ObesityHelp

The standard recommendation is a minimum of 1 year past hitting goal. The reason for this is because it gives your body time to readjust, settle and for you to maintain your weight. However, several surgeons are now moving that recommendation up to 12 months surgery. It's best to wait until you are done losing weight. Pregnancy while obese brings an entire host of complications. I was 19 months post-VSG and had been below goal for a year before conceiving. The main concern with pregnancy early is not only obesity-related complications, but being able to eat enough to support your body and the baby for a healthy pregnancy.

I had already been in maintenance for nearly a year when I conceived. The only thing I had to do was add extra calories and carbs. In maintenance, I ate 1400-1500 calories per day, I was advised to bump it up to 1700-1800 calories per day with 100gr of protein and a minimum of 100gr of carbs. No low carbing it in pregnancy because ketosis causes fetal brain damage.

No additional vitamins.I was actually able to stay on my Celebrate chewable multivitamins with my high risk ob's approval. They exceeded the prenatals for the recommended value and superior formulation. My labs were pulled often during the pregnancy, and they remained stellar throughout.  I already ate a very wide variety of foods so no issues in that department. There are certain foods that all women are supposed to avoid in large quantities such as deli meat, and some fish varieties due to high mercury content in those fish.

I was below goal, in a healthy/normal bmi when I conceived so there really wasn't anything specific to VSG that complicated my pregnancy. It was not difficult to get in those extra calories. Some days I fell short on protein, but I had zero issues eating enough during the pregnancy. In the last trimester, my restriction changed (as we often hear women on here post about being able to eat more during or right before their period), it became more lax, I could fit a bit more in and my true physical hunger returned. Luckily, a few weeks post-delivery, my restriction returned and my hunger is gone again.

My surgeon recommends waiting a year after surgery before conceiving and strongly advises all female patients to use contraception in that year just to prevent.  Because, though you may have fertililty problems while obese they might be alleviated (or, ovulation may become more normal) as you lose weight, so you may be MORE fertile as you lose.

We're not planning on more kids (I want, DH does not) but it's good info to know.  :)