lap band or bypass? I want healthy kids!

I was a severe diabetic and PCOS-er.  I had RNY and I am SOOOOOO happy I did!!  I would never put down the band, but if you have co-morbidities and have more weight to lose, I'd go with the RNY.  Not sure why lap-band would be considered "healthier" for babies but you usually have to get it infilled when pregnant.  I'm so glad I had my food restriction while pregnant - even with the twins I can eat a bit more with RNY...if I had an "unfill" I'd be eating us out of house and home, I think.

Never did I ever have an issue with my vitamins or anything during any of my pregnancies because of RNY and I even got pregnant 4 months post-op.  And that was after EIGHT years of trying to get pregnant due to PCOS and finally adopting our first son. 

Whatever you chose, GOOD LUCK!

ETA: I was on TONS of insulin a day before RNY.  I left the hospital with NONE and have not been back on it since and it's been 3 years, a singleton pregnancy and a twin pregnancy.

Sandy

Do what you feel most comfortable with! People here have had equally healthy babies, no matter which surgery they chose. Both surgeries carry the potential for both the benefit of losing weight but also the risk of not losing as much as you would like or regaining weight. I does seem like more RNY folks have trouble with vitamin related issues (like trouble absorbing iron) after surgery, but all surgeries come with their own risks and issues.

I am not an expert but there are a long list of RNY post ops who have had healthy babies. Usually (from what I've observed on the boards) it's not the babies that have issues, it's the mothers. Babies suck everything they need out of us. If we don't provide our bodies with enough of whatever it is (say a certain vitamin, iron, or even calories) the baby gets first dibs and its our bodies that are left deficient.

Your deciding factor should not be having healthy babies, because both rny and lapband can have healthy babies. There are far too many things to consider to base a very huge decision on this topic.

Jennifer, if you are 22 and a borderline diabetic and have PCOS, you may be better off with a WLS that has malabsorbancy.  Think about a Duodenal Switch with a longer common channel.

Woman who have PCOS seem to be resistant to WL and it also seems not to correct metabolic issues like PCOS.

I am not saying that a Lap Band can't work.  You are young enough to try it and if you have to someday, maybe in your 30's or 40's revise to a procedure with malabsorbancy if need be.

Any of the WLS are safe for pregnancy as long as you take care of yourself the way your surgery requires you to.  It is just about being thoughtful and responsible - that is exactly what you are doing by posting here.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

Best,
Leila

Like others have said - you can have healthy babies with any of the surgeries, provided you take care of yourself properly!  With that in mind, you should choose your surgery based on your eating habits, your goals and their success at "curing" your particular issues.  When I first started looking into WLS, I was going to go with the band, but after reading more about success rates of putting diabetes into remission (my main motivator to get the surgery), I decided on the RNY.  If I had known more about the DS, I may have chosen that surgery, but I have been very satisfied with my results from RNY and have never once regretted it. 

I just move to The Woodlands from Katy, so you're in my old stomping grounds! lol.  If you have any questions or anything, please just let me know!

You can have a healthy baby after any type of WLS. Do your research and pick the one you feel most comfortable with.
Good luck!
Amy