– We live in a very body-obsessed time. And that means that we are very concerned with the body as an object. Psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt says so. For several years, she has been researching women’s relationship with food during and after pregnancy, and has just finished a doctorate on the subject. Her study shows: Occurrences of eating disorders in pregnancy are far more common than we have thought. The problem increases in the first year after birth. Several international studies show that more than 5 per cent are affected during pregnancy, and around 12 per cent are affected in the first six months afterwards. Psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt believes that the Norwegian healthcare system has too little knowledge about pregnant women, food and the mother’s body. Photo: Marianne Ytre-Eide / news – You have a lot to compare yourself to, both in social media and magazines. The shape and size of the body quickly become an eye-catcher and something fixed and concrete. Losing control over the body Christina Kjeserud Ose is a clinical nutritionist and has had an interest in food and exercise all her life, and has felt that she has control over her own body. At 31, she became pregnant, and it was difficult for her. Christina Kjeserud Ose felt that she lost control over her body. Photo: Marianne Ytre-Eide / news – It was quite difficult to lose control of my body. Because that’s what you do. You lose control. Christina has been tall and slim all her life, and disliked the change that happened to her body. – Then there is such an identity. A bit like that, call it a false identity of who you are, is created, based on your appearance. Something which in itself, I think, is quite problematic. She used the nausea of pregnancy to regulate her food intake and did everything she could to hide this from the midwife she went to. – I was very good at hiding it. I don’t show you that I have any discomfort with my body. She didn’t have a chance, that is. Christina Kjeserud Ose was happier and more secure with her mother’s body the second time she was pregnant Photo: Privat / news Must ask questions According to psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt, it is common for pregnant and new mothers to try to hide that they have problems with their bodies changing. It is therefore important that the women are asked about their relationship with food by the people they meet in the healthcare system. – The first thing we have to think about in the healthcare system is to ask people how things are with the body and food. And how the pregnancy has affected it. Psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt says it is important to ask the right questions. Photo: Marianne Ytre-Eide / news Her doctorate shows that many people who have previously had an eating disorder relapse during pregnancy. A Danish study shows recurrence in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. She believes that the focus on pregnant women and food must be strengthened. – It will be two for the price of one. She says there is too little focus on this among midwives and doctors when meeting pregnant women. Political leader of the Norwegian midwives’ association, Lena Henriksen, says there is an increasing problem with mothers who struggle with body image. Photo: The Norwegian Earth Mothers’ Association Earth Mothers’ Association recognizes that this is a problem. Political leader Lena Henriksen says she has spoken to midwives in various parts of the country who feel that problems with the mother’s body are an increasing problem. – The specific knowledge regarding eating disorders seems a bit arbitrary. That he is either based on interest, experience or whether each individual workplace has had, for example, specialist days, specialist courses on the problem. Sommerfeldt’s research project 24 women with a history of eating disorders were interviewed twice: during pregnancy (between weeks 9 and 40) and in the postpartum period (6 months after birth). Sommerfeldt says the problem with the mother’s body does not diminish after the birth. International studies show that over 10 percent of all women who give birth have a poor self-image six months after the baby is born. – We live in a body-obsessed time. It is marked by the times we live in. There are no free seasons anymore. – We often talk about a body we have, and not a body we are in. She says that many women hear from midwives or in the delivery room that the body comes back quickly, that breastfeeding is good, because then the kilos come off. She thinks we have to be careful how we talk about these things, because it is one of the most normal things that happens. – Things happen without us having to manage too much with him. Accept the mother’s body Christina’s baby was born with a low blood percentage and had to go to the intensive care unit and this made everything worse for Christina – I was thrown into a postpartum depression. Which in turn made me lose all appetite. It just piled on. When you also have to deal with the physical changes that occur after a birth, which are quite massive. Then it simply becomes a real test. Today Christina Kjeserud Ose is the mother of two healthy girls Photo: Marianne Ytre-Eide / news Today Christina is the mother of two healthy girls. She wants to tell her story, because she hopes she can help others to ask for help in time. – It’s okay not to be so overjoyed that your body is somehow changing in curves and edges. At the same time, you can be happy for the child who comes out, who is healthy. Published 10.06.2024, at 20.29
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The mother’s body is difficult to accept, research shows – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
