Question:
PREGNANT! NEED HELP!

I am 7 months out from open RNY, and found out I was pregnant last week. I was wondering if there are any support message boards/list serves or whatever for other ladies dealing with this. I am very nervous that my baby wont be healthy, and that I will get sick since I still do not eat much and am STILL losing weight. In fact, since I got pregnant, I have been losing even faster. Anyway...any help would be so much appreciated. Thank you! (open RNY 7/23/03 -123 lbs)    — Shawnie S. (posted on March 13, 2003)

March 13, 2003
get yourself to an doctor immediately! you need prenatal care and you need it NOW!
   — Kasey

March 13, 2003
Last thing your baby needs is a stressed out Mommy. First off, relax. You will be fine, and baby will be fine- regardless of WLS! Your body can support a baby just fine. There are many, many women who do not gain weight during pregnancy (and these are women who haven't had WLS)- there are also women who lose weight during pregnancy (once again no WLS involved) and they all deliver perfectly healthy babies. Come on over the OSSG Pregnancy site- in Yahoo Groups and start reading. You will find many women who have become pregnant earlier out from surgery than you, and they have delivered healthy, happy babies. The Alvarado site has a good print out on some pregnancy tips for WLS patients. You will need to find a OB/Gyn who understands your surgery, and why you should not take the Glucose Tolerance Test (there are alternatives!). Off the top of my head, that is the only thing you need to worry about having to explain!
   — Karen R.

March 13, 2003
Yes, you do need prenatal care, but please do not think you need to freak out about it! You can start taking a pre-natal (just from off the shelf) and continue your post-WLS vitamin intake. Just like other women- you will need to make an appointment with an Ob/Gyn, who will comfirm your pregnancy with a blood test and then probably not see you for a month or so... You may think this is odd, but you are not high risk. Treat yourself as any other pregnant person, you may have more blood tests to monitor certain levels- but you will be fine....... go to the Alvarado site, find the print out (it's in a Adobe Acrobat format) and bring it to your Ob/Gyn.
   — Karen R.

March 13, 2003
To get to the Yahoo group, go to www.yahoo.com, choose groups, then search for OSSG pregnancy. As Karen said, many women have had quite successful pregnancies as post-ops. In fact, two women from my state (that I know about) have given birth to post-WLS babies in the last couple of months. Both moms and their babies are doing just fine. Congratulations!
   — garw

March 13, 2003
Don't be nervous, just see your Ob/Gyn and explain everything to him/her. I have friends who didnt gain any weight (once even lost 8 lbs) during their pregnancy due to morning sickness etc. They and their babies were perfectly healthy. I am sure if you follow a healthy plan and take the prescribed vites you will be fine too! Relax and enjoy your pregnancy...congratulations!!!
   — M P.