Pregnant with the lap band!

[Frisky 0]

I was banded in Jan 2005 and have reached my goal weight (was 298 now I am, ok before pregnancy 152, now 165) I have had no problems at all with the band (knock on wood) but I was wondering has anyone out there been prego with it? At first I was worried that I would not gain enough weight (doing OK there) and I have not unfilled my band....I think for mental reasons, I am scard that I will go back to eating like I did before, so instead I eat 6-7 small good for me meals (except for ice cream at night) a day and it's working. I am now scared that my port will get pushed out when I get bigger and I already have issues with port sensitivity. I guess I am looking for anyone else in the same situation as me or any possible advice.

By the way I am 19 weeks along!

Thanks.....Frisky

[Jluthien 0]

I am pregnant and with the band. I did have a little bit of port area discomfort, however it only was for a short period. You can not see my port sticking out. However I can feel it better than before. I am 35 weeks pregnant right now. I have only gained 3 lbs. I did not have my band unfilled. The baby is big and my doc feels everything is good.

Hope this helps.

Julie

[ljones4521 4]

Hi gang,

I too am pregnant. I am 20 weeks and have only gained 10 lbs. Last month I gained a pound. I haven't had an unfill yet. Perhaps as I get a bit larger I will have one.

I made my OB aware of my condition but he doesn't seem to think this is important. I haven't been seen by a GI specialist yet (I was banded in Mexico). How have your OB doctors responded to your lap band? Have they monitored your nutritional intake or anything.

My daughter is progressing as she should. Everything appears normal.

BTW I had lost 30 lbs and was about 40lbs away from my goal weight. I don't feel discouraged because I haven't gained too much weight.

I asked the moderator for an area for those of us who are preganant but did not get a response. I thought it would be nice to share unique experiences especially since we are not supposed to be concentrating on losing weight but instead on nutrition. In fact we have to increase our caloric intake.

Please share how your doctors are addressing your lap band. All information will be appreciaed. I also have placenta previa and want to ensure all of my concerns are being addressed.

Thanks

Lisa

[Fauxnaif 1]

My band was fairly loose when I got pregant. I didn't unfill it either. I had no problem gaining 25 pounds or so. My biggest piece of advice is if you need a fill to lose the baby weight, don't wait too long to get it. I waited too long and gained more (since lost). Congratulations!

[Wheetsin 714]

I'm not pregnant, though hopefully someday in the not too distant future, but have this information bookmarked for my own reference:

If you began pregnancy at a normal weight, you should gain 25–35 pounds over the nine months. Adding about 300 extra calories a day to your diet will help you reach this goal. (One extra healthy snack, such as four fig bars and a glass of skim milk, will provide these calories.) Most women gain four to six pounds in the first trimester, and then average a pound a week in the second and third trimesters.

If you began pregnancy underweight, you should probably gain a little more. That's because underweight women are more likely to have small babies. A 28- to 40-pound gain is usually recommended, so you should try to gain slightly over a pound a week in the second and third trimesters.

If you began pregnancy overweight, you should gain only 15–25 pounds. This means you should put on one pound every two weeks in the second and third trimesters. While you don't want to gain too much weight, you should never try to lose weight during pregnancy because that could harm your baby.

If you're expecting twins, you should probably gain a total of 35–45 pounds. That translates into about 1 1/2 pounds a week in the last two trimesters.

Where does it all go? Approximate breakdown of a weight gain of 29 pounds:

Blood - 3 pounds

Breasts - 2 pounds

Womb - 2 pounds

Baby - 7.5 pounds

Placenta - 1.5 pounds

Amniotic Fluid - 2 pounds

Fat, Protein, and other nutrients - 7 pounds

Retained Water - 4 pounds

[Alicia521 0]

I'm not pregnant but plan on trying for #2 next year. There is a great website for tracking food and helping manage weight gain if you aren't already using it (babyfit.com) I plan on using it when I get pregnant again to track everything. Best of luck to all of you band mommy-to-be's

[cissy 0]

I haven't been around in a while because I've been pre-occupied with my pregnancy.

I called my band surgeon's office as soon as I found out I was pregnant and they suggested that I have an un-fill as soon as possible, due to the potential for slippage with morning sickness. (which, by the way I still have morning sickness, evening sickness...)

My OB also wanted me to have an un-fill because she was concerned about getting proper nutrition.

And of course, due to me having an un-fill at 6 weeks pregnant, I have now gained 12 lbs in only 10 weeks (I'm 16 weeks now).

[PinkMary 3]

im banded and 26+ weeks preg, i did an unfill at 2nd month cause i needed to eat a little better, (my doctor didn't want me to unfill though) ..

i have a great pregnancy, i don' t have any problem with the port so far and i gained 16 lb..

Good Luck and Lucky babes for all the Band Preggos Q:-)

[leighhoffman 0]

Hello all! I am almost 8 weeks pregnant and it was a complete surprise for us! We had to use Clomid to conceive our first and this one well....not the same case. WE are really excited and I am so happy that this thread has been started. I hope that we get our own spot too. I have been searching for some info and it is nice to see others who are going through it too. I too have been experiencing port pain ( more like discomfort). I didnt have it before the pregnancy so I am assuming this is what it is from. My body is having no problem remembering that it is supposed to expand with me being pregnant. My doctor and I are learning together about what will be different with this pregnancy. My bariatric nutritionist just basically put me on ( on top of prenantals) an extra folic acid and an extra B12 Vitamin A day. Let me know if any of you are doing more and what are you taking. Is there more I need to be concerned with? I hope everyone is feeling alright. Best of luck!

[DeWok 0]

Hello all and congrats to the prego banders! I too am pregnant - about 6 weeks now. I went yesterday and had all the saline taken out of my band. My doctor (surgeon not OB) insisted. He said it is the right thing to do. He said I should come back after I have the baby and have finished breast feeding. I'm really nervous since this is the first time in over 2 years that I have absolutely no restriction. Wish me luck that I can keep a little control. I welcome any sugggestions.

[Iatetheskinnyme 0]

When you get the lapband..how long after can you get pregnant?

[mommy3boys 0]

I got pregnant with my 3rd son shortly after having my first fill and 4 months after having band surgery. My ob/gyn and midwife both said that as long as a could eat to keep my fill since it was the only thing keeping from gaining an excessive amount of weight. I weight 270, developed hypertension, had a c-section and had a 10 lb with son #2. Son #3 has very fast, delivered by midwife 1 hour after I arrived at hospital, no c-section, he weighed 7 lbs and I weighed 210 when he was born. At my 6 six check up, he weighed 10 lbs and I weighed 180.

Ana

[kyethra 0]

Before I got banded I read an article on the band in pregnancy that suggested slight unfills if needed in earlier pregnancy with larger unfills later on. And then, of course, a fill after delivery. It advocated use of the band to make sure that the proper amount of weight was gained during pregnancy and not more.

We might be ready for kids in two years. But I like to think ahead (I also know that in my case about a year before I would want to get pregnant I would need to start lining up and seeing professionals like genetic counselors, high risk OB, and getting them to work with each other and my neurologist and etc.)