Guest guest Posted January 10, 2003 Report Share Posted January 10, 2003 Great job, Kris! >Okay, I have added several of your suggested questions to the FAQs, and I've >re-arranged some of them. >-Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2003 Report Share Posted January 10, 2003 Kris, I think they look great! It will really help a new person who is just joining the group. Great work! Marcy FAQs again Okay, I have added several of your suggested questions to the FAQs, and I've re-arranged some of them. -Kris ************************ Here are some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) that you can read through as an " orientation " to joining our group. I will use the acronym " WLS " to stand for the RNY, gastric bypass, VBG, gastric banding, or other forms of bariatric surgery. I am answering these myself, as the listowner. I am NOT a physician or a health care professional, and my answers to these questions are based only on anecdotal evidence which I have witnessed as the listowner of this group since 1999. These answers are not to be taken as medical advice and should be viewed in light of your own health care professional's opinions first. My purpose in compiling these is just to let the reader know what our experience here on this e-mail group has been. It was not scientifically studied or tested. In other words, Caveat Emptor. -Kris ************************ Q: Help! I'm only two months post-WLS and I'm pregnant! *I didn't think I could get pregnant because I was infertile *I was using birth control pills A: Don't panic. You are not the first woman that this has happened to. In all likelihood, if you get good prenatal care and take care of yourself, your baby has all the normal chances of being healthy. ************************ Q: How soon after my WLS should I try to become pregnant? A: Most WLS surgeons recommend you wait one to two years following WLS before becoming pregnant. This is really more for YOU, since there is a period of rapid weight loss immediately following WLS. This rapid weight loss tapers off after time because your body adjusts to the new levels and adapts. ************************ Q: If it probably won't hurt the baby, why do I need to wait? A: First of all, there are no long-term studies that confirm this. There is only the anecdotal evidence of the women in this group for the past four years. Second, pregnancy is kind-of hard on a woman's body anyway... and WLS is also rather a shock for your body. It needs time to adjust. YOU need time to adjust, mentally and emotionally as well as physically. The emotional rollercoaster of a woman who's pregnant, combined with the emotional rollercoaster of a freshly-post-op woman, is just not something you should intentionally set out to do! Unless there are extenuating circumstances (you're past 40 and don't have as much time to wait), it won't be the worst thing in the world if you wait the full year. ************************ Q: Should I seek out an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies? A: Not solely based on your WLS status. If you're high-risk because of diabetes or high blood pressure or some other reason, then you might need to. If you're very early post-op, your OB might want to consult with someone else or refer you to a specialist, but it isn't an automatic high risk situation necessarily. Check with your own doctor and go with what you're most comfortable with. ************************ Q: Will my post-WLS baby have low birth weight or be mentally retarded because of my WLS? A: It is unclear whether there are any long-term effects on infants born to mothers who were in a period of rapid weight loss (as is experienced during the first year following WLS) during most or all of their pregnancies. At this time it does not appear to have had a negative effect on infants' birth weight or Apgar scores. Future growth and development issues have not been studied, that I'm aware of. ************************ Q: I have always been infertile. Why should I use contraception after my WLS? What form(s) of contraception are most effective? A: It is possible to become pregnant at any time following WLS, often even if you are using oral contraceptives. Because of this, it's probably a good idea to use two forms of contraception. In many (but not all) cases, previously infertile women became super-fertile immediately following WLS. It is also possible that the forms of WLS which involve some sort of bypass may interfere with the absorption of oral contraceptives in the early months following surgery. ************************ Q: Will I gain all my weight back if I become pregnant? A: Probably not, unless you go back to bad eating habits. Pregnant women sometimes use pregnancy as an excuse to eat with abandon! We WLS-ers can't afford to do this. Since we usually can't eat large quantities, it's critically important that the food we DO consume be healthy and nutritious. An occasional sweet snack probably won't signal your immediate downfall (unless you're