By Angie Best-Boss, Contributing Writer
Pregnancy eating disorders can be a serious health risk. The average pregnant woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds. A woman who is under weight as she begins her pregnancy will need to gain more (a BMI under 20 should gain between 28-40 pounds), while a woman who is severely overweight may need to gain a little less.
The following complications for moms are associated with pregnancy eating disorders:
Premature labor
Likelihood of cesarean birth
Delayed fetal growth
Gestational diabetes
Complications during labor
Depression
Miscarriage
Preeclampsia
Risks for Babies
Mothers with eating disorders are more likely to give birth to babies with respiratory illnesses and low Apgar scores. Babies of malnourished moms also have a 35% increase in the risk of coronary death and are 6 times more likely to develop diabetes later in life.
Mothers who do not eat right and gain insufficient amounts of weight can suffer from spontaneous abortions or stillbirth. Excessive exercise can also increase your chance for miscarriage and stillbirth.
Respiratory complications
Liver problems
Poor development
Needy personality
Cerebral palsy
Premature birth
Poor social skills
Risk of diabetes
Deformities
Lower weight in birth
Heart damage
Delayed body growth
Mental disorders
Jaundice
Poor learning ability
More Information
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If you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder and need help entering into recovery then please call 1-877-211-5188 anytime and we can help you with treatment and recovery options.
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The Eating Disorder Support Groups at SupportGroups.com is for individuals, friends and families who are looking to connect during life's challenging times. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.
Related Resources
Americanpregnancy.org: Pregnancy Eating Disorders
Something-fishy.org: Pregnancy Eating Disorders
Anred.com: Pregnancy Eating Disorders
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