far away and need some help....

okay, long story short, i am an army wife, and i thought moving to a European country was going to be challenging after gastric bypass, learning new foods.... not knowing actual ingredients in things etc... but we were still in the hotel when i found out i was pregnant. SOOOOO here goes, i never complained about military health care, but we are at such a teeny tiny base in the Netherlands(Holland) that there are no docs here that do OB, so i am seeing a doc on the economy, and sometimes they don't speak so much English (although i do have to say, they speak A LOT more English here than in other countries like Germany or Belgium) so i am not sure they quite understand the gastric bypass thing, they have a universal health care system and don't have options like weight loss surgery. so i am 16 weeks, lost 10 lbs in first few weeks and  have not gained any of it back yet. i eat, a lot, way more often then i used to, and i am completely aware that the baby takes what it needs 1st... its okay with me. My provider has mentioned 2 times now that i have not gained any weight? i am at a loss of words... all of my pregnancy labs have come back normal so far. So i guess i should just not worry until my doc makes me do something about it? There is no info here, so i need any help and exp you all have and can give... i appreciate all of it i promise. is this normal? what is normal???? lol  I'm really trying to stay candid about it all, but it is hard sometimes! thanks again in advance!

My last pregnancy I started overweight and I didnt gain anything until 21 weeks.  And then I cried...LOL The baby was healthy and I was actually healthier than I had been because I was eating my protein and good foods first.  I gained a total of 17 pounds in the last 18 weeks of my pregnancy.  As long as you are eating healthy, and taking vitamins, and your labs are coming back good, dont worry.  God Bless!!

Hmmm... just wondering if you are eating carbs. After wls we are told that carbs are bad, but during pregnancy ketosis isn't good for baby and we need a balanced diet with good carbs. I would say if you are eating a balanced diet and your labs and all vitamin levels are okay...then no worries. Be sure to have them check vitamin d, iron, b-12, folic acid. The baby will take what it needs, but you definately don't want to get sick in the process. I am still overweight after wls, but I have been eating a balanced diabetic diet and have only gained 2.5 pounds in 15 weeks...and I walk a lot. We are all different, and you aren't still losing, so that is good. Good luck! Shari

So far i have gained a total of 12 pounds, and Baby is weighing around 4 pounds per my OB.  My Doctor is not concerned at all. I eat, and eat..........i think i live on carbs,lol.  As long as your labs are good, and the baby is growing on track per your Doctor i would think it is all ok. Many women on othis board have gained 4-60 pounds with there pregnancies. Everyone varies greatly.

Good Luck to you!

I'm overseas too (Indonesia)...so I know what a pain in the nether regions it can be to not have the medical care you need when you need it.

Are you in Schinnen?  If so...I had my WLS in Brussels almost 3 years ago...and I could give you the name of my WLS dr there in Brussels...who could then talk to your OB and explain/answer any questions for the OB re the WLS...just so your OB knows what to expect w/your pregnancy and what sort of things will need to be watched (maybe a few extra lab tests to check your levels).  Brussels is only an hour or so away from Schinnen...so while a pain, it's doable.  I also had a uterine fibroid removed while in Brussels...and the dr who did that surgery is a professor at one of the university hospitals in Brussels...and he's an OB/GYN surgeon...so you could talk to him (they both speak excellent English) and have him get your OB on the same page.

Please let me know if you'd like their names and I'll get them to you ASAP.

...one last thing...CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy!

Just to let you know, I'll be 28 weeks on Sunday and according to my OB I've gained a total 4.5 pounds.

I know I lost about 12 pounds after finding out i was pregnant and have gained a little mroe back--hence the 4.5 pounds. At my last checkup, my OB said "Well, you have gained a WHOLE pound!"

Anyway, baby is currently 2 pounds and 5 oz and doing just fine!!!!!!! OB is monitoring me with a few more u/s (no problem by me) but she said as long as the baby is gaining weight it is fine. she said I probably wouldn't gain more than 15-20 pounds total. I do wish at times I actually LOOKED pregnant and not just like I have gained some weight back, but oh well.

All of this to say, I think as long as your baby is healthy, gaining weight and on schedule according to your EDD, you should be fine. Be sure to eat good protein AND carbs and you should be fine. Of course, I'm No doctor, but this has been my experience. So far, this pregnancy has been textbook (*knock on wood*)

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Try to educate your OB as much as possible. That being said, my mom didn't gain a pound with my one sibling and only gained about 5 with the other. She was non-op and just lost weight at the beginning and gained that back as the pregnancy continued. Every person is different. The OB shouldn't be so shocked about it since it does happen and in non-ops too. Good luck and congrats!

I wouldn't worry about it.  I am also a military wife (AF) and just had our third child overseas (first child after lap RNY).  I am at a remote base and saw a Korean Doctor.  Luckily for me his daughter does gastric bypass surgeries, so he was able to take his expertise and hers and figure me out. 

I also lost weight in the beginning.....but I gained more than enough by the time I gave birth.  As long as you are following the rules, taking your vitamins and watching your protein and hydration, you are doing the best you can.  Keep up with your labs and try to relax if possible. 

Good luck to you!