Newly pregnant with concerns
Hello all. This is my first time over on this board. I am happy, but thought my need for this board would be more like a year from now! Some background: I had the VSG on 8/27/2010 and have lost about 110lbs. I'm still "obese" at 214 and I have PCOS. I'm thankful for my sleeve because the #1 reason for having surgery was to get my PCOS under control and start a family, but my OB knows nothing about the sleeve and I'm concerned about being treated conventionally. I wanted to throw some questions out there to see if anyone has had these same concerns answered (from anyone, but obviously other VSGers in particular). Before you suggest, I did email my surgeons's office, but wanted to see if I could get some real-hand experiences. In the attempt to save time, here is a cut and paste of the questions I emailed my surgeon:
My #1 concern is the gestational diabetes test. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and am also still considered obese, so they want to do this test earlier than usual. My concern is that I do not eat a lot of sugar on this diet and the few occasions that I have, it made me terribly sick and I experience dumping-type symptoms. I am concerned with taking this test with the sugary drink because of the issues I have with sugar and in turn, making me "fail" the test....or even going into a coma with all that sugar!! Do you know anything about this test for sleeve patients or have any other suggestions for monitoring gestational diabetes during pregnancy without this test that I can recommend to my physician?
#2: I have heard that a deficiency with the sleeve is folic acid which is obviously important while pregnant. Are there any other deficiencies that I should be concerned about and are prenatal vitamins typically enough or should I have additional supplements?
#3: my physician says that I need to be consuming 2200 calories daily while pregnant. I told her that this was an impossibility with my sleeve and she didn't like that answer...can you give me a more realistic guideline? She also does not want me losing any weight, which again (especially these first few months while the fetus weighs next to nothing) seems like an impossibility. Do you have any experience with weight loss during pregnancy? I feel as though if I'm eating right and my vitamin levels are good, it should not hurt to lose unhealthy fat??
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me!!
Glad to be on the loser's bench and finally getting the family my husband and I have always wanted!
My #1 concern is the gestational diabetes test. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and am also still considered obese, so they want to do this test earlier than usual. My concern is that I do not eat a lot of sugar on this diet and the few occasions that I have, it made me terribly sick and I experience dumping-type symptoms. I am concerned with taking this test with the sugary drink because of the issues I have with sugar and in turn, making me "fail" the test....or even going into a coma with all that sugar!! Do you know anything about this test for sleeve patients or have any other suggestions for monitoring gestational diabetes during pregnancy without this test that I can recommend to my physician?
#2: I have heard that a deficiency with the sleeve is folic acid which is obviously important while pregnant. Are there any other deficiencies that I should be concerned about and are prenatal vitamins typically enough or should I have additional supplements?
#3: my physician says that I need to be consuming 2200 calories daily while pregnant. I told her that this was an impossibility with my sleeve and she didn't like that answer...can you give me a more realistic guideline? She also does not want me losing any weight, which again (especially these first few months while the fetus weighs next to nothing) seems like an impossibility. Do you have any experience with weight loss during pregnancy? I feel as though if I'm eating right and my vitamin levels are good, it should not hurt to lose unhealthy fat??
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me!!
Glad to be on the loser's bench and finally getting the family my husband and I have always wanted!
Congrats on the pregnancy!
#1: I myself haven't had the sleeve (had RNY), but I didn't take that glucose drink....instead I fasted overnight and went in the morning to have my blood drawn and then went to eat a normal breakfast/lunch and returned 2 hours later and had my blood redrawn. You can also monitor your sugar levels by *****ing and testing your sugars daily for I believe a week or 2 (but don't know much about this process because I didn't do it myself).
#2: You should have a full panel of blood drawn to test all your vitamin levels (this can be 6 or more vials of blood). This panel will tell you what you need more of or if you are taking more of something than you need. I had this done and found all my levels were good except my iron was slightly high and they wanted me to cut back my iron vitamin to every other day. So now on a daily basis I take a complete multi vitamin, sublingual B12, D3, Calcuim Citrate and Folic Acid and my iron every other day! I had my OB prescribe a prenatal prior to the lab work, but found out it's not needed so never had it filled. But we are all different and some require more or less.....so have your levels checked and go from there!
