Pregnancy and postpartum can bring enormous changes to someone's body, identity, relationship with food, and mental health. So why do conversations about eating disorder recovery so often leave these experiences out?

In today’s episode, we're joined by Erica Marcum, LMHC, to explore the intersection of perinatal mental health and eating disorders, including the challenges of navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, body image, and disordered eating.

You’ll learn how eating disorders can show up during pregnancy and after birth, why symptoms and behaviors may go unrecognized, and how cultural expectations about pregnancy, motherhood, and “bouncing back” can make recovery even more complicated.

Erica also shares clinical perspectives on supporting people through this transition, from preparing for pregnancy while navigating an eating disorder to responding to changes in hunger and fullness cues, body checking, and identity. We explore harm reduction, individualized care, and why healthcare providers need better education and research to support this population.

Things We Yap About:

• The prevalence of eating disorders during pregnancy and postpartum & why they can be overlooked
• Preparing for pregnancy while navigating an eating disorder
• Hunger, fullness, and changing relationships with food postpartum
• Identity shifts and the mental health challenges of becoming a parent
• Cultural expectations surrounding pregnancy, motherhood, and postpartum bodies
• How healthcare providers can recognize concerns and intervene earlier
• Harm reduction and individualized approaches to recovery
• Supporting people when full recovery feels complicated or inaccessible
• The need for better education among clinicians and medical providers
• Research gaps in eating disorders during pregnancy and postpartum
• How clinicians and caregivers can provide more compassionate, effective support

Resources & Mentions:

• Erica’s IG: @ericabrown_lmhc
• Erica’s TikTok: @honestbloomco
• Erica’s PsychologyToday Profile

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