Anyone gotten pregnant "too soon" post-op?
I am strongly considering having RNY this summer. I have had fertility problems before, and I have heard that you are discouraged from getting pregnant 12mo-18mo post-op. Does that take into account how overweight you are (more time for more weight)? Has anyone gotten pregnant before the recommended time, and if so, what was your experience? Any complications, special diet, supplements, etc? I am just worried it might happen and would like to know.....
Hi there. I am only 4 weeks out my main reason for having the RNY is so I can have more children. I have about 130 more pounds to lose.
What my doctor told me is that it is important to wait at least 12 months before getting pregnant because that is the time when you will lose the most weight. If you are a lightweight to begin with you might be done after a year! I believe that all RNYers are considered high risk due to malabsortion. I wouldn't want to have to go through the pain of surgery to not maximize the results personally.
I would follow doctors orders. I know that there have been some "oops" but I don't know how all of those have turned out.
Best of luck to you!
What my doctor told me is that it is important to wait at least 12 months before getting pregnant because that is the time when you will lose the most weight. If you are a lightweight to begin with you might be done after a year! I believe that all RNYers are considered high risk due to malabsortion. I wouldn't want to have to go through the pain of surgery to not maximize the results personally.
I would follow doctors orders. I know that there have been some "oops" but I don't know how all of those have turned out.
Best of luck to you!
Beth S.
RNY 5/12/09
Hi Krista,
Congratulations on your decision to pursue WLS! Many women pursue WLS to ultimately improve fertility, though that was not my case.
I suffer from PCOS, which was not diagnosed until years of infertility, followed by miscarriages, and finally the arrival of my son (nearly 8 years ago). I suffered from annovulation and all of the "classic" PCOS symptoms as well. I then had secondary infertility, another miscarriage and finally my daughter arrived nearly 4 years ago. Through the help of a great RE and lots of meds, I was able to have 2 healthy, wonderful children. I continued on Metformin, though DH and I decided our family was complete. Being morbidly obese, with a myriad of health issues and the inability to keep up with my children, I finally decided to pursue WLS. I had lap RNY on 7-2-08 and lost nearly 60? pounds in the first few months. It is a personal decision, but for me, RNY has been the best choice I've made to take care of my health and ensure a better quality of life.
Despite the use of birth control, I became PG only 1-month post-op! While I still suffer from PCOS (as far as I know), obviously the RNY had an immediate affect on my fertility. It doesn't matter what your starting weight is, or how much you lose, RNY causes your hormones to fluctuate tremendously and pregnancy even in the most infertile pre-op, IS a possibility.
My public service aannouncement is: I would strongly caution you to wait the 12-18 months your surgeon recommends prior to TTC. Know that birth control pills are not always enough (absorption issues, which I know first-hand now). You MUST use a barrier method of birth control in addition (condoms). While I was very blessed to have a healthy 7lb 4oz baby boy on May 6th, this was only by the grace of God and a wonderful high-risk OB practice. Being pregnant when in the rapid weight loss stage *can* be dangerous in that our bodies are in ketosis, which can affect fetal brain development. Baby will get what it needs first, but mom will likely suffer in the meantime.
I'm not trying to scare you, but I will share my experience in hopes that it prevents others from going through the same thing. I had a difficult pregnancy that I believe would have been a lot easier had I not conceived during the time of rapid weight loss. I suffered from hyperemesis and was hospitalized more times that I can remember. I was dehydrated much of the time and could not physically get my calories up to what they should have been for a pregnant woman. I was on bedrest from January until the arrival of my son in May. I was dehydrated and anemic, as well as suffering from extremely low B1 and B12.
I'm still struggling to get my anemia and vitamin levels under control! When I became PG, I was just starting to get a new lease on life, the ability to run with my children and starting to be comfortable using my new surgical "tool". After years of abusing my own body, it was nice to have time to just focus on ME. My DH and I are blessed and in love with this baby, no matter what, but if you have the choice, I would certainly recommend waiting until you are close to your goal weight and able to maintain the said weight. A baby is definitely possible after RNY, but waiting until you are of optimum physical health is best for you and your baby.
