Our attitude toward
food is shaped by those who feed us in early years. It is believed that women with eating disorders may (even inadvertently)
be teaching their children to follow in their footsteps. Eating habits during pregnancy may even
“hard-wire” a baby in a way that makes him susceptible to a variety of
problems, including eating problems, diabetes and depression. If you are pregnant and answer “yes” to any
of the following questions, seek the guidance of a registered dietitian
specializing in prenatal nutrition and eating disorders, to be sure you give
your baby the best start possible toward healthy childhood and adulthood. A licensed mental health professional can
also be helpful for developing healthy coping and parenting skills that give
your baby the best nutritional—and emotional—foundation possible. I
restrict my intake because I am afraid of being fat after I
deliver my baby. I
“eat for two” then feel
guilty about eating too much so
I skip a meal to make up for it. I am trying to gain
less than my physician/dietitian have recommended so that I don’t have to worry
as much about losing weight after I have my baby. I am following a
high-protein/low-carb diet because it might help me minimize my pregnancy
weight gain. I am getting more focused on the weight
gain in my thighs as my
pregnancy progresses, and I think a lot about how I will diet as soon as I have
my baby. I
am bingeing and justify it by telling myself it is alright to gain weight when
you’re pregnant. When
people tell me “You don’t look like you’re that far along, I secretly feel proud. I am planning to
not breast feed because that way I can increase my caffeine intake and use diet
pills to lose my extra weight without harming my baby. I
wish I could always be pregnant so I didn’t have to worry so much about my
weight. I
plan to control my child’s food intake so that s/he won’t be
fat. I find myself
worrying that my baby will be born “fat” and people will wonder why I ate so
much during my pregnancy. Even when I could
be doing some exercise, I don’t because once that baby is born I will really
“burn” my exercise track. People will
be so impressed at how
much weight I was able to lose. When I read stories
about babies being born with birth defects due to their mothers not having
gained enough weight or purging during pregnancy, I believe “it won’t happen to me.” I
never want to become pregnant and see my body in this shape again. Monika M. Woolsey, MS, RD, and Kathy Jo Dennison,
RN. 2001
After the Diet Network, Glendale, Arizona, USA
www.afterthediet.com |
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Exercise Info > Pre-Natal Articles > Food Habits & Self-Esteem