Question:
Can I still have kids after weight loss surg?

I am a 24 year old female who is 5 foot 9 and I have a BMI of 42 and I am about 290 give or take a few pounds and my main question about the surgery is will I still be able to have kids after I have surg? I have one child already but I am wondering if it is safe to have kids after this surg. I am wondering if there is anyone out there who is of child bearing age that has given birth after weight loss surg and if so how did the pregncey go? How do you get the nuterients that you need to the baby? If there is anyone out there that can help me with this I would really apprecate it. Thanks alot, Jen    — Jennifer J. (posted on June 4, 2003)

June 3, 2003
I am a 26 y/o female and was assured by my surgeon that I could start trying to have kids a year to 18 months post op and everything should be fine!! Having children is actually one of the reasons I had this surgery!! Good luck to you!
   — SMG I.

June 3, 2003
Jen, there's a woman at my surgeon's support group that got pregnant within 4 months post-op and said it was a miserable experience. She had to eat almost constantly to get enough nutrition for both her and the baby...which is one reason the Association for Bariatric Surgeons says wait 18 months until getting pregnant. Have others gotten pregnant sooner, yes. Have they had healthy babies, yes. Based on my research (I'm a journalist) WLS patient's babies are born a bit smaller than normal pregnancies, but they are otherwise totally healthy. One reason: the mothers are healty! I had surgery so I could get pregnant one day...I didn't want to put my child at risk if I got pregnant and then became a morbidly obese mommy. I kept thinking of Momma Cass and poor Owen left motherless because of her mom's weight. It made me sad to delay motherhood, but it was a deeply personal decision. I am now anxiously counting the days (and pounds) until I can get pregnant and have a little one of my own! hope this helps, please feel free to email me with any more questions or to just 'chat!' (another) Jen, RNY 11/12
   — Mrs. Rich

June 4, 2003
Yes, it is possible. Lots of women have perfectly healthy babies after WLS. Go to this board for more info: <br> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-pregnant/
   — Ali M

June 4, 2003
My daughter lost 220 lbs. after her RNY. She gave birth last year to a beautiful, healthy, 8 1/2 lb. baby girl. Her OB/GYN consulted with our bariatric surgeon who recommended doubling the daily prenatal vitamins and checking a comprehensive metabolic panel every two months during the pregnancy. Her lab values were excellent throughout the pregnancy and she felt great the entire time. Our surgeon stated that there was absolutely no reason not to expect a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby, and it seems that he was right :-) Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

June 6, 2003
Thanks everyone for your answers they have helped alot! I have my first consult appt on 06/19/03 I am so excited this appt has been a long time coming and now that I know I will be able to have kids after surg makes things alot easier for me! *MUAH*
   — Jennifer J.