roziecakes

So... I've been a busy new mom, so I haven't been on posting as much as I'd like, but I thought I'd update everyone on how things went. Hopefully this will be encouraging to other bandsters who want to have babies! So after several years of infertility, I do believe that my weight loss from being banded helped me get pregnant, have a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy baby. I got pregnant in July of 2011 (one month after being banded!) and had a miscarriage. Then I got my a** in gear and worked with my doc to balance out my hormones; but she said that she thought I was healthy enough to go for it! I got pregnant with my daughter in January 2012. These were my fears: 1) Nausea and vomiting would make me slip my band... Well, I'm glad to report that although I did have a fair amount of nausea, I was just really careful about keeping it under control as much as I could, and when I did throw up, to treat myself as well as possible. No slippage! 2) Weight Gain Well, I have 2cc in my band, and I still have 2cc in my band, and I still have restriction. I still don't know if I'll ever need a fill or not. I only gained about 17 pounds total for the whole pregnancy, and I've lost that and then some since she's been born (Yay breastfeeding!) 3) Other complications I had NO gestational diabetes. I think though, that this is because I was EXTREMELY picky about my diet throughout my pregnancy. I realized that everything I was eating went directly to the baby, and with the lapband, I had to make the best choices possible nutritionally so that I got enough nutrition in to help my little one grow. That being said, I did have a couple problems. I don't know if they were related to my weight or not... certainly not to the band, but here they are: Kidney stones: Yes, I had them. They HURT so bad!!! I thought I was going into early labor; but nope. Kidney stones! Fortunately, they were small enough that I just passed them. OW! Pre-Eclampsia: I developed high blood pressure at about 26 weeks. It just didn't go away... eventually it got worse and worse, and there was Protein in my urine. I got induced two days before my due date and my blood pressure was 190/110!! Fortunately, the cure for pre-eclampsia is to have a baby! Swelling: I had a lot of swelling, but I think it was due to the pre-eclampsia more than anything. I got scolded by doctors for 'doing too much.' I was told to stop exercising at 7.5 months. C-Section: This was most likely related to being induced. A lot of the time, when the body is in an unnatural state of labor, ie induction, it's just too much stress on you and the baby. I never dilated past 4cm, and the baby's heartrate was fluctuating dangerously. I tried to labor. I labored for over 30 hours, and nothing... so I got a C section. I'm actually not disappointed. The medical staff was awesome, and I really liked my doctor, and they took good care of me. My baby girl was born perfectly healthy 7lbs 8 oz with an apgar score of 9! She had no health issues whatsoever. Funny things: Doctors kept thinking that my port was the baby's foot. It poked out a lot during pregnancy. I called it my 'turkey timer.' So I hope that provides some perspective. I really hope that all of y'all who are hoping to have babies get to experience this joy. You all deserve it! If anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to answer them! Here's my little sweetheart! She's now 3 months old!

Yep, if we're only supposed to be eating a cup-ish total for everything, then I try to make 1/2 or 2/3 of that a protein, and then the rest veggies.

I always cook too much too. I call myself the "Queen of leftovers"

I would like to join your FB group! Also, I've never checked out emilybites.com before... what an awesome site!

A lot of people like to eat beans. I would eat them if they didn't give me such awful gas. My favorite high protein option is Quinoa. You can use it in place of rice, and cous cous; and I have found that it doesn't stick as easily as rice does.

I highly advise against drinking alcohol. It's just empty calories, hard on the stomach, and you end up getting more intoxicated than you think because your pouch is small. I agree though, that if you must drink alcohol, watered down vodka is probably the way to go. Do not get anything carbonated mixed in.

Hi there! I used to come on this forum a lot, but haven't in awhile since I've been so busy with my new baby, etc; but I'm looking forward to talking with other folks banded in June of 2011. I lost 25 pounds pre-op; and about 75 with the band. I am looking forward to losing the last 50-ish pounds. I spent most of last year pregnant, so I have to catch up now!!

I would stick with the amount the doctor gives you. If you have too little calories, it can make your body think that you are starving, and it will actually slow your metabolism to protect itself. What has worked best for me is to make the most of the calories I've been alloted. To eat Protein first, and to not eat a bunch of processed foods; to make the most nutrient dense choices available to me. I agree with Floridays that fruit is a good snack. Fruits are often high in Fiber, which is good for your digestive system, and also helps you feel full longer I'm with those who aren't so much into Protein shakes. I think that you can pack yourself with calories on those, they don't taste that great usually, and I never felt very full for very long after drinking them, but your mileage may vary, I suppose. That being said, you can buy flavorless Protein powder and put it in other foods...

I was a stuff and swallow person too, that was my biggest challenge. I was also someone who drank a lot of fluids at meals... so I get this. It is like a zen meditation! I was told to sing the ABCs in my head while I chewed, totally helped!

I have a little baby, so I don't get to exercise as much as I did in the past. I tend to do a lot of short workouts throughout the day, and it adds up to about an hour a day I would guess? I get up and do 20 minutes of yoga each morning (well... almost, sometimes the baby needs me more than my yoga gets done), and I try to take at least a half hour power walk or jog. I run 4 miles 2 days a week. I do weight training and crunches and stuff like that in the evening after the baby goes to sleep, and before I do.

