Breastfeeding with an eating disorder

**chicken and eggs mum** · 03-03-2011 11:45

I'm struggling....

Bf is going really well this time round. Yay!!!! Dd2 is easy, quick and painless to feed- I am actually finding it quite easy!!!

BUT BUT BUT

Thing are quite crazy at home with a 9 week old and a 16 month old, a hubby who is coming through a bout of sever anxiety and is still a bit checked out and just general life....

And I am slipping back in to bad habits...... I feel like I need control and I have started back on the bulimia/purging route..... And I can't stop.....

I am worried that I am going to eventually get back on to starving and over exercising....

My main concerns are the effect this is going to have on my breast mill. Dd2 has been consistently putting on weight and is on the 50th percentile and has been from birth....

I am worried though that what I am doing to my body is going to after her negatively....

Has anyone been through this?? Know anything about it??? Offer any suggestions??

**Hollywood** · 03-03-2011 11:58

If you aren't consuming enough calories, then yes it could start to affect your milk quality and supply, and much like pregnancy, your body will take what it needs for your baby's milk and that will leave YOU deficient. To produce the milk your body will start to take calcium from your bones as well as many other nutrients, so you will ultimately pay the price for that.

Have you considered counselling to overcome this? It sounds like you need help

**Bernard.Manny.Fran** · 03-03-2011 12:04

Oh hun, I couldn't read and not post. I can't imagine it would be great for your breastmilk. I have a shocking diet and some days just flat out forget to eat before 4pm. I am breastfeeding but have started to have o top up with formula. I know you need a certain amount of calories a day to make nutrient rich breastmilk, I can't remember what that figure is though.

I think it's more important to think about getting a handle on this for yourself as well!! How did you stop the habits last time? Can you focus on doing it again? Can you go see someone?

It's not great for the baby your breastfeeding but it's not great for you either, I know you know all this and I haven't been much help at all, but

to you and I hope you can figure your way through all of this.

**decemberbubba** · 03-03-2011 12:42

I too couldn't read and not post. I don't know what it's like to have an eating disorder, so I probaby can't be very helpful but I just wanted to send you a big

. I agree with PP that not consuming enough calories cannot be good for breastfeeding - and it sounds like you're going so well with it. You have a little bubba that needs her mum to be healthy, perhaps try to focus on that. My only other suggestion is if eating is difficult to try something like Sustagen to keep up calcium and nutrients?

**chicken and eggs mum** · 04-03-2011 14:02

Thank you all for your replies.

I guess I always have known that there was going to be ramifications. And yes, not consuming enough calories is not good for my body and bub relies on mentor food so it is not fair on her. The only reason I stopped last time was that I was pregnant with dd1. I have always feared getting sick again.

I am going to try and stop.... Thank you for advice!!

**The sooper nanny** · 04-03-2011 14:22

I think you should make an appointment with your gp. You can't just 'stop' something like this. It's an illness and it needs to be managed appropriately. Your baby deserves a healthy mummy, and the fact that you've admitted it's become a problem is the first step. Is your dp aware of what's happening?

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