pregnancy after sleeve

[nomad9988]

Im a 30 year old women with 1 child. I am 5 1/2 months into my 6 month supervised diet, and have been thinking alot lately about having a second child after surgery. (12-18 months after). Being overweight and pregnant the first time was a nightmare. Everything that i questioned was turned back around on me and my weight. Ive thought about finishing having children before the surgery, but i couldn't bare to be this size, and even get heavier over the next 2 or so years.

Anyone's experience on this would be greatly appreciated.

Did you have a hard time losing weight after the baby?

How was working with your doctors (obgyn and wls surgeon)

Did your stomach stretch?

Was babys health at all affected?

[Dutchie]

I only know from a woman on another board, who had R&Y.
She got pregnant, did not gain much and had a very healthy pregnancy and a very healthy baby girl.
As you know, you don't have to eat "for two".
She was closely monitored by het gyn who was in contact with her bariatric surgeon.
And she lost the baby fat very quickly after giving birth.
So, go and talk to your doctors by that time.
You will be fine!
Nothing to worry about.

[sraebaer]

I think 3 women in my support group over the past 5 years have had healthy babies. It would just be something to discuss with your doctor as to how long after surgery to wait (I've heard a year but could be completely off) and then how much food you should be adding to up your calories. (Which will be no problem after a year or more). You will probably have to eat smaller meals more frequently and healthy snacks throughout the day, so you stomach would not stretch. I agree you don't have to eat for two, but I think you would need more nutrition than a typical sleeved person eats, often less than 1,000 calories day, but I could be wrong about that too. So exciting!

[Sandra3]

I did read many papers and studies about women getting pregnant post-sleeve when they couldn't conceive before the surgery. So many have children post-op.
From my readings, my understanding, and what my surgeon said, our bodies do go under many changes post-sleeve, on the hormonal side (and yes our stomach does produce hormones but it's not been studies that much yet) but also on the homeostasis side, because the way our body work will change post-op and need time to find it's own balance.

I think a safe way would be to either wait for your body to find it's balance (stable weight for several months) for me it was after two years because I was a slow looser, but some people do reach their surgeon's projection before that. It will depend on how much you need to lose and how your body is going to react.
But at least, at around two years that's when your sleeve does reach it's "full capacity" meaning that at first you eat a few spoons, then 1/4 cup, then 1/2 cup, at 2 years you are around 1/3 to 1/2 plate and that's plenty to get tour baby all nutrients he will need. And before being pregnant, you will need to be really strict about your vitamin intake, especially the first few months post-op, to avoid deficiencies, and be ready for baby!


Take care.

[Christie13]

I know you can have a healthy baby after the sleeve. You just have to be extra vigilant about your nutrition tracking and make sure you OB is aware that you are a sleeved person.