That is wonderful!! I wish I could stop eating meat. I don't eat red meat; I just eat chicken, turkey and fish; but I can't cut it out completely because I don't have a lot of Protein options. I can't eat soy because it messes up my hormonal balances, I can't eat Beans because they give me too much gas that is really painful, and I don't eat dairy (right now). Stopping the red meat though, was one of the best decisions I ever made!!! I hope you continue to feel wonderful

For breakfast I premake oatmeal at the beginning of the week, and separate out portions. I eat that with half a banana. I also might have raisin bran Cereal. I don't do dairy though; I use almond milk. I honestly really like eggs for breakfast. I don't eat bread because for me it sticks really bad, so no toast, but I cook 2 eggs and put a little salsa on them, or avocado. Avocado is great because it has good fats in it. For lunch I like to have sliced turkey, and a vegetable of some kind; cucumbers, etc. or salad. I know that might not be easy to take with you on a construction site, as the veggies might wilt; but try to bring a cooler with an ice pack. I like to make potato soup too; you can put that in a thermos. I don't personally do dairy, but you can add low fat cheese to all those suggestions. I used to like cottage cheese as well. (The reason I don't do dairy is because I'm breastfeeding, and my daughter is intolerant, I'm not against dairy or anything, ha ha). I'm a big fan of cooking things ahead of time, and freezing portions, or storing portions. One of my favorite lunches is brown rice, chicken (chopped fine), salad mix and salsa. It's like a burrito bowl without the tortilla or Beans. (I don't eat beans because they give me really bad bad gas that gets trapped in my pouch... ow!) Hope that helps!

I'm one of those who have had this problem as well. I got prescribed Colace, and I take it when I need to, but I don't want to get dependent on it. I put fiber in my coffee, and try to eat bran cereal at least a couple of days a week. It's worked out pretty well!

I do have some loose skin, but not a lot. I have to say that after I started weight training, and I drink a TON of water, it has helped with the loose skin. That being said, I have found that just getting tight running pants works for me; but as mentioned, I don't have a ton of loose skin.

I'm glad to have helped give hope! That was my whole intention As for the port, it doesn't stick out anymore. I can still feel it under my skin, but it's not sticking out really far.

Congratulations!!! I actually lost weight until well into my second trimester. It was weird to lose weight but gain roundness! Hope all goes well

I was banded June 8, 2011; and got pregnant a month later! It was a complete shock because we had been trying for over 9 years with no luck, so I just assumed I couldn't get pregnant! WOAH! I had a miscarriage, unfortunately; but then I really got my butt in gear, and I got pregnant again in January 2012, and had my daughter September 27, 2012. I probably should have waited longer, and honestly I thought it would take longer, so that's why I started trying so early. I do recommend waiting at least a year.

So I have been a little more tight after having the baby (3months PP), but it hasn't really bothered me. I have just adjusted my diet and habits to fit. I have 2ccs in my band. I think if you're having lots of tightness and can't eat anything, then you should talk to your doctor. Are you having other symptoms as well, PB'ing? Nausea? I'm sorry you're going through this...

I do recommend getting the band. It was the best decision I ever made. Having a healthy pregnancy was part of the reason I wanted to lose weight too, and in my case it really worked. I was worried about age too (although I'm glad to say that I got pregnant at 30; I thought I would have to wait longer). Work closely with a doctor if you are concerned about infertility, because sometimes you will have to do other things than just lose weight to help with that. I ended up having to take some medications to help balance out my hormones although I'd lost a significant amount of weight before becoming pregnant. BEST of luck!

My lapband was a lot easier than my C section. With my lapband I was up and walking and going home about an hour after surgery. With my C section, I was in the hospital for two days, and it took me several hours to even be able to walk to the bathroom. It was more painful to sleep after my C section too. I didn't need hardly any pain meds after my lap band surgery, and I needed regular pain meds after the C section.

Hi there, I'm wondering if there is anyone on here with experience breastfeeding with your lapband. How did you calculate how many calories you needed? I have found some conflicting advice. I'll talk to my doctor too, but I was wondering what your experiences were. Thanks in advance!

Thank you so much ladies! I did get all the fluid out of the band at the beginning of my pregnancy. I'm not particularly worried about weight loss at this point in time, because I've lost over 100 pounds, and I only gained about a total of 11 pounds the whole pregnancy (lost 16 at the beginning); so my main concern is Maisie's nutrition, and then my own so I don't tax my body too much. I appreciate the note about needing about 500 extra calories a day. Cool beans. Thank you so much!

Here's how I did... in September of last year I had a miscarriage, actually; and then got pregnant again in January of this year, and I'm almost done! I haven't had any problems with my band at all, thank goodness, but they took all the fluid out to prevent problems. I feel grateful.

Hi there! I actually lost weight up until I was about 18 weeks. I lost 16 pounds total, and then I started gaining, but I've only gained 17 pounds so far, and I'm just about 36 weeks, and so I'm almost done

How did your appointment go?