pregnant with lap band

Hi!  I am almost 6 months out of surgery and just found out I'm pregnant.  I'm down about 55 lbs and have about 50 to go. 
I have pretty good restriction now.  Maybe a little loose.  Does anyone know if I have to have my band loosened?  Can I just do protein shakes and stuff that does go down for the extra calories?
This is my third pregnancy,  My first 2 were pre band and I gained almost 90 lbs w/ each of them.  I really want to keep my band fairly tight to help keep my weight gain down.

Also, my surgeon told me to weight 1 year to get pregnant.  Well I didn't quite make it that far.  Will he yell at me?  I hate having Drs mad at me!

Thanks-- oh and any other tips?

I don't have the band so I can't answer any questions regarding that.  Though I'm sure you know it would have been better to wait until you lost all (or most) of your weight...obviously that doesn't happen all the time. 

I assume that you have to do lab work to check vit levels like RNY, VSG and DS patients?  If so...keep up on them.  The baby will get what he/she needs, but you will be the one going without if you're deficient in something.  Talk to your OBGYN re continuing the shakes...maybe take one in to him/her so they can see what the ingredients are.

Re your dr yelling at you...I'd think not.  Be disappointed?  Probably so.  They tell you to wait for a reason.  First off, due to the WLS, you're not at your optimum healthy point for you or your baby when you're still in weight loss...and second, your biggest window of weight loss is that first year or year and a half...and getting pg will slow that down, making it harder for you to reach goal.

Regardless of the timing...congrats.  I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Things happen. If your doc yells at you then that's ridiculous and I'd look for a different doctor. But I think the doctor will just give you advice on how he/she wants you to eat. I didn't get a fill or untill during my pregnancy and at first it wasn't an issue, as the baby is much bigger now, it's so much harder to eat anything. I think if you experience a lot of morning sickness where you feel like you're going to throw up, or are throwing up, then I'd definately try to get an unfill at least of some fluid. I know that keeping my fill in has helped me to not gain as much weight as I did in my previous pregnancy. I still gained more than I'd like, but not too bad. Good luck to you and I hope your pregnancy goes great!

Each doctor is different. My doctor didn't recommend an unfill unless you were throwing u*****t getting proper nutrients. I had half taken out of my band in the first trimester because I had horrible all day sickness and thew up. So, I did that to protect my band. I have kept that level the entire pregnancy. I have gained 20 pounds at 27 1/2 weeks. I still don't do anything carbonated (haven't ever tried) and I can't do any bread. So, it does help me some but I don't have restriction like I used to.

Make sure to have your blood checked for Vitamin D, B12, and Iron defencencies. Also, I don't know what you are doing for a prenatal but I take Natachew. It is a prescription chewable multivitamin. It is not the best but it is better than taking the big horse pill for me. After I got my unfill I was able to take a smaller normal prenatal.

I will say I am tighter now that I am 27 1/2 weeks. I eat less and I think it is from baby pushing on my stomach, etc.

Happy and healthy nine months.

Traci

My band-buddy (the girl who had the band the same day as me) gor pregnant 3 months post op. Since you are not mal-absorbing anything, it's less of an issue than if you'd had RNY or DS. She was actually told that she shouldn't gain ANY weight during her pregnancy, and he advised not to have her band unfilled but she did anyway. Pesonally, I would just leave it filled, and throw in 2 extra protien shakes and make sure you are getting extra calcium.

 I probably needed a tiny fill prior to getting pregnant, so I was on the looser side of "perfect". I didn't have any morning sickness in the 1st tri, so I have kept my band the same. It's been helpful. I am gaining pretty much in line with the recommendations from my doctor (of course it has been in fits and starts!)

My port has been feeling a little funky, but I think that's because of my abdominals pushing out - it seems more prominent.

Some docs insist on an unfill, but most don't. As long as you're able to eat OK and aren't throwing up too much, it is fine to leave things as is. You don't really have to increase your calories much to compensate for pregnancy.
Your surgeon might be annoyed at you for getting pregnant so soon, but it certainly isn't the end of the world.
Lot's of healthy band babies around here, and it can really help you control your pregnancy weight gain!

I waited a year to try to get pregnant after my band.  My surgeon had originally told me 2 years.  When I told him I was thinking about trying, he was fine.  His nurse on the other hand was a royal you know what. 
I kept all of my fluid in.  I probably should have taken some out during the first trimester because I had some sickness.  Just pay attention to how much you are sick.  You may want to call and talk to your surgeon or make an appointment.  You need to be sure your surgeon and OB are on the same page.  My surgeon told me not to worry about getting anything taken out unless I am extremely sick or myself or the baby are not getting enough nutrients.  The baby is growing, so my guess she is fine and I am for the most part.  I have only gained 13 pounds the entire pregnancy.  I lost 2 recently taking me to 11 pounds, but I was recently diagnosed at gestational diabetes.  Pay attention to what the other ladies mentioned because there is some good advice.  You came to the right place for guidance.  Good luck and Congrats!

I got pregnant after having the band in only 8 months. I have left it filled and my surgeon was ok with it. I still have gained weight, but some days it is such a struggle to eat. With my body I retain a lot of fluid which make my band much tighter. So there are some days especially in the mornings when I am nausea from being pregnant and I am to tight to eat. Looking back I would have got a slight unfill earlier on. I have 4cc in a 10 cc band. But only a few days left for me, she is due June 12th!