when i first got pregnant i was seriously freaked. not only b/c i never planned on popping out any rugrats but b/c of the band. my doctor considered me high risk and i was desperate for advice, or helpful words, or just support. i didn't find what i needed so i basically left.

anyhow, i wanted to post my story so if someone has my same questions and fears maybe i can reassure them.

i got pregnant after 8 months of being banded. not ideal, obviously, but timing has never been one of my strong suits. i barely lost any weight so i was extremely frustrated, disappointed, etc at the pregnancy.

i got unfilled at 6 months. i am glad i waited b/c it kept me honest. LOL. none of that "i ate a whole bag of mini snickers b/c the baby wanted me to" type of stuff. LOL!!! before getting my unfill i gained about 15lbs. after my unfill i gained another 15.

despite being "high risk" i had an amazing, easy pregnancy!!! really, i loved it. for the first time EVER in my whole life, i embraced my body. my belly wasn't something to be ashamed of. now, i didn't like being fat and pregnant, but i was lucky that i didn't have a single complication due to obesity.

my port never hurt (except when bebe kicked it. which he liked to do - a lot!) but it was more uncomfortable then hurty. like when you bump it, you know? it didn't stick out either - and i had a BIG belly. (i'm short, so bebe didn't have anywhere to grow but out.)

labor. i was TERRIFIED of labor. unfortunantely i don't have much to really add here. i ended up needing a c-section so i can't say how the band would do during labor.

(funny side story: when my doc was telling me he feared i'd need a c-section (i was 41 weeks at that point LOL) he asked me "if i do a c-section on you, will i be cutting your band at all?" i replied "only if you are REALLY bad at doing c-sections" and handed him a diagram of where the band is placed. he turned red and we both laughed. :thumbup:)

i am now refilled. i'm essentially starting out as a new bandster, even though i've had it for almost 2 years. i haven't lost any weight and as unpopular as this is, i wish i never did it. but i want to be honest. however, i have this thing in me and i'm going to try try try and try some more. i want my baby to have a mom that can keep up with him!

anyhow, i have a healthy, happy baby boy. he is 6 months old, wonderful, gorgeous and the love of my life. he is also teething, so free baby to good home. :thumbup: KIDDING.

here he is:

AWWWWWWWW I Love your baby!!

And LOL @ your doctor heheeheh

Hope u r loosing weight :thumbup:

He is adorable and thanks for the story.

I hope the banded lifestyle starts working for you. There are so many helpfull hints and suggestions on getting started again on this site.

What a cutie!!

We are in the same boat :rolleyes2: I am coming up on my two-year anniversary in January with only 30-some pounds lost, so I'm also treating myself like a brand-new bandster. I don't know what it is, but the band rules seem to be coming easier to me now. Maybe it's that I have this little one to contend with so less time to eat and less time to think about eating? Who knows.

Best of luck to you!