subject to severe episodes of dumping), but a pattern of snacking is a bad habit to get into. That being said, in my experience it appears that post-WLS women have very individual experiences with pregnancy. Some women find that it much more difficult to drop pregnancy pounds than others. Some women are back to their small pre-pregnancy jeans after six weeks. Your mileage may vary. ************************ Q: Was it easy to lose the weight after pregnancy or do you tend to stay around the same weight/size? A: It seems to be a very individual thing. You may or may not gain weight during pregnancy anyway, and you may even lose weight during pregnancy if you're not very far post-op. If you do gain weight during pregnancy, it's more likely to come off easily if it's baby weight. If it's weight gained because you've spent a lot of time eating junk food, then it'll be harder to take it off afterward. ************************ Q: Will I be able to breastfeed? A: I have not seen any evidence that says you can't. Unless you have some other extenuating factor preventing you from breastfeeding, your body will make milk just like normal... just like every other breastfeeding woman, you need to be sure you're eating healthy food and getting enough rest and enough to drink. If you're uncomfortable or unsure, get checked out by a doctor. If you'd feel better supplementing with infant formula, it's not the end of the world if you do. You need to make the choice that's best for you and your baby regardless of the opinions of others. ************************ Q: My doctor told me that my baby would be born retarded because of my WLS, and said I should have an abortion. Is this true? A: NO, it is NOT TRUE. Run -- don't walk -- out of this person's office and don't go back, because this advice is not based in any known fact whatsoever. ************************ Q: My doctor (nutritionist, dietician, etc.) says I have to eat at least 2000 (1500, 1000, insert your number here) calories a day to sustain this pregnancy. There is no way I can eat that much! What should I do? A: Women all over the world give birth to healthy babies even when they don't get that many calories in a day. Do your best to eat healthy food, and DO NOT DIET while you are pregnant. If you have trouble getting enough protein, you can supplement with a protein drink -- BUT -- make sure you get enough water to drink, because pregnancy causes your kidneys to work harder than normal as it is, and taking in extra protein will also tax your kidneys as well. Stay away from refined sugars and simple carbohydrates... those will sabotage you faster than anything else, and as a post-WLS patient, you don't need to be consuming those anyway! ************************ Q: What vitamin supplements should I be taking in addition to my prenatal vitamin? A: This is something you need to take up with your doctor. He/she may want to do blood tests to check levels of vitamins and minerals in order to tailor your nutritional needs. ************************ Q: I lost so much weight that my stomach hangs and is considered a pannis. I have heard this can cause a hernia. How do I deal with this while pregnant? Is there anything I can wear to hold up the pannis while pregnant? A: It is possible to buy a special support garment for pregnant women which supports the lower back and the expanding abdomen. If you do experience a hernia, your doctor will evaluate your particular needs and act accordingly. It is possible to repair a hernia while you're pregnant, if that is determined to be necessary. ************************ Q: Am I allowed to consume any artificial sweeteners while pregnant? A: According to the professionals: The artificial sweeteners - cyclamate and saccharin - are not recommended for use during in pregnancy. Foods or beverages containing other sweeteners are not recommended during pregnancy IF they take the place of more nutritious foods. If you do choose to use foods or beverages containing sweeteners, aspartame (Equal or Nutrasweet) and sucralose (Splenda) may be taken in moderation as a substitute for sugar or honey. You should not have more than 4 packages of these sweeteners or 2 cans of diet beverages in a day. Here are a few links which might answer your questions about artificial sweeteners during pregnancy: http://www.babycenter.com/expert/pregnancy/prenatalhealth/9213.html http://www.parentsplace.com/pregnancy/exposure/qas/0,10338,166315_241472,00. html ************************ Q: I am having trouble sleeping at night. Is there anything I can do to increase my comfort at night? A: You could try using an inflatable air mattress, or using one of the large body pillows. ************************ This list of FAQs is a work in progress. If there's anything you feel should be a part of the FAQ list, please e-mail me at ossg-pregnant-owner . Thanks, Kris Children are a blessing, and a gift from the Lord. -Psalm 127:3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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