I wish you peace with your decision and success with your RNY surgery. When you and your surgeon agree it's a good time to TTC, I hope you will come back to this forum. There is a lot of wisdom and support here!
Hugs,
Congratulations on your decision to pursue WLS! Many women pursue WLS to ultimately improve fertility, though that was not my case.
I suffer from PCOS, which was not diagnosed until years of infertility, followed by miscarriages, and finally the arrival of my son (nearly 8 years ago). I suffered from annovulation and all of the "classic" PCOS symptoms as well. I then had secondary infertility, another miscarriage and finally my daughter arrived nearly 4 years ago. Through the help of a great RE and lots of meds, I was able to have 2 healthy, wonderful children. I continued on Metformin, though DH and I decided our family was complete. Being morbidly obese, with a myriad of health issues and the inability to keep up with my children, I finally decided to pursue WLS. I had lap RNY on 7-2-08 and lost nearly 60? pounds in the first few months. It is a personal decision, but for me, RNY has been the best choice I've made to take care of my health and ensure a better quality of life.
Despite the use of birth control, I became PG only 1-month post-op! While I still suffer from PCOS (as far as I know), obviously the RNY had an immediate affect on my fertility. It doesn't matter what your starting weight is, or how much you lose, RNY causes your hormones to fluctuate tremendously and pregnancy even in the most infertile pre-op, IS a possibility.
My public service aannouncement is: I would strongly caution you to wait the 12-18 months your surgeon recommends prior to TTC. Know that birth control pills are not always enough (absorption issues, which I know first-hand now). You MUST use a barrier method of birth control in addition (condoms). While I was very blessed to have a healthy 7lb 4oz baby boy on May 6th, this was only by the grace of God and a wonderful high-risk OB practice. Being pregnant when in the rapid weight loss stage *can* be dangerous in that our bodies are in ketosis, which can affect fetal brain development. Baby will get what it needs first, but mom will likely suffer in the meantime.
I'm not trying to scare you, but I will share my experience in hopes that it prevents others from going through the same thing. I had a difficult pregnancy that I believe would have been a lot easier had I not conceived during the time of rapid weight loss. I suffered from hyperemesis and was hospitalized more times that I can remember. I was dehydrated much of the time and could not physically get my calories up to what they should have been for a pregnant woman. I was on bedrest from January until the arrival of my son in May. I was dehydrated and anemic, as well as suffering from extremely low B1 and B12.
I'm still struggling to get my anemia and vitamin levels under control! When I became PG, I was just starting to get a new lease on life, the ability to run with my children and starting to be comfortable using my new surgical "tool". After years of abusing my own body, it was nice to have time to just focus on ME. My DH and I are blessed and in love with this baby, no matter what, but if you have the choice, I would certainly recommend waiting until you are close to your goal weight and able to maintain the said weight. A baby is definitely possible after RNY, but waiting until you are of optimum physical health is best for you and your baby.
I wish you peace with your decision and success with your RNY surgery. When you and your surgeon agree it's a good time to TTC, I hope you will come back to this forum. There is a lot of wisdom and support here!
