Question:
can you still have babies when you get Bariatric Surgery

I was just wondering.. since your food intake is so small how can you still have a kid? can you have a kid? just wonderin :P    — Andrea W. (posted on October 13, 2002)

October 12, 2002
Andrea, my daughter is the very proud mother of a beautiful baby girl, born two years post-lap RNY and a 210 lb. weight loss. Her bariatric surgeon consulted with her obstetrician and recommended that she double her daily prenatal vitamins and have her labs checked every two months during the pregnancy. The pregnancy was uncomplicated and all of her lab values continued to be in the high-normal range. She and the baby are in the peak of health, and we thank God every day for the WLS that enabled her to return to a healthy and happy life. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

October 12, 2002
One of the advantages of the lap band surgery is that there is no malabsorption. Everything we eat, including our vitamins, minerals, and protein gets absorbed. We can also get our band unfilled if we get pregnant so we can pretty much eat as a normal person then refilled after giving birth so we can lose that baby weight. I urge you to check out this option. This is one of the main reasons many of us get the lap band instead of other surgeries. http://blkbox.com/~phil/millieslapband/
   — M. B.

October 13, 2002
Andrea this subject has been covered a ZILLION time in the database. However, yes, the answer is yes- in fact this surgery pretty much was the ONLY WAY I could get pregnant. When you are pregnant you really ONLY need an extra 300-500 cals. a day for the nutrition of your child (read any baby book!). This can equal a simple large glass of milk. You do not need to "eat for two". In fact most Doctors recommend during pregnancy 6 small meals a day, and I have no problem adhering to that. What post op eats at 4 months out in no way compares what you can and will eat 2 years out- it's entirely different. Any way, when my body says it's hungry I eat- granted I eat less- but I am probably eating what the REGULAR pregnant people SHOULD be eating. I probably will not see excessive weight gain, and I am expected to be able to lose my pregnancy gain within weeks, compared to some women without surgery. My thin sister is also pregnant. In her first tri-mester, she gained 10lbs. I am just getting through my first tri and I have gained 2. I am already on supplements for WLS, and in addition to that I've just added a prenatal. I plan on monitoring my levels same as before and I truly expect no problems... There is also a support group called OSSG Pregnant for WLS patients who are pregnant. Feel free to join and ask what you need to know. It's over at Yahoo Groups.
   — Karen R.

October 13, 2002
Check with your specific surgeon/dietician, but the dietician at BTC told me that during the first trimester (first 3 months of pregnancy) you need to increase your fat intake because fat is essential to the neurological development of the baby.
   — Lynette B.