Pregnancy, Body Image, and Eating Disorders: Learning to Nourish the Body That Nourishes Life
By Becky Stone, MBACP DIP Couns, NCFED Master practitioner in eating disorders &obesity, Clinical supervisor, BACP/ICF Life coach
“Pregnancy can bring joy and grief in the same moment, especially when your body no longer feels like your own.
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When Pregnancy Awakens an Old Battle
I didn’t realise how much pressure I had silently absorbed about “bouncing back” until I was actively trying to shrink my body… while unknowingly growing a new life inside it.
After I had my son, I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t dropping the baby weight. I kept trying to get back into my jeans, blaming myself, thinking I wasn’t trying hard enough. It turns out I was 18–20 weeks pregnant with my daughter.
Two babies, so close together. No space for my body to heal. No time to process the shift. And no one around me is talking about how utterly confronting pregnancy can be when you’ve got a history with disordered eating or body shame.
Identity, Motherhood, and the Grief of a Changing Body
Your body stops being your own in pregnancy, and in many ways, it’s a beautiful thing. But let’s not pretend it’s easy.
For those of us with a complicated relationship with our bodies, it can feel like grief.
➔ Grieving your pre-baby body
➔ Grieving the control you once had
➔ Grieving the parts of your identity that are shifting, rapidly and unexpectedly
You’re told you should be glowing, grateful, and thrilled. But sometimes you’re just… exhausted, swollen, and trying to smile through it.
The Neuroscience of Nourishment
Your brain and your baby’s brain need food to function. Starving yourself in pregnancy or postpartum doesn’t just leave you drained; it compromises your body’s ability to regulate mood, energy, and hormones.
➔ Serotonin, your mood stabiliser, is produced in your gut
➔ Glucose, your brain’s main fuel source, drops dramatically when you skip meals
➔ Low blood sugar triggers cortisol (your stress hormone), which in turn feeds anxiety and irritability
You’re not “failing” if you feel irritable or tearful; your body is simply asking for fuel. And in motherhood, your energy needs don’t decrease. They skyrocket.
The Postpartum Pressure Cooker
After birth, the pressure to get your body back begins almost instantly. But here’s the thing:
➔ You don’t need to “bounce back”
➔ You’ve just created life, and your body deserves reverence, not restriction
➔ Those stretch marks? They’re not flaws. They’re war wounds. Signs of your strength.
This pressure often stems from a mix of societal ideals and personal history. If you’ve ever experienced body dysmorphia, calorie counting, or harsh inner self-talk, these pressures can be retraumatising.
Small Actions, Big Shifts: What Helps
Recovery, whether you’re actively in it or just holding steady, doesn’t stop when you get pregnant. If anything, it becomes more important. Here are some ways to support your body and mind during this vulnerable time:
Ask for help. Let someone batch-cook for you. Freeze easy meals.
Stock your kitchen with high-protein snacks, such as Greek yoghurt, Babybel, boiled eggs, and chicken wraps.
Feed your brain regularly. Try to eat every 3–4 hours, even if it’s just a small amount.
Rest when you can. Sleep deprivation increases disordered eating urges.
Use a slow cooker or steamer. Nourishment doesn’t need to be complicated.
For Anyone Struggling Right Now…
If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or trying to conceive, and feeling out of control with food, body image, or your identity, you’re not alone.
You’re not a bad mum if you’re grieving your body. You’re not ungrateful if you miss how things used to feel. And you’re not broken if disordered thoughts are resurfacing.
Please be kind to yourself.
➔ You are allowed to rest
➔ You are allowed to eat
➔ You are allowed to ask for support
Final Thoughts, Let’s Redefine Strength
Strength isn’t fitting back into your jeans.
It’s showing up for your child and yourself, even when it’s messy.
It’s fuelling your body because you deserve energy, not just for them, but for you.
If you’re navigating these emotions, you don’t have to do it alone. Therapy can be a space to explore them honestly, free of shame.
You deserve that space.
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I’m Becky Stone, a qualified eating disorder therapist based in the UK
I work with both teens and adults, offering a calm and non-judgmental space to explore what recovery truly means, on your terms. With a background in supporting people through anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and body image struggles, I know how complex and personal this journey can be. My work is shaped by both professional training and personal experience, which enables me to connect with clients in a genuine and authentic way.
https://www.counsellorwhocares.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-stone-42242331