Hugs,
Jo
DS:9 yrs old / DD:5 yrs old / DS: 1 yr old
From Carolyn M's profile:
Post-op Birth Control If you are female, heterosexual, between the ages of 13 and 50, and have all your female parts intact, read this. It is very dangerous to get pregnant in the 18 months following your surgery. Not just because it can mess up your weight loss, and not just because it is hard to nourish an unborn baby when your intake is restricted and you are malabsorbing protein and vitamins, but because for at least the first few months, you will be in ketosis much of the time. Ketones can cause fetal brain damage. Don't risk it. You may not think you are fertile, and many obese women aren't very fertile, but you can become fertile again very quickly as the weight comes off. Many but not all surgeons will advise you to use reliable birth control post-op. Birth control pills alone aren't considered reliable post-op, because they may be partly malabsorbed, and because as you lose fat, your estrogen levels fluctuate anyway. And if you didn't know it already, the more overweight you are, the less reliable the Pill is to begin with. If you are on the pill, you will also need to use a barrier method, such as condoms, the sponge, a diaphragm, or vaginal film or foam (listed in order of reliability). You could also use condoms plus the Sponge, or condoms with vaginal foam or film. If your family is complete, male or female sterilization procedures may be your best long-term option. Temporary birth control methods that you can use alone are the Depo-Provera shot, the Nuva Ring, or the Mirena or Paragard IUD. A little bit about these choices: 1. The shot is extremely effective birth control, similar to having your tubes tied but less permanent. You may have irregular bleeding for the first 3-6 months or so, after that most people have little to no bleeding. Other side effects--if you are prone to depression, it can make depression worse. If you are prone to acne, it can make acne worse. In 25-30% of women, it stimulates the appetite. This is why it can be associated with weight gain. In about 2% of women it can cause hair loss. Because many of us have had problems with depression and appetite pre-op, and problems with hair loss post-op, this might not be the best choice. It takes up to a year to become fertile again after going off the shot. 2. The NuvaRing is a thin flexible plastic ring that you insert into your vagina, leave in for three to four weeks, and then remove. You can leave it out for up to 7 days to have a period, or insert the next ring immediately to skip periods (if you use it to skip periods, you will have breakthrough bleeding from time to time. You can remove the Ring for 3-5 days and then reinsert it to stop breakthrough bleeding. But to avoid losing contraceptive effectiveness, always leave each new Ring in for at least three weeks and reinsert the next Ring within 7 days). With the NuvaRing, you have more local hormone effect, so it is very good at preventing pregnancy and controlling periods, but a lower blood level of hormones than with any other hormonal method, and thus fewer side effects. It is very comfortable to wear; you won't even feel it when it is in place. Most women who try the NuvaRing end up loving it. You become fertile again right away after stopping the Ring. It’s not a preferred medication on most insurance plans, so you may pay higher co-pay (compare to the costs of using the Pill plus a barrier method). 3. The Paragard IUD is expensive to start out with, full cost is $450-750 to purchase and get it inserted. But it lasts 10 years, so it's the cheapest method in the long run. It takes a procedure to put it in, which can be a little uncomfortable. After placement, you may have intermittent spotting and cramping for a couple of months. After that, your periods may continue to be a little heavier and crampier than your usual. It contains no hormones, so you will not have any hormone related side effects. You can usually use the Paragard IUD even if you haven't had any children. Your fertility returns immediately after the IUD is removed. 4. The Mirena IUD contains a small amount of progesterone. It is also expensive to start with, but lasts 5 years. It can be used not only for birth control, but to decrease bleeding for women who have heavier or more frequent periods. By the time you have had it in for 2 years; you will have very scant periods, if any. For the first year or so, you may have frequent and/or prolonged episodes of very light bleeding. This can be annoying but isn't dangerous as the actual amount of blood loss is low. Most of the progesterone effects are confined to the uterus, however, sensitive women may experience some of the side effects listed under Depo-Provera (depression, acne, hair loss, etc.) These effects, if experienced, tend to decrease with time. You can use the Mirena IUD only if you have already borne at least one child. It may take a few months after this IUD is removed for you to become fertile again. Please make an appointment with your OB/GYN provider or visit your local Planned Parenthood or County Health Dept. to discuss which of these methods may be right for you.
