AN online pilot project designed to support new mums with eating disorders is underway at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals in Townsville and South Brisbane.
Dr Grace Branjerdporn is leading the Australian-first project.
Dr Branjerdporn is the Service Development and Research Team Leader at Mater’s Catherine’s House for Mothers, Babies and Families, Queensland’s first and only integrated perinatal mental health care service.
“An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition and having an eating disorder that goes undetected and unsupported in pregnancy may result in complications for a mother and baby,” she said.
Dr Branjerdporn said eating disorder signs could manifest as normal symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea, vomiting or changes in appetite.
The project’s modules are aimed at those working with mothers before, during and after birth, described as high risk times for developing an eating disorder.
They cover how these eating disorders can present, including psychologically, physically and behaviourally.
According to the National Eating Disorder Collaboration, about 15 percent of women will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
Common disorders include anorexia, bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and Disordered Eating.
They can range from skipping meals to restrictive dieting and compulsive eating.
“(The project) is a co-designed study and will help health professionals better detect eating disorders,” she said.
“It is important to recognise that a patient with an eating disorder might not look like they have one.
“Some feel a lot of shame around their eating disorder history and don’t want to raise it themselves.”
Mater’s Ambulatory and Birthing assistant director for clinical services Kathleen Goldsmith, participated in the online modules.
She said their use of videos featuring women with lived experiences put real-life situations into perspective.
“The modules covered all stages from pre-pregnancy through to after birth and how to incorporate the care of women with eating disorders into everyday practic,” she said.
“Having the skillset to identify eating disorders in women, no matter what age, will ensure access to care and support is provided.”
The study, “Eating disorders in the peripartum: Creation and evaluation of an online module for health professionals and peer workers”, comes after Dr Branjerdporn was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Australian Eating Disorders Research Institute.
There are plans to expand the project and trial the study at all Mater Mothers’ hospitals across Queensland.
