If you had a baby (or more than 1) pre AND post WLS, I have a question!

I read a study abstract that stated mothers had somewhat smaller (but generally healthy weight) babies after WLS and that their children had less of a tendency towards obesity as they grew up.  My daughter (born pre-op) was good-sized at birth (8 lb 6 oz and 20.5 inches long) and she is a big kid now at almost 5 years old.  I think she will battle some of the same weight problems I have, although I am doing my best to keep her active and feed her right - I'd be thrilled if her struggle meant 20-30 excess pounds vs. battling morbid obesity. 

Anyway, I'm pregnant again and wondering about your personal experiences.  Were your post-op babies smaller than your pre-op babies?  Are they following a similar growth pattern to older siblings?  Thank you all for your input.

I had my daughter 2 years before my WLS and then got pregnant with my son 18 months out of surgery. My daughter was 7lbs 5oz my son was 9lbs 2oz, so I did not experience a smaller baby by any means my second time around. I am now pregnant with my third, second post-op, and he's already measuring big, so my guess is it really depends on the parents, not so much with surgery. My daughter stayed on track in about the 75th percentile until she turned 3 and then went off the charts, my son on the other hand has been off the charts since he was born. He'll be 3 in September and most people think he's 4, he's bigger than all my friends children who were born around the same time.

My kids eat healthier than I ever did as a child and are always outside playing. So my hope, like you, is that while they will probably be somewhat over weight, it will not ever be as bad because they have been raised with all the right tools of how to eat and stay active.

Good luck!
-Tiffany

Thank you, Tiffany!  I suspect this baby may be similar in size to his older sister when he's born, but it's just a hunch, of course, because I'm only 20 weeks along.  I also think a lot about birthweight has to do with genetics.

I can't answer your questions - but wanted to say congrats!  I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!

ma sala'ama!

Salaam to you too and thanks for the kind words!  

I don't have experience with a pre-op baby but I do know that this one is in the 85 percentile for size. I got me a big one growing. My last u/s the smallest measurement was 27 weeks and I was 26 weeks 5 days.

Yeah, you might have a good-sized baby!  You're still early enough that the ultrasounds are fairly accurate for weight (they told me to expect a big 10 pounder at a 37 week ultrasound so I don't trust late-term weight estimates.)  Best wishes on your birth. 

My pre-op babies where giant for their gestation, but are skinny little twigs now that they are almost 8. They like to eat, but have no issues at all with weight, infact they are downright skinny and I have trouble getting them to gain weight. My new guy was also giant for his gestation, and is a skinny little thing too, if we go by adjusted ages (b/c the trips where premie), he is pretty much  tracking his older brother to the pound (I have their baby books and compare after every appointment just for fun).

That is interesting!  I also think it's interesting how many children of people who've had weight issues are like your kids and can eat anything without gaining.  There is so much we don't fully understand about metabolism and weight.

I don't think that WLS really impacts size, which I think is determined by genetics. Of course if you don't eat, no matter if you've had surgery or not, that will affect things. My pre-op baby was smaller than my post-op twins- but I had placental problems that just occur and cannot be helped. Of course, I have to say that my post RNY pregnancy with the twins went better, i.e. I had more energy and felt better physically after losing weight. My twins were both larger at 36 weeks than she was at 39 weeks. I really think it depends on numerous factors. Taking care of yourself, getting regular blood work and checking your blood levels is really important- my iron went low during the pregnancy and still isn't back up to where it was pre-pregnancy. Other than that, and a little reactive hypoglycemia if I eat something too sugary (whi*****ludes fruit- uggh!) I had a great post op pregnancy, was in labor four hours, and delivered my twins vaginally. Good luck!

Carrie