Post-op Birth Control If you are female, heterosexual, between the ages of 13 and 50, and have all your female parts intact, read this. It is very dangerous to get pregnant in the 18 months following your surgery. Not just because it can mess up your weight loss, and not just because it is hard to nourish an unborn baby when your intake is restricted and you are malabsorbing protein and vitamins, but because for at least the first few months, you will be in ketosis much of the time. Ketones can cause fetal brain damage. Don't risk it. You may not think you are fertile, and many obese women aren't very fertile, but you can become fertile again very quickly as the weight comes off. Many but not all surgeons will advise you to use reliable birth control post-op. Birth control pills alone aren't considered reliable post-op, because they may be partly malabsorbed, and because as you lose fat, your estrogen levels fluctuate anyway. And if you didn't know it already, the more overweight you are, the less reliable the Pill is to begin with. If you are on the pill, you will also need to use a barrier method, such as condoms, the sponge, a diaphragm, or vaginal film or foam (listed in order of reliability). You could also use condoms plus the Sponge, or condoms with vaginal foam or film. If your family is complete, male or female sterilization procedures may be your best long-term option. Temporary birth control methods that you can use alone are the Depo-Provera shot, the Nuva Ring, or the Mirena or Paragard IUD. A little bit about these choices: 1. The shot is extremely effective birth control, similar to having your tubes tied but less permanent. You may have irregular bleeding for the first 3-6 months or so, after that most people have little to no bleeding. Other side effects--if you are prone to depression, it can make depression worse. If you are prone to acne, it can make acne worse. In 25-30% of women, it stimulates the appetite. This is why it can be associated with weight gain. In about 2% of women it can cause hair loss. Because many of us have had problems with depression and appetite pre-op, and problems with hair loss post-op, this might not be the best choice. It takes up to a year to become fertile again after going off the shot. 2. The NuvaRing is a thin flexible plastic ring that you insert into your vagina, leave in for three to four weeks, and then remove. You can leave it out for up to 7 days to have a period, or insert the next ring immediately to skip periods (if you use it to skip periods, you will have breakthrough bleeding from time to time. You can remove the Ring for 3-5 days and then reinsert it to stop breakthrough bleeding. But to avoid losing contraceptive effectiveness, always leave each new Ring in for at least three weeks and reinsert the next Ring within 7 days). With the NuvaRing, you have more local hormone effect, so it is very good at preventing pregnancy and controlling periods, but a lower blood level of hormones than with any other hormonal method, and thus fewer side effects. It is very comfortable to wear; you won't even feel it when it is in place. Most women who try the NuvaRing end up loving it. You become fertile again right away after stopping the Ring. It’s not a preferred medication on most insurance plans, so you may pay higher co-pay (compare to the costs of using the Pill plus a barrier method). 3. The Paragard IUD is expensive to start out with, full cost is $450-750 to purchase and get it inserted. But it lasts 10 years, so it's the cheapest method in the long run. It takes a procedure to put it in, which can be a little uncomfortable. After placement, you may have intermittent spotting and cramping for a couple of months. After that, your periods may continue to be a little heavier and crampier than your usual. It contains no hormones, so you will not have any hormone related side effects. You can usually use the Paragard IUD even if you haven't had any children. Your fertility returns immediately after the IUD is removed. 4. The Mirena IUD contains a small amount of progesterone. It is also expensive to start with, but lasts 5 years. It can be used not only for birth control, but to decrease bleeding for women who have heavier or more frequent periods. By the time you have had it in for 2 years; you will have very scant periods, if any. For the first year or so, you may have frequent and/or prolonged episodes of very light bleeding. This can be annoying but isn't dangerous as the actual amount of blood loss is low. Most of the progesterone effects are confined to the uterus, however, sensitive women may experience some of the side effects listed under Depo-Provera (depression, acne, hair loss, etc.) These effects, if experienced, tend to decrease with time. You can use the Mirena IUD only if you have already borne at least one child. It may take a few months after this IUD is removed for you to become fertile again. Please make an appointment with your OB/GYN provider or visit your local Planned Parenthood or County Health Dept. to discuss which of these methods may be right for you.
3/30/2005 Lap Band installed 12/20/2010 Lap Band REMOVED
6/6/2011 Vertical SLEEVE Gastrectomy
"It is very dangerous to get pregnant in the 18 months following your surgery."
This is NOT always true. In fact, various surgeons only request a 12 month waiting period. Others still make a ruling on a case-by-case basis, sometimes "allowing" their patients to get pregnant before even 12 months, if their labs are good, weight loss is plateaued, and the surgeon feels it is safe to do so.
This is NOT always true. In fact, various surgeons only request a 12 month waiting period. Others still make a ruling on a case-by-case basis, sometimes "allowing" their patients to get pregnant before even 12 months, if their labs are good, weight loss is plateaued, and the surgeon feels it is safe to do so.
