Postpartum eating disorders are a little discussed, yet commonly experienced. Fortunately, more and more women are starting to be screened for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. However, very few people – be they healthcare professionals or not – are aware that disorder eating and body image struggles are incredibly common in new moms.

There is so much anticipation during pregnancy, eagerly wondering what it will be like when your little one finally arrives. New motherhood can be a mixed bag of emotions, from the highest of highs to the lowest lows.

The truth is that many women struggle during this time period, and mental health struggles are the most commonly experienced complication of childbirth.

Whether you have a history of disordered eating or not, after the baby comes, there is a boatload of stressors that can trigger a postpartum eating disorder. As exciting as new motherhood can be, the transition can be bumpy, pushing on existing vulnerabilities and driving women towards manipulating food and trying to control their bodies in an effort to cope.

Without awareness and connection to resources for support, minor struggles can easily escalate to full-blown eating disorders and other serious mental illnesses. However, when you are equipped with the right knowledge and signs to look for, you can set yourself up for the best chance for physical and mental health in the postpartum period and beyond.

Shame Often Stands in the Way

If you’ve been struggling with disordered eating after having a baby, you may be fighting immense shame and self-judgment. After all, you should really know better as a mom, right? If you are struggling, please know that it’s 100%, not your fault and there is nothing you did or didn’t do to ‘cause’ this to happen.

One of the reasons I’m so passionate about this topic and raising awareness is that I’ve witnessed how shame all-too-often gets in the way of women seeking and receiving the help they so desperately need and deserve. Struggling with disordered eating doesn’t mean you are weak, defective or a bad mom. It certainly doesn’t mean you will always be going through this.  It just means you are going through something difficult right now, and that’s ok.

Working to accept what you are going through – in this moment – will go a long way in helping you to move forward with challenging disordered thoughts and behaviors. 

The Facts About Postpartum Eating Disorders

Even just admitting that you are potentially struggling with a postpartum eating disorder can feel scary and isolating. You may feel unsure if this is just a phase, and ambivalent about admitting it’s actually a serious problem. Read on for some important things you really need to know about postpartum eating disorders.

There are a lot of risk factors for postpartum eating disorders you might not even realize

Eating disorders, no matter when they arise, develop for a myriad of both biological and environmental reasons.  The postpartum timeframe is ripe for the development of a mental health diagnosis, whether you have experienced one previously or not.  It’s important to be aware of some common risk factors.

There is a strong connection between experiencing some type of trauma and the development of an eating disorder.   It’s estimated that more than a third of women experience some sort of trauma during their childbirth experience.  Therefore, birth trauma is a noted risk factor for developing an eating disorder.

Studies also estimate that 1-in-5 new mothers will struggle with a maternal mental health disorder, such as postpartum depression or anxiety. Eating disorders frequently develop along with depression and anxiety, as the disordered behaviors are often a way to cope with or manage symptoms.

Moreover, the rapid body changes experienced by women during pregnancy and postpartum can prove extremely difficult to accept. Coupled with a strong cultural expectation to ‘drop the baby weight’ and to ‘bounce back’, many women resort to dieting, and dangerously restrictive efforts to lose weight.  Dieting is a well-known trigger for disordered eating.

Lastly, it’s worth pointing out that the transition to motherhood represents a huge identity shift.

For many women, the drive to “get your body back” has a lot to do with the intense urge to regain what feels familiar in a world filled with unknown.

Focusing on manipulating food and body allows an element of control in an otherwise out of control place.

It’s not always so obvious that you struggling

Just as during any time period, it’s not always obvious when you are struggling with a postpartum eating disorder.  After all, the diet culture that we live in often times makes it difficult to recognize when the line has been crossed between ‘normal’ and ‘disordered’.

You don’t need to be ‘sick enough’ to really be struggling and need some support. Some signs to look out for include feeling disconnected from your infant and having a hard time really bonding. This is also an indicator that you may be struggling with postpartum depression.

Feeling compelled to work out, especially in order to compensate for what you eat is another sign. If you are struggling with compulsive exercise, you prioritize exercise over other important obligations.

As discussed earlier, disordered eating such as skipping meals, binging, eating beyond fullness, chronic dieting, making an effort to eat in a very ‘clean’ way – are all signs that you may be struggling with a postpartum eating disorder. Thinking about food all the time is another good indicator.

Lastly, negative body image can be a sign of a postpartum eating disorder. Constant thoughts about wanting to change your body get in the way of both bonding with your baby and intimacy with your partner.

You can prepare and get the right support

Knowing your risk and the signs to look out for, you can set into place some practices to address a budding postpartum eating disorder. Proactively, if you know that you might be highly at risk due to a history of an eating disorder, you can design a postpartum care plan that will address anticipated emotional, physical, and mental health needs.

Make a pact to avoid dieting and steer clear of triggers such as weighing yourself.  Throw out the scale if you are tempted to do so. Getting into the mindset of needing to lose weight will most likely lead you down a rabbit hole you definitely don’t want to be in.

Try your best to be honest with others in your life about what you are going through.  The more you open up about the fact that you are struggling, the most support you will be able to receive. You deserve to have all the support in the world if you are facing a postpartum eating disorder.

As an eating disorder and body image therapist with training in maternal mental health, I work with clients at my office in Agoura Hills, CA and provide online therapy in California and New York. I’ve helped many women make lasting peace with food and their bodies.  If you want to learn how I can help you, give me a call now or click on the button below to get in touch to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation.