Question:
suggestions please

I am 8 months post-op and just found out that I am pregnant. If anyone has suggestions for me please let me know. I really appreciate it!    — [Anonymous] (posted on September 11, 2000)

September 11, 2000
I like the name Michael Anthony if it is a boy. Good Luck and be aware that you will be taking even more vitamins than you are now.
   — snicklefritz

September 11, 2000
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!! That being said, I would make sure that your obstetrician and your surgeon work closely with you to make sure that you AND your baby are getting adequate nourishment. One thing that I learned from my three pregnancies is that your baby will take it's nutrients first, then you get whatever is left over. If you aren't eating enough to provide what your baby needs, then s/he will take from your reserves. This is especially true for calcium because the baby has all of those little bones to grow. Your OB may tell you that you need to take extra vitamins, in addition to the regular prenatal vitamins, if you had a malabsorptive surgery.<p>The best advice that I can give though, is follow your doctor's instructions, ENJOY your pregnancy and daydream about the tiny new life that is growing inside you. Congratulations again.
   — Terry M.

September 11, 2000
My best suggestion is to join an e-mail group at e-groups for post-op WLS patients who are pregnant. Go to this URL to sign up. It is a great group of women. http://www.egroups.com/group/OSSG-pregnant
   — Lynn K.

September 11, 2000
Be sure your protein intake is more than adequate. Low protein can mean low birth weight babies, so PLEASE supplement and watch those levels closely. Aslo, we do not absorb ferrous sulfate, so again, please check to be sure the iron you're taking is NOT ferrous sulfate. And, just to be a nuisance, Tums are not adequate for calcium. Only calcium citrate will give you a fighting chance at having enough calcium for the two of you. I'm sure you're paying attention, but often the staff people aassigned to help you may not know the little tricks of our post-op condition. One of our local girls delivered at 6 months. They had tried to take her off her protein supplement and have her use milk, which would've taken her from 120g of protein a day to 16g. They also put her on prenatal iron, which is the ferrous sulfate. She was able to change back to her correct products, and the baby is OK, but the mental anguish she went through was heartbreaking! Be very much aware that your body won't work the same as it did before and that we are now a little "odd" nutritionally.
   — vitalady