Why, why, why are you so into advising people that it is perfectly fine to get pregnant right after WLS? These people are NOT pregnant yet! Why wouldn't you tell them to get the best out of their weight loss surgery first? Why wouldn't you advise anyone wanting to be a mother to wait to create the best body to grow them in? If a mom is healthy, she can be a good mother.
Why would you continue to give such God awful advice?
When an early pre-op is already pregnant, they deserve the utmost support. But encouraging early pre-ops to go ahead and conceive, that is very poor advice. I hope no one listens to you.
I have absolutely no respect for you. Sorry. And I will never respond to another one of your outrageous replies to my replies.
Have a good life!!!
Why would you continue to give such God awful advice?
When an early pre-op is already pregnant, they deserve the utmost support. But encouraging early pre-ops to go ahead and conceive, that is very poor advice. I hope no one listens to you.
I have absolutely no respect for you. Sorry. And I will never respond to another one of your outrageous replies to my replies.
Have a good life!!!
3/30/2005 Lap Band installed 12/20/2010 Lap Band REMOVED
6/6/2011 Vertical SLEEVE Gastrectomy
God, get a grip! She didn't give the advice to go get pregnant. She simply stated that many surgeons have different criteria.
EVERY person is different. Some have alot of health issues to overcome, some only a few, some have hundreds of pounds to lose, some only have 100 to lose.
In all honesty, a person should propose this question to thier surgeon and PCP, as they will have the best answer and knowlege of an individuals current health condition.
Not everyone fits in a generic lump of a time frame. I had to wait 2 1/2 years because of some health issues, but someone else may only need 12 months. (which by the way is recommended by my surgeon if labs are good and weight loss is where expected goal is)
You just come on here and are so rude. Giving your opinion on the main question asked is one thing, but attacking someone else about something they didn't even say is just ridiculous........
Your post merits a loss of respect for you because of the way you handled the response. Really.... such a hissy fit over nothing. Geesh!
EVERY person is different. Some have alot of health issues to overcome, some only a few, some have hundreds of pounds to lose, some only have 100 to lose.
In all honesty, a person should propose this question to thier surgeon and PCP, as they will have the best answer and knowlege of an individuals current health condition.
Not everyone fits in a generic lump of a time frame. I had to wait 2 1/2 years because of some health issues, but someone else may only need 12 months. (which by the way is recommended by my surgeon if labs are good and weight loss is where expected goal is)
You just come on here and are so rude. Giving your opinion on the main question asked is one thing, but attacking someone else about something they didn't even say is just ridiculous........
Your post merits a loss of respect for you because of the way you handled the response. Really.... such a hissy fit over nothing. Geesh!
When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila & salt and give me a call!
Jojo I responded this way because this has not been the first time on this subject that she keeps replying to me specifically and others who feel this way. She could have let it ride or I could have just blocked her.
My third year I lost the bulk of my weight (62lbs). My hair was falling out like crazy, I needed iron infusions etc. My body was in no condition to be pregnant though I am sure that I could have gotten pregnant despite my condition - I mean even people on dialysis can get pregnant. Evil people who go on to abuse their kids still get pregnant with more kids - should they do it? God gives us free will But we don't always do the right thing - right?
Anyways, I'm done.
Yesterday you defended me, today you are dogging me. I'm sending you (((HUGS))) Jojo - it seems like we are working with the same energy
.
Now I'm going to shut up because I'm completely "unedited" these last two days.
My third year I lost the bulk of my weight (62lbs). My hair was falling out like crazy, I needed iron infusions etc. My body was in no condition to be pregnant though I am sure that I could have gotten pregnant despite my condition - I mean even people on dialysis can get pregnant. Evil people who go on to abuse their kids still get pregnant with more kids - should they do it? God gives us free will But we don't always do the right thing - right?
Anyways, I'm done.
Yesterday you defended me, today you are dogging me. I'm sending you (((HUGS))) Jojo - it seems like we are working with the same energy
.Now I'm going to shut up because I'm completely "unedited" these last two days.
3/30/2005 Lap Band installed 12/20/2010 Lap Band REMOVED
6/6/2011 Vertical SLEEVE Gastrectomy
Most Active
Recent Topics