#3: 2200 calories seems like a lot for someone that is fairly out from surgery. I would try to at least add an extra 200-300 calories more a day as this is what they recommend for regular pregnancies. There are many woman on here that continued to loose weight and have healthy babies.....some women gained very little and some gained a lot. Just remember that the nutrition you get will go 1st to the baby and then the rest to yourself. Continue to eat your protein but make sure you get good carbs in too! And drink lots of water!
Hope I was of help! Best Wishes!
#1: I myself haven't had the sleeve (had RNY), but I didn't take that glucose drink....instead I fasted overnight and went in the morning to have my blood drawn and then went to eat a normal breakfast/lunch and returned 2 hours later and had my blood redrawn. You can also monitor your sugar levels by *****ing and testing your sugars daily for I believe a week or 2 (but don't know much about this process because I didn't do it myself).
#2: You should have a full panel of blood drawn to test all your vitamin levels (this can be 6 or more vials of blood). This panel will tell you what you need more of or if you are taking more of something than you need. I had this done and found all my levels were good except my iron was slightly high and they wanted me to cut back my iron vitamin to every other day. So now on a daily basis I take a complete multi vitamin, sublingual B12, D3, Calcuim Citrate and Folic Acid and my iron every other day! I had my OB prescribe a prenatal prior to the lab work, but found out it's not needed so never had it filled. But we are all different and some require more or less.....so have your levels checked and go from there!
#3: 2200 calories seems like a lot for someone that is fairly out from surgery. I would try to at least add an extra 200-300 calories more a day as this is what they recommend for regular pregnancies. There are many woman on here that continued to loose weight and have healthy babies.....some women gained very little and some gained a lot. Just remember that the nutrition you get will go 1st to the baby and then the rest to yourself. Continue to eat your protein but make sure you get good carbs in too! And drink lots of water!
Hope I was of help! Best Wishes!
Hi hi there and Congrats!
I was just about a year out when I got pregnant.
For #1 I took the glucose test. I had no problems with it. I also have no problems with sugar. I actually had to take it before surgery when I was attempting dr monitored dieting and it made me feel worse than post surgery. I asked my OB if there was other options but they realy prefer the glucose test. I did have a fasting glucose some time in the 2nd trimester. I fasted they took that level than had me eat normally and come back 2 hours later to retest.
#2. I asked my OB to check my vitamin levels when she was drawning other basic labs. Everything came back normal. I was just on a prenatal vitamin. The only thing my Ob stressed besides the vitamin was cal****he wanted me to get extra in with things like OJ with added cal or I like the Naked fruit drinks and get the ones with boosted vitamins in it.
#3 You will find that you can eat WAAAYY more than you could before pregnancy. The hormones make it possible. I would loosen up your diet abit. You want healthy choices of course but you have to add in carbs if you aren't eating them now. And don't feel guilty if you give in to that greasey cheese burger once in awhile. My OB specialist wanted to be extra careful so he sent me for U/S every 4-6 wks to check on the baby's growth. His concern was that the baby might not be getting enough because of my surgery. So far baby boy is within normal limits for growth. Based on U/S he is going to be 6-7lbs by birth.
If your OB isnt aware of the details on the sleeve you can always do what I do with every new Dr I go see. I print out a copy of the basics on the sleeve. I am sure you did research and have the break down on what each surgery does. It helps alot when they see the stomach before and after.
Hope that helps!
I was just about a year out when I got pregnant.
For #1 I took the glucose test. I had no problems with it. I also have no problems with sugar. I actually had to take it before surgery when I was attempting dr monitored dieting and it made me feel worse than post surgery. I asked my OB if there was other options but they realy prefer the glucose test. I did have a fasting glucose some time in the 2nd trimester. I fasted they took that level than had me eat normally and come back 2 hours later to retest.
#2. I asked my OB to check my vitamin levels when she was drawning other basic labs. Everything came back normal. I was just on a prenatal vitamin. The only thing my Ob stressed besides the vitamin was cal****he wanted me to get extra in with things like OJ with added cal or I like the Naked fruit drinks and get the ones with boosted vitamins in it.
#3 You will find that you can eat WAAAYY more than you could before pregnancy. The hormones make it possible. I would loosen up your diet abit. You want healthy choices of course but you have to add in carbs if you aren't eating them now. And don't feel guilty if you give in to that greasey cheese burger once in awhile. My OB specialist wanted to be extra careful so he sent me for U/S every 4-6 wks to check on the baby's growth. His concern was that the baby might not be getting enough because of my surgery. So far baby boy is within normal limits for growth. Based on U/S he is going to be 6-7lbs by birth.
