Weight / body image in pregnacy

This is an interesting one for me. I think pregnant women are soooo beautiful, and my DH practically has a fetish for pregnant women. So nothing but support and excitement re. the growing body.

However. As a teenager, I suffered from eating disorders for several years, aged 13 - 17, and remained incredibly thin and bony until around 21. I also made my income as a model for many years, so always felt pressure to stay thin.

While, in theory, I really felt that I had TOTALLY recovered from all of this (I love my growing breasts, and am a mad keen cook and baker), now that I have started to ACTUALLY gain weight, I am having a minor freakout. My fear is that I will look 'fat' as well as pregnant (I am so brainwashed by all the gorgeous pregnant celebs like Heidi Klum!). And also that I will not be able to loose the weight.

Has anyone else experienced similar issues? Anyone else pregnant after eating disorders? Would love any advice!

Hi Talia

I had an eating disorder through most of my early 20's I was bulimic. A couple of years ago I started councelling and stopped forcing myself to throw up, however didn't master not binging part which resulted in gaining 35 kilos in 2 years. Then I concieved. As you know I have until a few days ago terrible morning sickness which was leaving me throwing up to a dozen times a day for about 4 weeks. This didn't help me with dealing with past issues as you can imagine. I think pregnant women are beautiful too, however i would be lying if I didnt admit to crying several times over the past few weeks as I am overweight and preg and think my body looks disgusting. All I know is that I want to deal with my issues before this little baby is born because I do not want them growing up with the same insecurities I did.

talia & Mrs Hendo :hug: you both have beautiful bodys be proud of them.

i've had issues with waight as well from around 13 till 18/19. at 19 i fell preg. with my wonderful DS. when i was not quite showing i did have a few (stupid people) say "ohh you're looking bigger" and i guess at that point i went "you would be too if you where growing a minni human, but hey you're not so dont be jealous ok :lol: "

as for weight loss after giving birth i could fit back into my 'normal' clothes 5 days post birth. but i was bfing AND expressing (DS was in SCN for 7 days) but after i went though some rough stuff with him (around the 2-3 month mark) i put a lot of weight back on. but i've fond that i'm happier now then i ever have been. sure i have stretch marks that a tiger could envy. sure i've gained weight BUT on the other hand i have a wonderful son, who even though is only 9 months old i feel the need to set an example for him. that not all women are perfect. that women no matter the size or shape of them are beautiful.

i've seen photos as you girls would have of the celbs who have no stechies or dont seem to gain anything but a bump and i feel sad for them. that they cant have a normal preg. body that is so wonderful on its OWN with out any air brushing.

our bodys are growing babies, they need more food and yes fat stores, why? if your breast feeing your body chews though the fat to make the liqward gold called breast milk. so i guess for me i can say i held my head high as was proud to gain the weight because it meant i was giving by baby the best i could (even when eating semi healthy - i was a nutter for red meat AND potatoes when i hit the 2nd tri)

Yes darl, I actually think I started a thread almost 2 years ago about this....
http://forums.bellybelly.com.au/foru...-disorder.html

It really rattled me, as I had been 'recovered' both emotionally and phsyically, but when I saw the scales go up I was really torn. I loved knowing I was growing a baby but also had that weight gain fear, which I hadn't experienced in so long, came back each time I was made to weight myself at midwife appointments. Just being a weight that I had never been in my life was a weird feeling.

I got through it, luckily I had HUGE supprt from Shel who knew exactly what I had been through and she knew exactly how to support me, plus I also had my 'recovery book' a book full of tools and things I had used during recovery to keep me on track if I ever felt overwhelmed by anything.

If you'd like to chat about it offline PM me or add me to MSN :hug:

I haven't had an eating disorder, but I've always had weight problems - it's always been a big yo-yo thing for me, and I also have body image problems, which I know I need to deal with as I don't want DD learning from me. I am probably 20kg's heavier than when DH and I got married 2.5years ago, which I am not happy about.

I did find last time, that as the pg got on, I began to feel more pg and so became extremely comfortable, even though I was bigger than I would have liked - I looked full term from the start of the 3rd trimester, and got quite a few comments about my size (which I don't understand - you would never comment on a non-pg person's size, so why does it seem to be a free for all when pg!) yet I was happy with my size. I did have a major breakdown when DD was around 3mths old and I went for a bridesmaid dress fitting, and went through a stage of not liking myself physically and assuming that DH didn't like it either.

I think like some of the pp's have said, knowing that you're growing another little person in there helps, and knowing that you've got to nourish them during and post pg (if bf'ing).

I hope everything goes well for you.

I definitly have 'issues' when being pregnant... and AFTERWARDS!!!

Unfortunatly, I'm not one of those women who feel glowing and beautiful. Instead, I feel massive and unattractive.

Cannot wait to get this baby outta me and start getting back to being skinny again!

I've only just found the thread so am I bit late in replying.

I have never had an eating disorder so cannot relate in entirety. However, I've put on about 8 kilos in the last 12 months and particularly since starting IVF. And I don't have the excuse of IVF drugs causing me to put on weight, as I was only ever on drugs for the one stim cycle we did. But IVF means you lose focus on your diet and your own needs, and comfort eating becomes a coping mechanism.

I'm still in the first tri, but I'm desperately waiting for the fat roll to become a baby bump. One lady has already patted my (then 7 week pregnant) belly and said "ooh, baby belly." I've found that quite confronting - that's not a baby, that's my fat, thanks. :rolleyes: I've been feeling very unattractive, and have to keep reminding myself that this is all natural and beautiful.

Unfortunately I think our society values thin women so much that it is ingrained in us to think fat=bad, and it's hard to get out of that mindset when you're pregnant. I think it's also ingrained in other people to think that commenting on our body shape and size is suddenly okay because we're pregnant.

I also think we are our own harshest critics and that we should be kind to ourselves...and rest assured the bigger picture is worth it. And at least we have excuse for a pot belly, unlike our partners who don't! :D