Treatment for ED during Pregnancy

Eating Disorders and Pregnancy Treatment, Prenatal Nutrition Therapy in the St. Louis Area, Missouri, and Illinois

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Provide Help for Pregnant Women Struggling with Anorexia, Bulimia, Orthorexia, Disordered Eating, and Other Eating Disorders, Experience Recovery and Reduce Risks During Pregnancy and Labor

Improve your relationship with food and body. Normalize eating patterns and behaviors. Achieve healthy weight gain. Reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Support the healthy development of your growing baby.

What is the prevalence of eating disorders during pregnancy?

It’s estimated that 1-4% of pregnant women may experience an eating disorder during pregnancy. Oftentimes, cases of eating disorders during pregnancy may go undiagnosed or unreported making it challenging to determine the true prevalence.

We provide online and in-person outpatient eating disorder nutrition therapy, giving moms-to-be the tools they need to improve their relationship with food and body, reduce their risk of complications during pregnancy and labor, and get compassionate treatment that leads to lasting recovery. Get help today.

Can not eating enough cause birth defects?

Unfortunately, yes. Adequate nutrition during pregnancy is essential for the baby’s growth and development. Severe malnutrition or nutrient deficiencies, especially during critical periods of fetal development can increase the risk of birth defects.

Nutrients of concern for all women during pregnancy include iron, folic acid, vitamin D, choline, calcium, zinc, DHA omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12. Oftentimes, pregnant women with eating disorders have a deficiency for each of these nutrients in addition to vitamin C and potassium intake. Along with establishing healthier eating patterns and improving diet to include key nutrients, we encourage the women we work with to take a prenatal vitamin.

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Our bodies need adequate nutrition to function best. This means eating a variety of nutritious and fun foods throughout the day.

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How does unhealthy eating affect pregnancy?

Nutrition is key to a healthy pregnancy and the healthy development of your baby. Not consuming enough calories, the lack of a nutrient-rich diet, or consuming a lot of ultra-processed foods can lead to issues such as:

Nutrient Deficiencies
Maternal health risks, such as anemia, fatigue, and poor immune functioning
Preeclampsia
Gestational Diabetes (with women struggling with bulimia nervosa)
Low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental delays
High birth weight and difficult labor, increasing the risk of needing a C-section
Higher risk of miscarriage (in particular with women with anorexia nervosa)

Our bodies need adequate nutrition to function best. This means eating a variety of nutritious and fun foods throughout the day.

What are the dangers of eating too much during pregnancy?

Some potential risks for both the mom and the baby may include gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, excessive weight gain, fetal macrosomia, and increased risk of childhood health issues for the baby.

Develop a healthy relationship with food and body, manage cravings, and decrease risks during pregnancy and labor with individualized dietary interventions.

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What does medical nutrition therapy include for women who are struggling with eating disorders and pregnancy?

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for pregnancy and disordered eating includes a very individualized plan to address both the nutritional needs of the mother and the health of the developing baby.

Treatment should include a multidisciplinary team including your dietitian, therapist, ObGyn, and psychiatrist to provide the best care. It takes a comprehensive approach to address the eating disorder and the specific nutrient needs of both the developing baby and pregnant woman.

As dietitian nutritionists, we provide online and in-person nutrition therapy. As part of your healing process, we do the following:

Assess weight and body image concerns
Understand how you feel about your eating disorder during pregnancy
Assess nutrient deficiencies
Assess overall caloric intake
Assist with meal planning
Address aversions or challenges related to the specific ED
Minimize eating disorder behaviors
Provide ongoing support during the postpartum period
Teach intuitive eating and mindfulness techniques

We provide compassionate, caring nutrition therapy and support to families and women struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and disordered eating while pregnant. We can help you overcome your challenges and restore your relationship with food and body.

Recovery is possible. Get help today.

Schedule with a Dietitian

Our Team of Dietitian Nutritionists in the Greater St. Louis Area

Branz Nutrition Counseling is a team of certified eating disorder dietitians who provide compassionate care to those struggling with their relationship to food. Our approach is weight-inclusive, LGBTQIA+, and social justice-oriented, which means that we believe that everyone deserves access to quality care.

We can’t wait to meet you!

With locations in Illinois and Missouri, we offer both virtual and in-person counseling sessions. And, we are licensed to provide Telehealth nutrition therapy to patients around the country.

We see clients in person in the St. Louis area, Missouri, Illinois, and from around the country via Telehealth. Learn more here.

We help individuals and families heal their relationships with food and body through compassionate, weight-inclusive care—supporting eating disorder recovery and managing chronic conditions like PCOS, diabetes, and heart disease using Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size principles.

Gwendoline Balto

MS, RDN, LDN

Registered Dietitian
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Brianna Becherer

MS, RDN, LDN, CPT

Registered Dietitian
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Laura Bradfield

RDN, LDN

Registered Dietitian
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Kelly Houston

MS, RDN, LDN, CLC

Registered Dietitian
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Michelle Wilson

MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C, CIEC

Registered Dietitian
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Erica Branz

MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS

Founder and Registered Dietitian
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Scroll to see the whole team.

How It Works – An Easy Three-Step Process to Get You on the Road to Recovery

Make An Appointment

What service do you need? We offer a range of appointments of different durations to best fit your needs.

Meet with your Personal Dietitian

Be paired with the dietitian nutritionist on our team and get continued support with one of our online groups. One-on-one counseling, in-person, or virtual. WE TAKE INSURANCE!

Take Control of Your Life

Heal your relationship with food and your body. Choose the best foods for your unique needs. Get the tools you need to live a healthy life. Receive continued support.

Schedule for Missouri Residents

Schedule for Illinois Residents

Note: In order to secure a spot on a dietitian’s schedule, we need a valid payment method on file.

Our Testimonials

Thank you for choosing us as the Best Dietitian Practice in STL (2023)

There have been times where my daughter will eat 4 bowls of carrots and turn down a cookie, and there have been times where she will want all the fruit snacks and nothing else, but it doesn’t stress me out because I know now that it’s just what her body wants in the moment. The information provided in your course not only helps my kids, but also opened my eyes to some of my own internal struggles around sugar and meal times!"
My sister Gifted this program to me and I'm so glad she did! I've already gotten so much out of watching the modules and reading the PDFs."
Understanding and implementing the Division of Responsibility in Feeding really takes the pressure off meal times. I love sitting down to enjoy dinner with my family and I hope it’s a memory my kids enjoy when they’re older too."
Also, againg, thank you for being so kind to "A". She usually does not like seeing "doctor like people", but she actually enjoys coming to see you, so that says a lot.
by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO
I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. I know we will continue to deal with food issues but at least I see hope. I honestly don't know how L(or myself) could have got through the past year without you. You literally are a lifesaver!! You are an amazing dietitian!!.
by Mother of a Patient
Thank you for the caring devoted service and gentle compassion you have shown "S" over the years.
by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO
I am truly grateful we found you to be he nutritionist. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO
"For most of my life, I have correlated the size of my body to being loved and accepted. The smaller I am, the more lovable and acceptable I am. Giving up the dieting, the rules, and the noise has given me the freedom to trust, appreciate and accept love from others as well as myself".
by
I truly appreciate the encouragement and hearfelt, genuine concern you have for me. Your counsel and empathy have meant a great deal and helped keep me going during difficult times.
by C, Saint Louis, MO
Thanks for helping me think about food differently and providing guidance regarding how to select carbs. Also, thanks for helping me recognize that the evolution would take several months to come to a 'new normal'.
by E, Saint Louis, MO