Eating Disorders During Pregnancy: The Shadow Over the “Glow”
A Hidden Struggle During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is often portrayed as a blessing and a time to glow, but many women are quietly robbed of that experience by disordered eating. It can be hard to imagine a pregnant woman restricting food or purging after meals yet this happens far more often than many realize, and almost always in secret.
Research shows that approximately 28% of pregnant women struggle with some form of eating disorder or disordered eating.
Having a baby is one of the most stressful times in a woman’s life, yet culturally we pressure women into believing it should be the most euphoric. Many women hesitate to say, “I have anxiety,” or “I have depression,” let alone, “I have a history with an eating disorder, and it has come back.” These experiences often remain underground, unspoken and untreated.
Why Eating Disorders Go Unnoticed During Pregnancy
Symptoms of eating disorders can be subtle or misunderstood. Many pregnant women do not disclose symptoms to their providers often due to shame or fear of child protective services intervening.
Common signs of eating disorders in pregnancy may include:
Persistent worry about weight gain or “losing the baby weight”
Restricting food or skipping meals despite hunger
Guilt or shame after eating
Overexercising or distress when not exercising
Purging behaviors (vomiting, laxative or diuretic misuse)
Obsessive focus on “healthy” or “clean” eating
Avoiding prenatal appointments due to fear of weigh-ins
Negative comparisons or disgust toward body changes
Secretive eating or hiding food habits
Researchers have found that pregnant women with bulimia remain intensely preoccupied with food, weight, and control—continuing to binge and purge throughout pregnancy. Many experience overwhelming guilt yet struggle to stop. Some rationalize the behavior by equating vomiting with morning sickness.
If you recognize yourself in these patterns, you are not alone—and healing is possible.
The Link Between Eating Disorders and Postpartum Depression
Pregnant women with active eating disorders face an increased risk of postpartum depression. Research from 2001 found that nearly half of women with eating disorder symptoms later experienced clinically confirmed postpartum depression.
The emotional toll of pregnancy, sleep deprivation, hormone shifts, and the identity transition into motherhood can intensify feelings of shame or loss of control. Therapy offers a space to unpack these layers, understand triggers, and build gentler ways to care for yourself and your baby.
A Depth Psychology Perspective: Understanding the Shadow
From a Jungian lens, symptoms such as eating disorders are symbolic messages—signals from the unconscious seeking integration. Ignoring the “shadow” only causes it to surface more intensely through obsession, control, or self-punishment.
Pregnancy can amplify this inner conflict. The vulnerability, shifting identity, and perceived loss of control may reactivate old coping mechanisms. In therapy, these moments can become invitations for profound inner transformation—meeting previously hidden parts of ourselves with compassion instead of judgment.
Treatment and Healing: Compassion Over Control
Researchers note that small adjustments in medical settings can significantly reduce distress for pregnant women struggling with EDs. For example, allowing patients to turn away from the scale or adopting weight-neutral language may support emotional safety.
Pregnancy is an especially vulnerable time for mental health. What women need is compassion—not scrutiny. Collaboration between OB-GYN providers and therapists can help women feel supported, understood, and empowered to speak openly about their needs.
Reclaiming the Feminine Self
Many modern women lack role models of the “authentic feminine.” For those with eating disorders, embracing the feminine can feel like surrendering control—yet through therapy and inner work, this process becomes one of reclaiming power, agency, and self-acceptance.
When a woman integrates all parts of herself—strength, softness, imperfection, intuition—she can “relax into her own womanhood” and feel more at home in her body.
You deserve to experience pregnancy and motherhood with compassion and connection, not fear or self-criticism.
Getting Support: Therapy for Eating Disorders During Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant or postpartum and struggling with disordered eating, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Therapy can help you:
Understand and interrupt cycles of control and shame
Explore the cultural messages that shaped your relationship with food and body
Build a more compassionate relationship with your changing body
Support both your emotional and physical well-being
Rebecca Stevens, Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, specializes in:
Disordered eating recovery and relapse prevention
Pregnancy and postpartum depression
Depth psychology and feminist theory approaches
If you’re ready to talk with someone who understands the unique challenges of pregnancy and eating disorders, Rebecca offers a free 15-minute consultation.