DS POST OP & PREGNANT!

Hey everyone new and old to the board. I have been absent from the forum for a while for a few reasons...

1) Busy working and Studying for the CA bar exam- Round 3 in 2 weeks!
2) My DS has been an effortless journey for the last 6 months or so now that I am a year and a half out I have minimal to no issues with my DS other than sometimes rancid gas!
3) I have had minimal weight regain of 3 lbs but probably due to lack of physical activity while studying for the bar.

I just wanted to share that I found out last week that I am 6 weeks pregnant. I got pregnant right at the 1.5 year mark post op about 2 months after I stopped BCP's, I guess its true fertility post op is very good, although I have not been off of BCP's until now after being on them for 15 years! I just graduated law school last year and turned 30 this year so pretty good timing!

I will be treated as a high risk pregnancy because I am post op bariatric surgery and Hypothyroid. I would love any words of advice from other DSers who had a pregnancy post op.

Thanks,

JoAnne

 I did not have DS. Just wanted to say congrats on your pregnancy! There are a couple of ladies that visit the board the have had DS so maybe they will chime in.  

THANKS!

Hi JoAnne!  I'm a DSer, also had DS in 2008, and I am 19 weeks pregnant with a baby boy. 

I am seeing nurse-midwives for my care, but they do have me coded as high-risk because I want to VBAC, I had BP problems in my pre-op pregnancy 5 years ago, and probably the WLS too although they never mentioned that as a concern.  I intend to stay with them but I will see an OB or peri as needed.

My pregnancy this time around is somewhat easier.  I've had zero morning sickness.  I have had some annoying physical stuff, though - sciatica that started at six weeks and flares every couple weeks, horrible leg cramps after my family took a road trip (OUCH!), and I threw my back out for a week.  I probably need to exercise but with all that crap, you can see why I don't wanna!  Ha.

My midwife clinic sent me to my bariatric surgeon for labs and to discuss any concerns.  My surgeon said there seems to be an increased risk of bowel obstruction for post-WLS patients, but it shouldn't threaten the baby even if I needed surgical intervention.  He told me to come to his hospital (not to the hospital where I'll give birth) if I had any symptoms of obstruction, so that's my plan.  So far, so good. 

I am doing fine getting in vitamins and protein and my labs are good so far.  There are quite a few pregnant DSers right now, maybe some of them can weigh in. 

Good luck and don't worry! 

Thanks Rainy Day Woman! Congrats on your pregancy as well! Few questions for you...

When can they find out the sex? I go in for my first prenatal visit and US next week on Tuesday.

What is VBAC?

Did you have extra skin from your WLS? Did it make you look further along than you actually were? The reason I ask is because I have extra skin and at only 6 weeks pregnant I have already went from a size 10 in pants to 14 in regular clothes or 8 in Maternity with the maternity panel and my belly is already starting to get very bloated and hard. My sister said most people don't show till 4-5 months but to me it already looks like I'm showing!

Could my intestines be poking out more than what I think is a growing baby?

Thanks for your words of advice!

I know these questions were directed towards Rainy Day Woman but I thought I could answer from my experience...

A VBAC is a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, many OBs don't like to do this due to the risk of uterine rupture (which could kill mom & baby) but some may consider it based on how long it's been since the c-section.  My OB flat out told me while he was stitching me up after my 1st c-section that he did not VBAC and that I would have another c-section, it was ok with me as I labored 16hrs and had enough of labor to fully appreciate it.

As for showing...I had extra skin as both of my babies were post op (RNY) and full term still had skin to go but all my excess skin hung at the bottom.  I hardly showed with my 1st but the 2nd...wow...I was in maternity clothes at 6w.  Because it was my 2nd pregnancy I believe my uterus said "Oh...I remember this" and 'grew' quicker.  At my 11w visit with my OB I had a fundal height equal to a 16w pregnancy although baby was average sized and accurate for dates.  Since this is your 2nd baby this is quite possibly the case, with a bit larger uterus it could be displacing your innards a little more than if this was your 1st baby.

Good luck!

Thanks for the feedback! Its my first pregnancy.

I found out the sex at my 19 week ultrasound.  Sometimes, if you opt for the nuchal translucency test (where they measure something on baby's neck) you can find out a "maybe" at 14 or so weeks.  But often they can't see at that point yet.

Kristy covered VBAC - I am just not hot to have another invasive abdominal surgery so I'm a believer in avoiding c-sections if it's possible and safe. 

I do have extra skin but I also still have some abdominal fat.  I did show earlier this time than in my first pregnancy when I was a lot heavier.  It makes sense you'd show a little earlier if you have some excess - don't sweat it!  Wear maternity bottoms whenever you need or want them. 

Your uterus is still really small and your baby too, of course.  Most of what you're dealing with is probably early pregnancy bloat!  Tons of fun.

Congrats.  I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy...

...and good luck on the exam! 

Congrats again!

Just stay on top of your labs, keep on supplementing, get plenty of folic acid & protein and you'll be fine!

:D