Weight loss surgery and pregnant!

[AllyBoo74]

Sorry, my story is kind of a long one!  I am 36 and my spouse is 44.  We have been together just over a year now andd talked about having a child.  To start things Off, I had weight loss surgery on July 29th and was told I should wait 2 years before getting pregnant.  Before the surgery I went to my ob/gyn and asked her how long I would have to be off depo if I wanted to get pregnant.  SHe told me that usually 6-9 months but considering my age and that I was on depo for 7 years or more that it will most likely take a year or 2.  That being said, we were hoping to be pregnant by Dec 2011 with the odds we were given even though that would be a little early so I came off the needle in July, my needle was due the 2nd week of July and I didn't get it.  Surprise surprise, I got pregnant Aug 12th.  SInce the surgery I have lost 58 pounds which is great but I am wondering if my baby is getting enough nutrition.  I am now 13 weeks and have lost another 6 pounds however, I have also had morning sickness.  Has anyone else out there got pregnant soon after weight loss surgery?  I am really nervous but so excited to be pregnant!  My OB thinks everything should be just fine and doesn't seem concerned about the weight loss but my mind is in overdrive worrying!

[AllyBoo74]

The reason they told me to wait 2 years is because they want to make sure that there are no deficiencies from the surgery.  It was my ob that told me ith would probably takae 2 years after being on depo for over 7 years.  i am just so excited that it did happen so fast I just didn't expect it.  I is a great surprise.  I am dow 11 more pounds since I got pregnant but the doctor still feels that everything is fine!  I am so excited! Thanks for the info
Allyson

[skysmama94]

Congratulations!  I had gastric bypass surgery in 2001.  I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 24 after my first son was born, and couldn't get pregnant again.  They said the weightloss would help and it did for us too!  I actually had my first period in the hospital after the surgery - had not had one in 4 months prior to that.  I didn't get pregnant until 8 months after the surgery, and unfortunately that ended in miscarriage as did my next pregnancy 8 months after that.  We then discovered that I had a progesterone deficiency unrelated to the surgery.

I got pregnant again in 2006 and delivered a healthy daughter in May 2007, then again in January 2008 and delivered a healthy son in September 2008.  I was pregnant again in June 2009 and delivered a stillborn daughter in November 2009 at 23 weeks - again unrelated to the surgery as she had a blood clot in her cord.  I am now pregnant with another girl and due in March - I'm 21 weeks.

My first pregnancy - before the gastric bypass - I gained almost 60 pounds!  My second - after the gastric bypass - I gained only 15 pounds, and 3rd - 17 pounds.  This pregnancy I have had alot of morning sickness and have lost 10 pounds.  My doctor's say not to worry.

If you do have trouble with the vitamins - Walmart sells a liquid vitamin that many can use (it made me dizzy so I couldn't use it).  I had a friend who did not have the surgery, but did have extreme morning sickness and lost 35 pounds - her baby was born perfectly healthy at almost 8 pounds!  The baby will take what the baby needs.  :o)

I would have been worried too if I had gotten pregnant so quickly - it is scary.  However, I think you are going to be just fine!  It sounds like your doctor isn't worried and that is great!

Best Wishes,

Melissa  (age 40)

[RavenT]

I had the surgery but haven't been pregnant... Not sure why your doctor would tell you it would take 2 yrs... I had the surgery in 2003 and my surgeon told me to not have unprotected sex right after surgery because there was an 100% I would get pregnant... (Different doctors have told me that for every pound lost your chances of becoming pregnant increases by 1% - I lost 210lbs in the first yr) and I am now losing weight to increase my chances of becoming pregnant...

At the classes, since she said that over 50% of her patients get pregnant after surgery, she taught us all what to expect..(actually I now wish I had gotten pregnant right after surgery but...) lol...

1. Take a chewable multivitamin & iron (separately)... recommend Bariatric Advantage
http://www.bariatricadvantage.com

2. If your symptoms will let you... eat 6-8 small meals daily... about every 2 hours...

The weigh you are losing is in part the baby pulling from your stored energy... that is a good thing... especially if you are not able to eat because of morning sickness... Know that the baby will always pull from you what it needs... Its you that you need to keep healthy and you have the stored energy if you had the surgery to lose your unwanted energy... LOL

Stay away from mucus producing foods... like saltines, dairy products, caffeine... these produce mucus and when that happens it can increase the morning sickness...

Use green leafy veggies to get your calcium and protein... and if that is upsetting to your stomach try Raw Calcium (http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Raw-Calcium-capsules)...

and as the others have said ... Drink lots and lots of water... any way you can...

Hope this helps...

[SoCalTricia]

I didn't have surgery...but with all of my pregnancies, I either lost weight or gained almost nothing the entire time. If you are overweight to begin with (which I am, and I'm assuming you were/are), losing some weight during pregnancy is fine. With my first, I lost 16 pounds...she was born perfectly healthy. With my second, I lost weight, then gained some at the end - ended up gaining a total of 4 pounds. He was almost nine pounds and perfect. With my third, I never lost, and only gained a total of 7 pounds. He, also, was healthy. So...don't worry about it. If you are eating a good, healthy diet, your baby is getting what he/she needs!

[blueeyedtabbycat]

I dont have any personal expireance but I do have a friend that had the lapband (I think) and fell pregnant with in the first 6 months!! She continued to lose weight but the baby was born healthy at 42 weeks via c-section. Her baby was very tiny but it was more so because she and her husband were both very little babies not because of her weight loss.I believe they call it IUGR.  Best of luck to you!!

[AllyBoo74]

Thanks for the response everyone!  We are so excited to be having this baby!  Hopefullly we will hear the heartbeat tomorrow.  It still doesn't feel real even though it's clear by looking now lol.  Haven't wore a pair of regular pants in about 4 weeks!  Even though I had the surgery for weight loss, I am at the point now where I cannot wait to watch my belly grow!

[lisa0114]

I haven't experienced this personally but i know someone that did and went on to have a healthy baby boy. Congratulations and God Bless!

[adgal]

Congrats to you.  I can really only repeat what Birds has said, but wanted to offer you my best wishes as well.  If your OB isn`t worried, I wouldnt be either.  In my experience, they are pretty straightforward when they suspect there might be an issue.

Congrats and good luck!!

[Birds71]

Congrats!  I don't have any real advice on the post-surgery part, but it sounds like your OB thinks everything will be okay.  Baby will get all the nutrients he/she needs, so you just need to be sure that you get in enough calories and stay hydrated.  I think many women experience weight loss during the first trimester (I never did!) so it sounds like you are doing just great.

Congrats again on the pregnancy and congrats on the 58 pounds!!