Pregorexia
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There are many things a mother-to-be can do to maximize the possibility of having a problem-free pregnancy, a healthy baby and positive birth experience. Regular, moderate exercise is one of them. When an expectant mother exercises, her heart rate increases, as does her baby’s. It’s as if the baby inside her body is also getting a mini work-out. Throughout her pregnancy, she receives all the health benefits of any exercise regimen, including increased energy, muscle tone and strength, and better, more restful sleep. At the conclusion of her pregnancy, a woman who remains active will enjoy an easier labor and delivery. Her newborn will also experience trickle-down health benefits from the mother’s activity, such as a higher IQ. What’s more, by remaining active, it will be easier to shed any residual pregnancy pounds. When exercise is moderate, and done under a doctor’s supervision and care, it is extremely positive for all involved.
Unfortunately, with society’s obsession with remaining thin, some women have taken exercise to an extreme, even while pregnant. The media term for this is “pregorexia.” This is when a pregnant woman consistently exercises to an unhealthy degree; when in fact, she is far more concerned with weight than health. This is highly individualized; in other words, what is considered excessive for one woman does not hold true across the board. However, if a woman is routinely exercising to the point of exhaustion, this should be considered a red flag. To make matters worse, this inordinate focus on weight gain often extends to her diet, as well. She may take in far fewer calories than her body requires, possibly causing risk to her unborn baby, in the form of lower birth weight, birth defects and growth retardation. However, by restricting calories, she is even more likely to cause harm to herself. You see, the first priority where a pregnancy is concerned, is the baby. For example, if calcium appears to be in short supply, the growing baby will get what’s available, while the mother goes without. By cutting back, or eliminating calcium-rich products altogether, the mother may experience osteoporosis far earlier than she should.
What is causing pregorexia? A couple of factors. First, as mentioned, America is utterly obsessed with thinness, witness the fact that ten million women and girls currently have eating disorders. Now, add to that, our fascination with celebrities, mostly actresses and models, many of whom seem to be having babies lately. And the truth is, these beautiful people, go right on looking amazing during their pregnancies. It only gets worse after they deliver; within about an hour of having a baby, these women look splendid – back in their tight pre-baby clothes. Of course, few expectant or new mothers gazing at the photos of these new moms in glossy magazines keep in mind that the pictures are probably altered to make the celebrity appear far better – and thinner — than she really is.
So … women throughout America say to themselves: if they can do it, so can I. But the problem is, they can’t, simply because they live real lives. Normal, everyday women have jobs, families, other children; they have to drop the little one off at kindergarten, take another to the dentist, they have to pick up dry cleaning and make sure homework is done. Even if it is a first pregnancy, normal women in today’s society have a lot of responsibilities, undoubtedly including a job. What’s more, average women do not have full-time nannies for other children, daily personal trainers or live-in chefs. In short, average women do not have unlimited amounts of money to spend on their personal appearance, pregnancy or no. Therefore, trying to fashion themselves after celebrities is not only unrealistic it is unfair. These women are setting themselves up to fail and ultimately feel badly about themselves.
If you are pregnant … rejoice! Eat well, remain fit, gain a healthy amount of weight and see your primary care physician regularly. Do not compare yourselves to others, especially those you see in magazines. Instead, focus on the blessing of the healthy baby that is soon to be a wonderful addition to your life.
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