Transition to motherhood in women with eating disorders: A qualitative study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Transition to motherhood in women with eating disorders

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Taborelli, Emma

AU - Easter, Abigail

AU - Keefe, Rosalind

AU - Schmidt, Ulrike

AU - Treasure, Janet

AU - Micali, Nadia

N1 - © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

PY - 2015/10/23

Y1 - 2015/10/23

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine in depth the individual experience of transition from pregnancy to motherhood, among women with current eating disorders (EDs), focusing on differences between the first and subsequent pregnancies.DESIGN AND METHODS: We analysed the narratives of 12 women with severe ED during pregnancy using interpretative phenomenological analysis. We employed a sequential structure, and the emerging themes were ordered according to consecutive pregnancy stages.RESULTS: Our results indicate that experiences of pregnancy vary across pregnancy stages and in the first pregnancy compared to subsequent pregnancies. In particular, during their first pregnancy women with an ED seem to experience an inner conflict and questioned the continuity of their ED identity leading them to be more open to change.CONCLUSIONS: The first pregnancy, during its early stages, should be considered a potentially unique window for intervention for women with current ED.PRACTITIONER POINTS: Eating disorders (EDs) are known to seriously affect fertility, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. Our research sheds a light on experiences of pregnancy in women with ED and ultimately helps to define a window for intervention. Our findings have important implications in understanding mechanisms of relapse in the post-partum period and consequently could help in tailoring an adequate intervention for women with ED and in preventing ED relapse.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine in depth the individual experience of transition from pregnancy to motherhood, among women with current eating disorders (EDs), focusing on differences between the first and subsequent pregnancies.DESIGN AND METHODS: We analysed the narratives of 12 women with severe ED during pregnancy using interpretative phenomenological analysis. We employed a sequential structure, and the emerging themes were ordered according to consecutive pregnancy stages.RESULTS: Our results indicate that experiences of pregnancy vary across pregnancy stages and in the first pregnancy compared to subsequent pregnancies. In particular, during their first pregnancy women with an ED seem to experience an inner conflict and questioned the continuity of their ED identity leading them to be more open to change.CONCLUSIONS: The first pregnancy, during its early stages, should be considered a potentially unique window for intervention for women with current ED.PRACTITIONER POINTS: Eating disorders (EDs) are known to seriously affect fertility, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. Our research sheds a light on experiences of pregnancy in women with ED and ultimately helps to define a window for intervention. Our findings have important implications in understanding mechanisms of relapse in the post-partum period and consequently could help in tailoring an adequate intervention for women with ED and in preventing ED relapse.

U2 - 10.1111/papt.12076

DO - 10.1111/papt.12076

M3 - Article

C2 - 26493834

SN - 1476-0835

JO - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

JF - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

ER -