If your OB isnt aware of the details on the sleeve you can always do what I do with every new Dr I go see. I print out a copy of the basics on the sleeve. I am sure you did research and have the break down on what each surgery does. It helps alot when they see the stomach before and after.
Hope that helps!
HW:260+ SW: 248 Pre-Preg 180 Post-Preg Starting Wt: 225 Current PP wt: 195 GW: 170ish.
First off, congratulations! I had my surgery on 8/5/10 and I'm 12 weeks pregnant. So far, all is well. I thought my OB would be clueless about the sleeve, so I went prepared with all kinds of print outs, but he was actually quite knowledgable about it. That being said, he has no sleeve related concerns at this point since we don't have malabsorbtion. I called my surgeons office and they were not terribly worried either. I meet with their NP that sees all of their pregnant patients next week and I'll update on the sleeve forum after that appointment. I had all of my 6 month labs done just before getting pregnant and everything was great... these will be checked a few times throughout the pregnancy. I actually don't take a prenatal vitamin because my chewables have the same or more of every nutrient in the prenatals, but since they are chewed I'm more likely to digest every bit of them. I do not count calories, but I eat several times a day and I'm maintaing my weight, so I figure at this point that means I'm getting enough. I do try to eat a very balanced diet including lots of grains, fruits and veggies, dairy, and even some "extras" that the baby has me craving. I drink juice now for some extra calories and as an extra incentive to drink more fluids. I would think that if you're still obese, losing some weight in the beginning is not an issue. As long as the baby is growing fine, there is really no need for you to grow as well. I'm sure your doctor will keep a close eye on the baby's size if you keep losing weight... this is much more important than the numbers on the scale. If you'd like to keep in touch througout our pregnancies, feel free to PM me.
I don't count calories either. I have hungry days and then normal days. At one point during the pregnancy I actually woke up after a few hours starving and had to eat something small like a fiberone bar then could go back to sleep. Have you had that happen yet? I think I was farther along than you when it started happening.
HW:260+ SW: 248 Pre-Preg 180 Post-Preg Starting Wt: 225 Current PP wt: 195 GW: 170ish.
First of all, congrats!!!!! Welcome to the board! I can't help with the first 2 questions because your surgery is so different from the LapBand. As far as the last question about calories, here is my experience: I am 35 wks pregnant, and to date I have a total loss of 2 lbs. I would gain 1 lb, lose 3, gain 1, etc. all during the pregnancy. My MD was not crazy about me losing weight, however, he told me from the start to do the best I could with eating and as long as I wasn't dropping major weight, he was okay. I have days where I do good to get 750 cals in.....other days I can eat more. Just depends. The most important thing is that my baby is doing great! She's actually measuring 2 weeks ahead! So, just do your best to eat, but don't stress!
Leslie
Congrats and welcome to the board! You will find it very helpful and insightful.
When you talk to your OB about the GD test, be sure to express your concerns clearly and accurately. You really need to advocate for yourself, especially if your doctor is unfamiliar with patients post-gastric bypass. You may want to put your OB in touch with your primary care giver or your surgeon if you find that it is necessary and they are willing. I have a lot of trouble with sugar and am worried about the GD, but I know that I have made my needs clear throughout my pregnancy and am certain that my OB will take them into account when the time comes.
If for any reason you find that your OB is dismissive of your post-surgical condition or your concerns related to things like caloric intake, sugar-intolerance, or any thing, consider getting a new OB. You will find that you will have lots of little things that crop up that may or may not be post-VSG related and you want someone who will be willing to work with you.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Jenn
When you talk to your OB about the GD test, be sure to express your concerns clearly and accurately. You really need to advocate for yourself, especially if your doctor is unfamiliar with patients post-gastric bypass. You may want to put your OB in touch with your primary care giver or your surgeon if you find that it is necessary and they are willing. I have a lot of trouble with sugar and am worried about the GD, but I know that I have made my needs clear throughout my pregnancy and am certain that my OB will take them into account when the time comes.
If for any reason you find that your OB is dismissive of your post-surgical condition or your concerns related to things like caloric intake, sugar-intolerance, or any thing, consider getting a new OB. You will find that you will have lots of little things that crop up that may or may not be post-VSG related and you want someone who will be willing to work with you.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Jenn
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