Question:
Is it safe to have a baby after surgery- if so how long after??

   — Stefanie K. (posted on November 29, 2001)

November 29, 2001
A friend of mine did have a baby after her open rny. She waited about 2 years, but she did gain some of her weight back after the baby. She still looks good. She said it stretched out her pouch, but I am not sure how she was eating. Hope this helps.
   — [Anonymous]

November 29, 2001
My daughter's RNY was 01/00 and she is 8 weeks pregnant with their first child. Our surgeon recommends that his WLS patients wait 18 months before pregnancy, but he has had patients who became pregnant much earlier with no ill effects. His recommendation to my daughter's OB/GYN was to have her double her prenatal vitamins and monitor a comprehensive metabolic panel every two months. Otherwise, he stated that she should expect to have an uneventful and normal pregnancy/delivery.
   — Diana T.

November 29, 2001
I would like to know more about this possible pouch stretching due to pregnancy- it concerns me a great deal. Anyone know anything more? Please post!
   — Karen R.

November 29, 2001
Hi! This questions was a biggie for me too - would like to have another baby in the next few years. There's quite a bit of info on this site - go to the library and search on "pregnancy" and it will come up. My surgeon (I'm pre-op) told me that it's fine, go for it, but wait until weight loss has stopped/at goal weight or so. He said usually a year or so. Hope this helps! =)
   — Sarah C.

November 29, 2001
I am only a pre op :) but what I have read on here in the past months about this issue is that you should wait atleast a year. Some people have got unexpectidly pregnant almost right after surgery cause , for some, you get very fertile after you have lost some weight. Anyway, pregnancy itself does not stretch the pouch. Eating more because you are pregnant is what does that, and from what I have read, not everyone stretches their pouch. Probably the longer you wait the better it is as far as being able to eat what you need to eat. By a year or so your pouch has already stretched naturally to the size it should be. Try to be patient. I know it is probably hard. Good luck!
   — Kim B.

November 30, 2001
I had a baby about 2 1/2 yrs post op. My surgeon said to wait a minimum of a year so your nutrition is up to par. the first year wt loss is fast and your body needs all the nutrition to heal. The baby will take away from that. I had no problems or issues with my pregnancy. Rita
   — vt_rita

April 17, 2002
It is safe to have children after surgery. I waited two years just so I'd have less to lose after the baby was born. I just kept up with my vitamins,especially iron intake and ate more frequently. After two children, 2 yrs. old and 5 months, I'm happy to say my weight gain was minamul and both children are health and happy.
   — Charlene B.

October 11, 2004
I am happy to say that I had a healthy baby boy in July. I had RNY a couple of years before getting pregnant. The pregnancy went very well. I did have a bit of problems gaining weight. I had to eat constantly. I lost all the weight which I gained in the first 6 weeks following delivery.
   — Lee D.