While I’m based in Asia, I offer virtual eating disorder recovery coaching to clients in the UK, Ireland, and worldwide. I pride myself on transparency and trust—so you’ll always know what to expect and how our sessions work, no matter where you are. Rest assured, my location doesn’t limit the quality or depth of support you’ll receive—my commitment to your recovery remains the same, wherever you’re reaching out from.
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Pregnancy is a time of transformation—physically, emotionally, and in your sense of self. For many women in eating disorder recovery, pregnancy brings a mix of hope, excitement, and fear. If you’re navigating this, know you’re not alone, and your feelings are valid. As an eating disorder recovery coach offering eating disorder recovery coaching in England and who’s also been pregnant with an eating disorder, I know how challenging it is to balance caring for yourself and your growing baby while battling eating disorder thoughts.
Everyone’s experience with pregnancy and eating disorders is unique. For some women in recovery, or with an active eating disorder, they find that pregnancy quiets eating disorder symptoms or they fade into the background. The focus on the baby, the sense of purpose, and the feeling of permission to eat bring relief.
However, for others, pregnancy can trigger an uptick in eating disorder thoughts. Pregnancy is a time of profound change—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. You may feel anxious about your changing shape, fearful of gaining weight, and overwhelmed with the magnitude of changes ahead. All of this can exacerbate existing eating disorder thoughts or bring up old ones. These feelings are common and nothing to be ashamed of.
Pregnancy is also a major life transition, bringing with it many unknowns. Emotional shifts, hormonal changes, and the anticipation of becoming a parent can feel overwhelming. In times of big change, it’s natural for eating disorder urges to reappear. They reappear as a way to try to cope with anxiety or to find a sense of control. But it’s important to remember: your worth is not defined by your body or your ability to control food.
Why Eating Disorder Thoughts May Persist or Intensify During Pregnancy
Eating disorders love routine and predictability. Pregnancy is the complete opposite of this, with so much change, and so it’s not surprising that the eating disorder voice may shout louder.
Here are some of the things that may bring about eating disorder thoughts and behaviours:
- Physical changes: Pregnancy brings rapid changes to your body. All of which can feel uncomfortable or frightening if you struggle with eating disorder thoughts. The fear of weight gain or losing your shape can be overwhelming. Remember, these changes mean your body is working hard to support a new life.
- Hormonal changes: Fluctuating hormones during pregnancy can bring lots of emotional highs and lows. For some people, anxiety and depression may worsen, which can intensify eating disorder thoughts and make healthy coping harder.
- Eating for two: It can be confusing to know what and how much to eat if you’re pregnant and in recovery. The truth is, if you’ve had an eating disorder, your nutritional needs are higher than average. Your body may also be starting out depleted, which means nourishing yourself well matters even more. It takes extra energy to sustain a child’s growth.
- Identity changes: The prospect of becoming a parent is a huge identity shift. You might feel uncertain about who you will be, how your relationships will change, or how you’ll cope with this major transition. These feelings are normal. But can feel destabilising, especially if you have used eating disorder behaviours as a way to cope with change.
- Fear of the unknown: The anticipation of birth, not knowing how things will go, or how a baby might change relationships, are all normal worries. These feelings can be especially tough if you’ve used eating disorder behaviours to cope with change.
With so much change, it’s understandable to turn to what feels familiar. Focusing on food or restricting can seem like a way to regain control. However, it often brings more anxiety and takes away the nourishment you and your baby need.
How to Cope With Eating Disorder Thoughts During Pregnancy
If you’re struggling with eating disorder thoughts during pregnancy, you don’t need to struggle alone. You deserve to experience pregnancy with as much peace and support as possible.
- Find support: Having support from people who really understand is crucial. Reach out to a therapist, an eating disorder dietitian, or a recovery coach.
- Make a list of your 5 most important values: the things that are most important to you. Think about whether your eating disorder aligns with these.
- Make a list of why eating enough and putting on weight matters: Write down the reasons why eating well supports your baby’s growth and development. Don’t forget that it’s not just about your baby. You need to have energy to give birth and cope with looking after a newborn.
- Practice showing gratitude for your body: shift the focus from berating it to appreciating what it does for you. Make a list of the ways your body has come through for you. Allowing you to get pregnant, carry, and grow your baby every day.
- Change your self-talk: criticism is never an effective motivator. When you are anxious, try to speak to yourself as you would to a friend, with reassurance, kindness, and encouragement.
- Know that emotional ups and downs are real for everyone in pregnancy: It’s okay to feel scared, sad, or overwhelmed.
Your Struggle Is Not a Failing — And Help Is Here
If you’re struggling with eating disorder thoughts during pregnancy, or even postpartum, know that you’re not alone. The urge to control food or your body is a response to a huge life change—not a failing. At Healthy Self Recovery, I’ve seen firsthand, both in myself and in many women I’ve supported, how powerful it can be to reach out and get the help you need with eating disorder recovery coaching. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through this. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It’s one of the most courageous things you can do for yourself and your baby.
You and Your Baby Deserve Support: Take the First Step With Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching in England
You don’t have to navigate pregnancy and eating disorder thoughts alone. Specialised eating disorder recovery coaching in England can give you the understanding, tools, and compassionate support you need to protect both your own wellbeing and your baby’s. I’ve been where you are, and I know how powerful it can be to have someone truly in your corner during this overwhelming time. Reach out to Healthy Self Recovery today and take the first step towards experiencing pregnancy with greater peace, confidence, and self-compassion. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
- Book your free consultation with eating disorder recovery coaching in England and take the first step towards a more peaceful pregnancy.
- Start working with a compassionate eating disorder recovery coach who helps you nourish yourself and your baby with confidence.
- Begin taking small, supported steps that quiet the eating disorder voice — even when pregnancy feels overwhelming.
Additional Services Offered at Healthy Self Recovery
At Healthy Self Recovery, I work with women who are navigating the unique challenges of pregnancy while managing eating disorder thoughts — whether that’s fear of weight gain, anxiety around body changes, or feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of this life transition. My eating disorder recovery coaching is designed to help you find consistency and calm during pregnancy, even on the days when the eating disorder voice feels loudest. I provide compassionate, practical guidance that helps you nourish yourself and your baby with confidence — because you both deserve to thrive.
I also offer anorexia recovery support and broader eating disorder recovery coaching that focuses on restoring your relationship with food, managing anxiety around eating, and rebuilding trust with your body through consistent, manageable steps. Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, or at any other stage of your recovery journey, support at Healthy Self Recovery is compassionate, collaborative, and designed to meet you where you are.
I offer online eating disorder recovery coaching to clients across England, the UK, and internationally, making compassionate, specialist support accessible wherever you are based.
About The Author
Marianna Miles, CCIEDC 2061, is a Registered Nutritionist (Dip ION) and certified eating disorder recovery coach who brings both professional knowledge and lived experience to her work — including her own experience of being pregnant with an eating disorder. She specialises in supporting women through the unique challenges that pregnancy can bring to eating disorder recovery. From fear of body changes to the overwhelming uncertainty of becoming a parent — she understands how hard this time can be. Marianna has a strong background in nutrition. She also has a deep understanding of how hormonal and emotional shifts can amplify eating disorder thoughts during pregnancy. Her support is compassionate and practical. She helps women nourish themselves and their babies with greater confidence. Her approach focuses on building small, manageable steps that foster a more peaceful relationship with food and the body. Even when pregnancy feels daunting.
