decisions decisions.... 36.9BMI, 30yr female (no kids yet)

[Taraashley04 3]

thanks @@mrs kaje! love the support! good luck with your weight-loss journey

@@Taraashley04 congrats on surgery date! I'm hopeful mine will be in February too! maybe we can be sleeve buddies and navigate the post-surgery pregnancy world together best of luck with your surgery ---- be sure and post updates on your progress!

Definitely!! I would love that!!

[txfirefly979 21]

@@RedSalamander I really appreciate your answer and perspective! It's definitely one that has caused me doubt on having the surgery now.

I'm going to come at this from a different angle. I am only 6 days post-op at this point, so obviously some things will change, but I wouldn't go back and have the surgery before kids. Nope. I had two healthy, normal pregnancies (despite my weight, which isn't really an issue) and now I have 2 lovely kids. And now I have no plans to have any more, so I don't have to worry about a fetus being properly nourished...just me! And I don't have to worry that if I have extreme (but rare!) complications that it will set pregnancy back even further...

I think you'll also find that pregnancy and motherhood puts a wrench in your body hatred. You might feel uncomfortable, but you will find that your body is a miraculous, awe-inspiring thing. And frankly, you won't have time or energy for self-loathing. So don't worry too much about that.

Just some thoughts.

On the other hand, if you are hoping the surgery will enable you to become pregnant, that's a whole 'nother ball of wax!

Oh, and you talk about your age...I know that you're in Texas, and I am most certainly not, but I had my kids at 31 and 35, and am on the young side of the other young mothers I know. Many of my friends didn't have their children until their late 30s and early 40s!

Where my current thought process is.... I'm 30 (almost 31). Even if I had the surgery after my first kid (we want 2-3), that would be 3 more years (almost 35) at my current or HIGHER weight (I cant lose weight to save my life.... I'm already doing Jay Robb Protein shakes and eating "clean"/mostly Paleo). because you figure you cant do the surgery and still breastfeed (so that's 10 months of pregnancy plus 1-2 years ...hopefully!... of breastfeeding).

Plus a lot of the research I've read recently reports obese moms at higher risks of clots and C-sections.... not to mention my energy level, mobility or self-esteem.

I know its not an "easy" decision either way. however, if I do the surgery beforehand, (likely) I wouldnt even end up at my CURRENT weight... even at my highest pregnant weight. and I'd have a much better tool for re-losing it after.

and yeah.... I'm not the oldest mom but I am definitely getting a late start (or so it feels like compared to about 75% of my friends... most are having their 2nd or last baby this coming year. I think most started around 26-28). Again--- I dont really mind being older... I waited this long to pursue my career and find the right guy to marry. . I just dont want to wait SO long that my age is considered "high risk" to pregnancy and includes scary things like amnio tests...

honestly... we're not really sure if it will be "necessary" to lose weight before I can get pregnant. we arent trying yet. Having said that, in this CRAZY weight loss journey, I have had doctors tell me that I had PCOS (although my periods are pretty regular 29-30 days) because of NOT being able to lose weight (even on medically supervised diet) and other symptoms. I've also been diagnosed as pre-diabetic (confirmed with blood tests) and also hypothyroid. So having said that.... those conditions do tend to have higher % of problems getting prego. There's just no way to find out until we're ready....

I really am torn on this decision. luckily, my husband is supportive no matter what.

Edited January 20, 2015 by txfirefly979