5 FAQ’S about Pregnancy & Gastric Sleeve
5. How much weight did you gain? Have you lost it?
I gained 12kg in total for the pregnancy. I have to admit it really hurt watching those scales go up instead of the down that I had become used to; I just had to remind myself that it was for the best.
I’d love to say I didn’t gain too much because I ate so well and exercised regularly. Far from it, I ate like a horse and I didn’t move my arse off the couch the entire time. I just got lucky.
The dietitian told me to expect to put on between 10 and 12kgs and that would be a healthy gain for my height, etc.
On the day of delivery I lost 7kg (I had a 3.5kg baby) and by the time the Little Man was 3 weeks old I had lost 17kg in total; I was under my pre-pregancy weight.
Again, love to say it was all diet and exercise but it was sleepless nights, anxiety, lack of hunger and illness that did it. (I’m such a great role model for healthy living!) My lack of hunger was so bad that it was an issue with the midwives while I was in hospital. They kept telling me to eat more and I kept having to tell them that I had a gastric sleeve and that was as much as I was going to get in. It was annoying, but they meant well and they were worried about me so you can’t be annoyed with that for too long.
And a bonus question,
6. Did it affect your ability to breastfeed?
Nope. Ultimately my milk never came in but that’s just the luck of the draw. We did everything we could to try and make it happen but it didn’t. The Doctors and Nurses said it could be down to a number of factors (PCOS, c-section delivery, IVF) but no one really knows why and no one ever mentioned the gastric sleeve as a possibility. Personally, I don’t think it played a part in my inability to breastfeed at all.
So, that in a nutshell is my pregnancy experience as it relates to being a gastric sleeve recipient. It is by far still the best decision I have ever made. I look at the Little Man everyday and thank the Lord for him and know that having this procedure played a crucial part in the dream coming true.
Hey, I know this post was a long time ago but i am about to embark on pretty much the same journey you went through. I too have PCOS and we have been trying for a baby for 5 years now and nothing, all the fertility doctors tell me to lose weight like its as simple as that and wont help with IVF until my BMI is under 35. Finally my doctor put me forward for weight loss surgery as all my attempts have only resulted in 3-5KG loses over months of trying( being 129KG and 5’10” ). at the moment i have been given the option between the Band and Sleeve and i am leaning slightly more towards the sleeve i think mainly because its permanent. Reading your story brought tears to my eyes as this is the best possible outcome i could i want for myself, Congrats BTW! Did you have any changes in your PCOS after the surgery? Is there any tips or hints you can give me to help me along the way? i am scared that i am pinning all my hopes on this surgery to help me lose the weight and in the end there will still be no baby!
I was just wondering how long did you wait after having weight loss surgery to try to become pregnant?
That for all the great information regarding concerns about the pregnancy and frequently asked question. I know that infertility and weight or obesity go hand and hand. I personally did not have difficulty with inferality but a close friend was never able to have children because of it so it is dear to my heart. I also had teh gastric sleeve surgery and had great result. Is funny how 1 little action will change your life forever. Any ways thank for the great blog, keep up the good work.
How long you waited before you became pregnant?
The Doctors advised that I should wait 6 months before undergoing more IVF treatments. However, each patient is different and you should seek and take advice from your medical professionals.
Wow! Thanks for sharing all your expertise and experience on this very sensistive topic. You are a brave woman!
How have you been since Blogtoberfest? I just wanted to let you know that I’m hosting another (albeit gentler and more introspective) blog challenge over the month of December called #reverb12.
Would be so rapt if you joined us!
There’s a little giveaway too. 🙂
Details here: http://isawyoudancing.blogspot.com.au/p/reverb12.html
Take care,
Kat xxx
Oh wow – thanks Kat – this is just what I was looking for! Awesome!