I Feared Pregnancy Would Trigger My Eating Disorder—Here’s How It Changed My Relationship With My Body

Posted on 24 July 2025 by Marcus Williams 3 min

I never thought pregnancy would be a healing journey for me. Like many, I carried the fear that having kids would trigger my eating disorder all over again. The thought of my body changing so drastically? Terrifying. But as I read this heartfelt piece from Business Insider, I found a story that flipped that fear on its head: I worried having kids would trigger my eating disorder. It actually changed my relationship with my body for the better.

If you’ve ever struggled with body image, eating disorders, or anxiety around fertility and pregnancy, you know it’s a deeply personal, often painful battle. The idea of letting go of control, especially when it comes to your body, might feel impossible—like asking the ocean to stay still.

So, how can pregnancy, which brings so many physical changes, actually heal your relationship with your body?

Here’s what this story made me realize:

  • Pregnancy helps you see your body as a miracle, not a problem. When you’re growing a tiny human, suddenly your body’s purpose feels more vivid and profound. That shift in perspective can be incredibly healing.
  • The journey invites radical self-compassion. Your body is working overtime, and expecting perfection no longer makes sense. Acceptance starts to replace judgment.
  • It’s okay to have fears—and to confront them. Being honest about your worries, like the author was, creates space for healing rather than shame.

Reading this made me think about those of us navigating fertility struggles—not just physically, but emotionally. The insecurities, the what-ifs, the waiting. That’s why so many people are turning to more private, user-friendly options like at-home insemination kits. For example, companies like MakeAMom offer discreet, reusable kits tailored for different needs, making conception feel less clinical and more personal.

The way they design kits for everything from low motility sperm to sensitivities like vaginismus shows a deeper understanding of the physical and emotional layers involved in fertility.

But let’s bring it back to the emotional journey.

If you’re worried pregnancy might awaken old wounds, you’re not alone. Here are some small ways you can start to nurture a kinder relationship with your body right now:

  • Celebrate what your body can do. Try journaling about moments you felt strong or capable.
  • Seek support—online communities, friends, professionals. Fertility and mental health are intertwined, and you don’t have to face it solo.
  • Be curious about your fears instead of pushing them away. Sometimes asking “What am I really scared of?” opens the door to healing.

And if you’re on a fertility path, consider options that give you control and privacy, like home insemination kits. They have a success rate reported around 67% and can make the process feel less like a medical procedure and more like a hopeful journey.

Your body is so much more than its flaws or fears.

It’s a vessel of possibility, resilience, and life itself. And sometimes, it’s in the most unexpected moments—like pregnancy—that we start to see that truth for ourselves.

So if you’re battling fear about pregnancy and your body, pause and read the full story here: Business Insider on pregnancy and eating disorders. It might just change how you see your own journey.

What fears or hopes do you have around your body and fertility? Share your thoughts—let’s continue this important conversation together.