Pregnancy after WLS

Nov 24, 2015

Pregnancy after WLS

This is a subject I see too far and few in between. So many times have I heard and read about people choosing between weight-loss surgery and bearing a child. As expected there is a HUGE fear of gaining all your weight back, never getting the chance to “get skinny”, worrying if you’d be able to fulfill your babies needs, and the list goes on and on.

What if I told you, that pregnancy after weight-loss surgery, IS possible??

A lot of people don’t experience their weight struggles until pregnancy. Like me. I was always fit and healthy, until I got pregnant with my first and I gained 100+ pounds during and after the pregnancy.  When I decided to get my WLS, I also decided I was not going to have any more children. It was either another kid, which would prolong my fatness, or WLS to end my fatness. Although I already made my WLS decision, my heartstrings were still being pulled on because deep down I wanted another child. I did a little research, but never found the answer or sign I was looking for about having children after WLS. I can’t tell you to this day exactly what it was that I was looking for, but I was waiting for something to just click. But, no matter what my research confirmed, I was still going to get my surgery. I was being stubborn.

I kid you not, from the time of my decision, to the time I reached my goal weight, I always had a second baby on the back of my mind. I did some more research about the pros and cons about having another child, discussed it with my husband and talked it more seriously with my doctor. I mean HELLO PEOPLE, WLS is not a form of contraception, it’s not a vasectomy or tubal ligation, it’s a freaking weight loss surgery!! 

So, after a couple years of debating on what to do, I became pregnant with my second child early 2012. I ended up getting my band unfilled per doctor’s recommendation, so I could eat and gain nutrients for myself and my growing child and guess what? I did juuuuust fine without a fill! Well, for my first 6 months, the last 3 months I went a little overboard with the boredom eating from bed-rest, and living in Louisiana at the time, it was nearly impossible to avoid good, heart of Cajun Country deep fried cooking.  So of course, I packed on the weight. Come delivery time, I had gained a total of 60 pounds. After I had my son, I got back into walking and making better eating choices, then it all stopped and I started to slowly regain my weight. Due to finances and insurance circumstances at the time, I could not go get a fill.

Months later I am just sitting there, back to square one. Feeling fat, ugly and hopeless. All my hard work and money spent was down the drain. Yes my son was so worth it, but that wasn’t enough to get me to feel better about my choice. I slowly slipped back into my depression and misery . Luckily it did not last long because I realized, I had the tools to get the weight off. Yes getting my band filled would help tremendously, but I wouldn’t be able to just jump back into the swing of having a filled band. I had the potential and means to retrain myself like I had to for the surgery. I had to fast, I needed to start taking my vitamins and most importantly I needed to learn self control.

So yes, pregnancy is possible after weight loss surgery and it’s even worth it! WLS is to help you better your health, not stop you from fulfilling your maternal dreams.  Just keep your goals in mind and stay focused. You can have a very healthy happy pregnancy. You have to be SAFE as you don’t want to risk any harm to your child or yourself. There are so many people out there with successful pregnancies post WLS, you’re not alone and there is absolutely no need to be scared or worried, but it is ok to feel that way. WLS is just as big of a decision as having another child.

So play your cards right, follow your WLS rules and you will be just fine! Gain weight back? Don’t stress, that’s the point of WLS, to help you get back on track and to continue leading a healthy and happy life. So go ahead and get your surgery, that way you can lose weight and become even healthier so you can live long and cherish your sweet offspring for a long time, and be a role model for them in the future.

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