Lap Band and Pregnancy

[tamarlarae 11]

Hello all! I am new to this forum, but I have been talking about WLS for about a year now. My husband was very much against it and not supportive until recently, which is why I've been looking at all options for a year. Now, we're talking about having children and I went to my OBGYN and she told me I needed to loose weight if I didn't want preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, etc. I have been yo-yoing on WW for 4 months now. I have Hoshimotos (thyroid disorder) but my blood work always comes back fine since we finally found a correct dose. I'm 6'1 24 years old, and currently weigh 325 with my ideal weight to be 220-230. I have NEVER been thin and although I do not have diabetes, I have high blood pressure and suffer from Migraines.

I would love to hear from people about their experience of being pregnant and having the surgery. I know I will have to wait a minimum of 12-18 months to have children, and my husband is okay with that as am I. Now that we both agree that MY health is important to take care of first he is now my biggest cheerleader. I have heard that the port site becomes sore and uncomfortable, but how long does the pain last? What kind of pain is it? I have a high pain tolerance, but I also don't want to not go to the doctor because I feel as though I can handle it. How were you after you had the baby? Did your surgery affect breast feeding?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've done a lot of research and have an appointment tomorrow to talk with someone about getting banded so I would like as much info as possible or other questions you think I should ask when I go.

[Alex Brecher 10,515]

Never been pregnant before - with or without the band

I just read this post moments ago about successfully pregnancy and the Lap-Band.

[braziliangirl 72]

Hi!

I havent had surgery yet, but if my insurance doesnt decline lol i'll be getting banded march 21!!

I tried for 16months to get pregnant last years with no luck, until they found out i had pcos, did fertility treatments and finally got pregnant, but miscarried at 7week. So, i got the the point that i realized that i gained 30lb with all the treatments (plus i was super heavy before) so, i somehow decided for the surgery, my obgyn agreed that it was the best choice i could've had done.

My surgeon mentioned having to wait about 12 months after surgery to try again, but said that 6-8months after woulnt be big deal.. As we usually loose most of the weight in those 6 first month.

I have 2 friends that got pregnant 6months after being banded, had health pregnancies, and super healthy babies!

So, my advise is, go for it!

Good luck..

[tamarlarae 11]

Thank you so much for your information!! Unfortunately, I got pregnant last summer and miscarried at 7 weeks. I was not as heavy, but I was still at 300 lbs and then I've go e up because of depression, lack of motivation, etc. Did your friends' port sites hurt when they were pregnant? Was the pain manageable? Like I said, I have a high pain tolerance but especially when we do try to have kids, I want to be cautious. Sorry to hear that you've had some trying times, but sounds like you are taking the right step forward! Since my OBGYN suggested it, I feel as though it might be our only chance to have children of our own.

[braziliangirl 72]

Well, they both said that sometimes the port site gave some discomfort, not pain!

One of they had unfilled at 28weeks, and gained about 15lb (only after the unfill) the other one had no need to unfill and gained minimal weight too (i dont remember how much)..

I was around 210-215lb when started my fertility treatments and i'm now 250???³???”..i'm 5'6"

I would fell comfortable of trying again when i reach 180lb hopefully 170lb... Lol

[hmc1971 3]

I was banded March 2012 and became pregnany Sept 2012. It is now June 2013 and I have an 8 week old baby girl.

My port 'bothered' me months 7 on, just because my belly was so big. By month 9, my port had turned ( flipped) so it was uncomfortable but not painful. Now, 2 months postpartum my port is loose. I am back down to my pre pregnancy weight, but obviously the port was 'pushed' around with my growing uterus. It still moved. At this point I'm not interested in more surgery to re-attach. I plan to loose more weight ( modified band diet as I'm breastfeeding) as well as re-assess in a year based on my body getting back to it's post pregnancy state. Not sure if I've helped , but port site was not painful. I guess my point is that anything can happen , you just assess as you go on. I'd like to suggest your health for you and eventually having a healthy baby might be worth a little discomfort. It is for me. Best of luck.

[braziliangirl 72]

Thanks for letting us know!

I'm also planning to go back trying in September, so if works at first try i will be just like u lol my surgery was in march 2013

I lost 43lb so far. My goal was to be at 200lb by september but thank God the weight has been comin off quickly, so by september im hoping to be out of the 200 now lol

How much weight did u lost before getting pregnant and how much did u gain during pregnancy?

thankss

I was banded March 2012 and became pregnany Sept 2012. It is now June 2013 and I have an 8 week old baby girl.

My port 'bothered' me months 7 on, just because my belly was so big. By month 9, my port had turned ( flipped) so it was uncomfortable but not painful. Now, 2 months postpartum my port is loose. I am back down to my pre pregnancy weight, but obviously the port was 'pushed' around with my growing uterus. It still moved. At this point I'm not interested in more surgery to re-attach. I plan to loose more weight ( modified band diet as I'm breastfeeding) as well as re-assess in a year based on my body getting back to it's post pregnancy state. Not sure if I've helped , but port site was not painful. I guess my point is that anything can happen , you just assess as you go on. I'd like to suggest your health for you and eventually having a healthy baby might be worth a little discomfort. It is for me. Best of luck.

[Cwalband 215]

This is great info! I currently can't have children but I'm hoping with some weight loss and other procedures I can have children! Best wishes to you and hope you get all your questions answered!

[hmc1971 3]

Thanks for letting us know!

I'm also planning to go back trying in September' date=' so if works at first try i will be just like u lol my surgery was in march 2013 <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I lost 43lb so far. My goal was to be at 200lb by september but thank God the weight has been comin off quickly, so by september im hoping to be out of the 200 now lol

How much weight did u lost before getting pregnant and how much did u gain during pregnancy?

thankss

[/quote']

Hi there;

I'm 42, so losing was slow. From March to Sept I lost 35 pounds. In my pregnancy, I started gaining in month 6 and gained back the 35 pounds by delivery date. However, by 6 weeks post partum, I had realist that 35 pounds of pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding helps. I am now working on new weightloss, having had a c-section, am just adding exercise back into the mix.