Can a woman with an eating disorder carry a baby to full term?

Question

My friend is 26 and pregnant with her first child.

She has been battling anorexia and bullimia for years.

She is about normal weight and height right now and is 5 months pregnant.

She told me that she eats about 1200 calories a day on average.

She said about once a week she binges and then purges.

She is going to a therapist and her doctor is aware of her eating disorder.

Can she carry this baby full term?

Will the baby be okay?

Do you know anyone who had a eating disorder that had a baby?

Answer 1

right before I got pregnant I had anorexia and bulimia. Althought I was way underweight and very sick looking when I got pregnant. My motivation was for that unborn child. I ate what I could and althought I was extremely sick the entire pregnancy I carried my child close to full term. I had him a 34 1/2 weeks which was somewhat premature but he was perfectly fine. He was 5 lbs. But he was healthy. What i should say is that child should be her motivation to try as she might to not throw up intentionally. Your going to gain weight during pregnancy. and she will lose it once its all over. I am currently back down to my healthy weight for my height and I am perfectly fine with that. She needs to think of that child, before she runs into the bathroom after she eats.

But to answer your question ... she may have complications along the way but she should be able to carry the child to full term or around there. But seriously help her get herself under control!!!

Answer 2

I read the other answers and I just had a thought. Although I am sure it is not good for the baby, some women have morning sickness throughout their whole pregnancy and cant keep anything down. What would be the difference between that? However I am sure your friend is making it more difficult for herself and for the baby. She may end up in hospital or even losing the baby if she is not getting enough nutrients. And it is difficult enough when you are pregnant because the baby takes everything from you and she will be struggling with a lack of energy even more that is normal I am sure. I hope for her sake she can get her condition under control. She needs to make this poor child her motivation to get better because this child needs her and all the nutrience she can give him/her.

Answer 3

its sad but she should be eating more than 1200 a day... the recommended is 2000, and for pregnant women (depending on the doctors orders only) should she eat less or more. But atleast 2000. Binging and then purging is going to end up hurting her baby. I had a friend like that and the baby was low birth weight and under developed.

She should carry the baby to atleast 3rd semester. Hopefully.

Good luck to her, and her child.

Answer 4

It is actually harder on the mom than on the baby. The baby will take what it needs at her cost - if she doesn't take in enough calcium the baby will get it from her bones. I had severe morning sickness known as hyperemesis. I couldn't even hold down water and the thought of food - no way. Even though I wasn't purposefully doing it, it wasn't much different then bulimia. I probably only held down 800-1000 calories per day (yes I was hospitalized) Any way the doctor told me not to worry too much about the babies (twins) they would get what they needed although they did give me extra folic acid and iron toward the end. They were delivered early but not because of that because I had also had severe pre-eclampsia and one of the babies had a low level of fluids.

Answer 5

Yes, I have a friend who has had a baby while having anorexia/bulemia. Her pregnancy was difficult, but her baby came out healthy. She tried again a year later for another baby & had a miscarriage at 3 months (directly related to the eating disorder - she thought she could do it 'on her own') SO long as her obgyn is aware and she is active in therapy, then I would say yes. It is vital for her to be taking her prenatal vitamins - along with folic acid and any other supplements her obgyn may recommend. Try to be a good friend ... encourage healthy eating habits... and pray for them both. I know I will!

Answer 6

I work at a hospital and I just asked the ER doctor on Call right now you question and he said that it will be a miracle if the baby survives. If it doesn't get any nutrients then it will die...and the mother is at a very high risk of dying herself considering pregnancy takes so much out of the female body to begin with. She won't be able to carry it full term unless she actually eats and keeps her food down. If you cared about your friend you would do what ever it takes to get her to start eating right....either that or she should get an abortion because she is pretty much killing the baby anyways...and more then likely herself as well.

Answer 7

Pre-pregnancy, my mother weighed between 85-90 lbs with each pregnancy. She was pregnant 4 times and had 5 children. The only time she did not make it to full term was with my twin brothers. My siblings and I were all small babies (below 7 lbs; twins were both below 5lbs) except my youngest brother. She says she is 5 foot 4 inches, but she is shorter than that. (I think she is 5'3" because she is only slightly taller than I am and I am 5'2".) Prior to my first pregnancy, I weighed 115 lbs and lasted 41 weeks and my son weighed 6lbs 8 ounces when he was born.

Answer 8

I pray for this child. I dont think she should even think about having children until she is healthy. The babys needs so much from its mother and if she is not eating or purging, then she is not keeping any nutrients. And then, Oh my god, she is going to get big and think she is fat. Then she is going to be eating even less.

Answer 9

i struggle with an eating disorder and am pregnant. as long as she's getting help and isnt purging overly much she should be ok......it's still not safe. I have forced myself to stop even though I know that I didnt want to at all. It's too selfish to hurt the child like that

Answer 10

I would think it is not safe at this stage of the pregnancy. But she is getting help and she may have the baby a bit early, but I am sure it will be fine, I can't say for sure though.

Good luck to her!