KarenG.

I am about to have my baby any day now and I have gained over 60lbs with this pregnancy. I am getting filled 6 weeks after delivery and CANNOT wait. I lost all of my weight (like over 100lbs)and had a lower body lift before getting pregnant a year after the lift. It has been really really hard for me to gain all this weight. Everyone tells me that I will lose like 1/2 of the weight just after delivery - within 6 weeks and the rest will be from resuming my normal expercise routine, breast feeding and restricting my diet. I CANNOT wait to start losing - it is really killing my self-esteem and unfortunately preventing me from fully enjoying my pregnancy as much.

Thank you for responses. I am outgrowing maternity clothing!! I was a size 6 and now I am wearing a size large maternity and it is tight. I was told I can fill my band again 6 weeks after I have my baby but I am soooooo scared at how big I will be by then! About 6 weeks to go I should be ABOVE 220!

I am 33 weeks and unfilled (see post) I was told I can get filled at 6 weeks post delivery and it should not effect breast feeding if I get the proper nutrition.

I lost over 100lbs with the band. I was 257 went down to 149 then I had a tummy tuck and one year later was pregnant (good planning right) I weighed 166 at 8 weeks pregnant. My band was loosened a about 1/2 way at 2 months pregnant. I was gaining weight really rapidly so I asked my doctor to put more back in. I was partially restricted for most of the pregnancy but still gaining weight at above the recommened amount. I was completely unfilled last week due to bad, bad heartburn and even thought that is helping me I am hungry all the time and gaining weight really fast - I am now 33 weeks and am up to 212! I am totally freaked that after all this hard work I will never be able to lose the weight again and that I will gain even MORE in the next 1 1/2 until I have the baby. Any tips/ideas/support? Thanks in advance!

THank you so much for that! I am trying not to worry but I bet I gain 50lbs if I am lucky only 50lbs. The nausea combined with being unfilled has made me a nightmare - I just get flashbacks to my out-of-contril eating before. I need to remember that I will get filled after I give birth and eventually lose that weight! It really helps to hear that you went through it.

I have gained close to 10lbs this month! I just went for my 8 week check up and ultra sound and everything looks good but OMG the weight is KILLING ME! I had just had a big meal and a lot of liquids so lets say MAYBE 7lb gain but my doctor tells me that 8 lbs is the total I should be gaining for the first 20 weeks! That means I shouldnt gain anything more for the next 3 months. I am kind of upset about this - can you tell?

I was 1/2 way unfilled 3 weeks ago at about 4 weeks preg and I have gained like 5-6lbs so I am totally freaked out. I have been at goal for over a year. My ob appoitnemtn is Tuesday and I am afraid what he is going to say!

My surgeon unfilled me 1/2 way 3 weeks ago when i was about 4-5 weeks along. Now I am almost 8 weeks and I can eat everything and I do! I was having really bad heartburn as a result of the band/pregnancy combo and now it is basically gone. I am pretty nauseas but I find that eating keeps that at bay. I have been at goal for about a year and now I have gained over 5lbs in the past 3 weeks! Yikes.

The top thing is a big issue. I wear a suit for work and I am a size 6 everywhere else but suit jackets don't fit on my arms! I am so torn about this. The lower body lift was a no-brainer but the arm scars still make me nervous. Thanks for your input JFran

Thanks so much everyone. I am still very conflicted about what to do! I hate my arms but am worried my scars will be awful too. If I do it I am aiming for April...

I am considering a second surgery. I had a lower body lift in September and am thrilled with my results. My arms and breasts really need skin removal/lift. I am concerned about the scars on my arms. Also concerned about the costs - I would need to borrow the money from my parents which makes me feel awful considering the current economy. Does anyone have any thoughts/experience about the arm scars? I don't know what exactly I am asking since I know there will be scars there. MY ps said that I heal well (so far) but that the scars will still be visable. What do you think?

While you don't need your Primary care physician if you are selfpay you really need one who is on board for your follow up care - someone who understands that band and that you can feel comfortable talking about your concerns with. Surgeon's can be good for follow up but you need a pcp who you feel comfortable disucssing band related health concerns with. This is aalso a real bummer if you need a letter for insurance about medical neccessity. I have heard of this happening before.

I think it is a fabulous NSV and so great that you can shop at your favorite store. A medium is a very exciting accomplishment - so nice not to be "large" even though we are not at all defined by our size. Feels good anyway and enjoy!

I have no idea but there are an awful lot of stitches. I don't think you should focus on the amount of stitches so much as the size of your scar etc. how much muscle repair you will need because that is what really effects the pain. I had a lower body lift but I didnt need much muscle repair so I think my procedure was less painful than if I needed a lot of muscle repair with a plain old tummy tuck. That said, I think all ps is painful.

My therapist said the same thing to me and it kind of annoyed me because I have always been assertive and I think objectively speaking it is other people's treatment of me that is different. My therapist is thin and I don't think he completely gets it.