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Eating Disorders for Two

Helping the Anorexic or Bulimic Mom-to-be

By Laura Paul

Barb Stauff of Easton, Pa., binged on sweets, gaining 42 pounds when she was pregnant with her oldest daughter Kate, 9. When she became pregnant with Erin, 6, she gained exactly half as much, 21 pounds. By the time she had Emma, 2, her pregnancy weight gain was down to a mere 20 pounds. "I think the first time I used pregnancy as an excuse to eat," she says. "I took it off pretty quickly but I never lost the last five pounds. It seemed I was a little bit heavier when I got pregnant the second time."

Stauff knew she would be at higher risk for hypertension and gestational diabetes if she stayed overweight. She wanted to strive for a natural childbirth, which would be easier if she was not carrying extra pounds of fat.

While expectant mothers often obsess on whether they are eating too little or not enough, they ultimately have control concerning what does or does not go into their bodies. That can leave some expectant dads thinking they are powerless to influence a woman who is eating junk food or hiding an eating disorder.

Nearly all pregnant women struggle with their changing body image during pregnancy. "The first time, it was not that I was – oh my gosh, morbidly obese or anything – but I look at pictures now and I think – oh my gosh, I was huge," Stauff says. "I tended to think I could have ice cream every night, eating for two. My husband was very supportive. I never heard a negative thing from him."

Her husband, Brian, says he thought Barb was beautiful when she was pregnant. He remembers Barb was sensitive about how she looked during the pregnancy. He complimented her often, joking now and then about the size of her growing belly. "She looked better the last two pregnancies than the first but that's because she took better care of herself and didn't gain so much weight," he says. "I was not worried about the weight coming off because I knew it would. Also, I, myself, could stand to lose 15 pounds back then so I didn't say anything."

Want to see more?

• Recovery and Risk: Coping with an Eating Disorder During Pregnancy
• Fit and Pregnant: How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy
• Fitness Fanatic? Why You May Need to Tone Down Your Workout
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