Eating Disorders guideline (GL830) Approval and Authorisation Approval Group Job Title, Chair of Committee Date Maternity Clinical Governance Chair, Maternity Clinical Governance Committee 8 th January 2016 Change History Version Date Author(s) Reason 1.0 Aug 2006 2.0 Jan 2010 3.0 Oct 2013 4.0 Nov 2015 Dr May-Li Lim (Specialist Registrar), Miss Pat Street (Consultant Obstetrician) Miss Pat Street (Consultant Obstetrician) Miss Pat Street (Consultant Obstetrician), Dr Sameena Kausar (Specialist registrar) Miss Jane Siddall (Consultant Obstetrician) Trust requirement Review and update of Version 1 Review and update of Version 2 Reviewed changes throughout This document is valid only on date Last printed 19/01/2016 14:11:00 Page 1 of 1
1. Introduction Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge-eating disorder (BED) and eating disorders otherwise specified (EDNOS) - are common in young women in developed countries. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most commonly discussed in pregnancy. A common characteristic of anorexia and bulimia is the abnormal perception of body image. Anorexia is thought to affect 1 in 130-1 in 500 young women. The onset is typically in adolescence or young adulthood i.e. in a critical phase of women s reproductive life. These disorders are not self-limiting and have a chronic course with notable psychiatric and medical co-morbidities and sequelae. Although more common, the prevalence of bulimia is difficult to quantify because these women are often not medically unwell and so more able to hide their problem. In the context of care of pregnant women, we are more likely to encounter women with bulimia than anorexia. 2. Impact of pregnancy on patients with eating disorders 1. Core psychological symptoms include morbid fear of fatness and strong belief that their self-worth is exclusively tied to their weight, shape or appearance. The prospect of weight gain during pregnancy terrifies many of these patients and their attitude towards breastfeeding may be more negative. Antenatal care should routinely ask questions relating to body weight, eating behaviour and weight control behaviour in early pregnancy (NICE 2004). 2. Women in remission can have a resurgence of symptoms in pregnancy. In bulimic patients there may be recurrence postpartum. Remember Bulimic patients can have normal BMI. They are most likely to get missed. 3. Impact of eating disorders on pregnancy 3.1 Maternal Risks 1. Higher incidence of hyperemesis and miscarriages in first trimester. 2. The fear of gaining weight can often lead to misuse of laxatives and diuretics. Consequently, there may be associated complications such as electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrhythmias, dehydration and gastroesophageal bleeding. 3. Low folate and iron intake is associated with increased risk of anaemia. 4. The bulimic person will go through cycles of binge-eating followed by induced vomiting in the attempt to offset the potential weight gain resulting from the abnormal eating. Purging and bingeing are associated with rapid oscillations in This document is valid only on date Last printed 19/01/2016 14:11:00 Page 2 of 2
3.2 Fetal risks blood sugars. This is associated with increased rates of gestational diabetes, in patients, with active or past history of eating disorders (Miscali 2007b). 1. The majority of women had normal pregnancies resulting in healthy babies. 2. BMI <19 in a woman with an eating disorder at conception is associated with a significantly increased risk of delivering babies weighing below the 10th centile. Intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight is related to low maternal BMI pre-pregnancy and in part due to smoking in second trimester. 3. Higher rates if preterm delivery, prematurity and low Apgar scores have been seen in some small number studies. 4. Protein restriction affects hypothalamic- pituitary- adrenal axis. This leads to increased fetal exposure to maternal cortisol. This is associated with lower birthweight, microcephaly and in later life neuro-developmental problem. 5. Bulimic patients are at increased risk of complications related to gestational diabetes with higher rates of fetal abnormalities, miscarriages and stillbirth. 4. Management for those who are in remission: 1. Provide support in the form of giving information about how the weight gain is essential and physiological. 2. Provide contacts for persons such as dietician, midwife, psychologist and obstetrician in the event the woman needs advice/ support. 3. Regular maternal body weight. 4. Regular ultrasound scans to demonstrate fetal growth to motivate the woman to stay healthy. 5. Watch for relapse (eg. lack of weight gain, abnormal fetal growth, electrolyte disturbance due to laxative/diuretic misuse). 6. Consider referral to a consultant clinic 5. Management for those with an active eating disorder: 1. Refer to consultant antenatal clinic. 2. Essential to provide regular antenatal visits. This document is valid only on date Last printed 19/01/2016 14:11:00 Page 3 of 3
3. Multidisciplinary team including named obstetrician, GP, midwife, dietician, (psychologist or psychiatrist GP to refer if needed). 4. Regular maternal body weight. 5. Regular fetal growth ultrasound scans. 6. Consider referral to: dentist (poor dentition due to chronic vomiting) gastroenterologist (if symptoms of esophagitis, gastroesophageal bleed) 7. Assess for risk of gestational diabetes and arrange two hour post-prandial glucose test at 28 weeks especially in patients with bulimia. 6. References: 1. Kouba S et al. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in women with eating disorders. Obstet Gynecol 2005; 105: 255-260. 2. Franko D et al. Pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes in women with eating disorders. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158: 1461-1466. 3. Lacey JH and Smith G. Bulimia nervosa: the impact of pregnancy on mother and baby. Br J Psychiatry 1987; 150: 777-781. 4. Bulik CM et al. Fertility and reproduction in women with anorexia nervosa: a controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry 1999; 60: 130-137. 5. Sollid CP et al. Eating disorder that was diagnosed before pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004; 190: 206-210 6. Ekeus C et al. Birth outcomes and pregnancy complications in women with a history of anorexia nervosa. BJOG 2006; 113: 925-929. 7. Miscali,N., Simonoff,E. & Treasure,J.(2007b) Risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in women with eating disorders.british journal of psychiatry,190, 255-259. 8. Miscali,N., Simonoff,E. & Treasure,J.(2007a) Eating disorders symptoms in pregnancy;a longitudinal study of women with recent and past eating disorders and obesity. Journal of Psychosomatic Research,63, 297-303. 9. Miscali,N., Simonoff,E. & Treasure,J.(2009)Biological effects of a maternal eating disorder on pregnancy and fetal development;a review European eating disorders review,17, 448-454. This document is valid only on date Last printed 19/01/2016 14:11:00 Page 4 of 4
Author/s Dr May-Li Lim, Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics, August 2006 Reviewed: Miss P Street (Consultant Obstetrician) January 2010, October 2013 Miss P Street & Dr Sameena Kausar (Specialist Registrar) Jane Siddall, Consultant obstetrician Dec 2015 Review: January 2018 This document is valid only on date Last printed 19/01/2016 14:11:00 Page 5 of 5