Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

WLS before or after children



Recommended Posts

Hi all-

I've been lurking for a bit, but could use some advice on WLS and children. I'm almost half way through my 6-month requirement, but during my first visit with the surgeon I was throw for a curve. I went in expecting to discuss sleeve, but due to my issues with acid reflux that was tossed. I know it's the gold standard but I'm struggling with the malabsorption pieces, especially since I'd be looking to get pregnant shortly after I get the "ok."

I'm curious for those starting or who have gone through the process. Would you wait (or have/did wait) to have WLS until after you've had children? Or do you go for it before?

Full disclosure, we haven't started trying yet so I'm don't know if we'll face challenges or not. I know WLS can help improve fertility, but assuming for a minute fertility isn't an issue, what do you do?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I can't really help you because I had the sleeve and also don't have kids yet but I sympathize because the malabsorption (and concerns about its impact on potential future pregnancies) with bypass was my main sticking point as well and a big part of why I went with the sleeve. Hopefully others will be able to give you some advise based on their experiences but just a thought - it's possible to convert a sleeve to bypass. Would your surgeon be willing to do the sleeve and convert it to a bypass if/when reflux became a problem? Not sure how bad your reflux issues are now so this may be a shot in the dark but I figured I'd ask.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello SeaShell82

Hope all is well. I also wanted the sleeve but due to very bad acid reflux had to have gastric bypass which it helped me and saved my life from getting Barrett's syndrome. I am not having more kids but I have a friend who was very successful getting pregnant after she lost her weight. She tried many time and took longer to get pregnant and after she lost the weight, and waited a year, she got pregnant and had a healthy baby. She was taking Prenatal Vitamins which her surgeon recommended to her and she did find and all her blood work was normal. From what I know if you decide to have Surgury before, the recommended time is to wait 1year after Surgury. Of course that is a personal decision that you have to make. You can always have the sleeve first and see how it goes with acid reflux and than have bypass.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi :) I haven't had my surgery yet, and I do not have children yet but this was a topic that I looked into as well because I would like to have children in the future.

I actually found an article (if I can find it again I'll share it with you) that stated that children who are conceived after the mother has WLS are significantly healthier and less likely to be obese when they grow up due to an activation of certain genes during the fetal growth. Also WLS reduces the risk of needing a c-section.

I have a friend who had kids after and her children are healthy... however she got pregnant before the 18 months was up with her first child and she had a few complications with nutrition because her body wasn't ready. Her second child went smoothly like a normal pregnancy.

I also know some who are waiting because they don't want to have to lose the weight again after child birth. :)


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Even people that have always been thin put on weight during/after pregnancies.

I would highly consider waiting until after baby (s) before getting the surgery.. that way a pregnancy won't sabotage your once-in-a-lifetime surgery.

On the other hand, healthier babies are always good... but there is no guarantee with that being the case, and malabsorption might be a problem for the baby too.

Hard choice! But I still vote.. have babies first.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with Berry78. It makes a lot of sense. You have to weigh the pros and the cons but it makes sense. 😀

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have no children yet but decided to do this for my current health for my future children. I didnt want to be diabetic and pregnant. Not if i could help it. Even though im no longer diabetic, that's not to say gestational diabetes is off the table but i didn't want to go into my thirties just as fat and miserable as i was the rest of my life. I'm not getting any younger and what ever children i may have in the future deserve the best version of me that i can give and getting the sleeve and getting healthy has been the hardest thing I've ever done but it was so necessary. My whole family can benefit from this healthier me. Just make sure whatever decision you make is right for you and at the right time. That's the only thing that'll make sense to you and make you happy. I didn't realise this was the right timing for me until months after the surgery. I knew it was what i wanted but didn't know how right the timing was until later. Yeah i wish i had done it earlier but no way was i mature enough to handle all the mental work i need to do. Its hard and kids complicate things. I get distracted easily. I can barely eat while caring for my mom, trying to get my eating on track while also caring for a small child would have been a recipe for disaster lol. But we are only given as much as we can handle.

Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a child and I am currently 1 week post RNY. Like you I wanted a sleeve but my reflux was too bad and I wanted to avoid another possible surgery in the future to correct it or convert it since it's not just that easy as oh just get a revision. My husband and I are not planning to have more kids per say, but if after my waiting period something happens then we would be thrilled!! We had to endure trying, expensive, and frustrating fertility treatments in order to have our child and while I wouldn't change it for the world, if I had to do it over I would have had surgery first. I'm reading some misinformation on here in regards to malabsorption and by no means am I an expert and truthfully that is the exact reason I was afraid to have RNY, but truth is your body may not receive as many calories or nutrients from foods that aren't the greatest for you. That is the benefits to malabsorption. Your stomach doesn't just dump everything the second you ingest it unless in most people it's pretty unhealthy and in that case you're not receiving nutrition from something like that anyway even if you didn't have the surgery. My very good friend had RNY almost 6 years ago and while she still had issues getting pregnant she is currently pregnant with her second child in less than a year lol! Actually her children will be 1 year and 9 days apart if baby 2 stays in there that long ha ha! She had zero complications as it relates to her surgery and was substantially healthier and more readily able to carry a child because of it. The only thing that's common in terms of a normal pregnancy and RNY is having your glucose testing done differently and finding a dr that had treated and delivered babies to mothers that have had RNY just in case. Back to the malabsorption, as long. As you are eating correctly and being religious about taking your Vitamins as directed by your bariatric program/surgeon you shouldn't ever be malnourished. This requires follow up blood work and specified intervals forever and reporting to your doctor if you feel off. Also eating for 2 is not healthy and it's not a thing, you literally only need 100 more calories a day when you are pregnant and that essentially an extra, healthy Protein filled snack. I would not be concerned about malabsorption since there is a big difference between malabsorption and malnutrition and as long as you stick to the plan and take your supplements and get in your protein you would be fine. I know a lot of people do research into the things they want to do and their surgeries but I kind of go over board on it before doing anything and for me this was the right choice! All of the research I read about pregnancy after WLS showed significant higher numbers of healthy babies and healthy mothers with a drastic reduction in pregnancy/higher weight related complication such as GD, PreE, bed rest, etc.. I was lucky I had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy daughter and while I wasn't as big as I am now I only gained 20lbs my entire pregnancy, ate healthy, and kept active. I however was always worried and I actually switched doctors about 12ish weeks in because my weight was an issue for them and I would leave every appointment crying. You need to make the choice that's right for your life, but word of advice I don't think I will ever go back to regular vitamins you swallow even though they say 6-8 weeks after you can take pills like normal. I think it's better to have the nutrients available almost immediately for absorption by allowing them to dissolve or using chewable.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you have to wait 2 years post op to start trying for a baby. I had a Vitamin D deficiency at 9 months post op. Deficiencies can come on quickly in the first 2 years. So it's advisable to wait. I have a niece who has spina bifida which is caused by low folic acid levels during first weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid you get from the b Vitamins. It's important to get your vitamins in and have your digestive system settled before trying to get pregnant.

It depends on how old you are if you want to wait to do the bypass before or after pregnancy since you'll need to wait 2 years. I would think that it would be easier getting pregnant after surgery as it balances your hormones and takes extra stress off your body.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×