...

As with everything - please keep in mind all situations are different. I gained 25 lbs with my daughter. When I was 4 1/2 months pregnant with my son, I had a bad gallbladder attack. I was put on a low fat diet to control the sludge in my gallbladder. Worried about gaining weight because weight gain was not too easy with my first pregnancy, I went to a nutritionist for guidance with my diet. I ended up gaining about 15 lbs which everyone said was good. But please keep in mind if you see a smaller pregnant woman, there might be another side to the story versus she is starving her baby...

Thanks!

Jen Christensen said...

Anon, That had to be frustrating! That's a good point. Thanks for sharing!

Kristin said...

I agree with anonymous. I gained weight (mostly water) like crazy when I was pregnant with both of my kids. My sister, is much smaller than I am and started out at 98lb. By the end of her pregnancy she was around 115lb. (she ate like a pig..I don't think she ever STOPPED eating lol). She carried small and all of her weight was in her belly, she didn't start gaining anywhere else until she was 8mo. along and that was water which she lost in a week lol. I hated her lol. And to be honest, Nicole Richie, is only like 5'2" and naturally small. So she's bound to have a smaller belly than someone who is 5'8". :) Doesn't mean that a small girl has an eating disorder or anything while pregnant.

Jen Christensen said...

Oh I thought Rickie sought medical help for an eating disorder after she lost all that weight. Remember her on that show with Paris Hilton? She was much heavier then. Maybe she just lost weight and the tabloids said she had an eating disorder. Who knows!

Anonymous said...

I had an eating disorder when I was pregnant... I ate everything that didn't eat me first. I just never gained weight. I left the hospital wearing the same size clothes I wore before pregnancy. They didn't have sonograms with my first two children. I only gained 13 lbs with my son. I was due in Nov. but they stopped my labor until Jan. he was 7lbs 3ozs. and 24 1/2 in. long. He's now 6'5". I tell him they cooked him too long. Some women just don't gain weight even though they are providing proper nutrition. Needless to say all my family and friends were jealous. I'm sure they feel better now that it has caught up to me.

 
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