Postnatal and Early Motherhood in Women with Eating Disorders

Eating disorders (ED) are severe psychiatric disorders that affect women in reproductive age. Research suggests that ED symptoms reduce during pregnancy with a recrudescence during the postpartum period, and comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms are common. Maternal ED have an impact on child psychological, cognitive, and eating behaviors, and might affect the development of ED in the offspring. The aim of this chapter is to provide an up-to-date overview of the impact of maternal ED on the postnatal period and early motherhood covering maternal and child psychopathology, infant feeding, parent–child relationship, and child development. Health-care professionals need to be trained with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide access to appropriate treatment and support to mitigate the impact on maternal and infant outcomes.