? High risk pregnancy( cross posted) in Hamilton

Hi

Been awhile since I posted- I am 17mos post RNY and 6 mos pregnant today! I lost over 150lbs with no complications and loving active life!

My doc was very supportive of pregnancy and as part of planned "share care" model referred me to Dr Loosley Millman (?sp) at St Joes ( where rny done). Have heard nothing but fabulous things about hhis lady but she declined my referral saying "high risk and to try 4F clinic at Mac). Im upset by this and as result of delays still dint have an appt - so naturally worried.

Has anyone else had this experience- are we automatically considered c sections?
Thanks for your insghts
Kelsey

Hi Kelsey,

Just to let you know, being referred to a high risk clinic does not necessarily mean you'll have a c section.  At High Risk clinics, they can monitor you more closely, and have more facilities available.  While both my pregnancies were pre RNY and I wasn't in the same situation as you are, they were both through the high risk clinic.  For my second pregnancy, I actually went to the Dr. I had at the High Risk clinic thinking I'd avoid going to the clinic, but I ended up back at the clinic because of the availability of things like ultrasounds.

My first pregnancy was to be a natural birth, but my son's heart rate dropped 3 times and he started swallowing stuff he shouldn't so I had an emergency c-section.  To make it easier for my eldest son, I planned the 2nd birth to be a c-section (actually, surgery came a week early because of his size).  I had high blood pressure, he was bigger and they were worried about him being diabetic (he's not) with being so big.

My guess is she wants you at the High Risk clinic to monitor your nutrition, blood pressure, baby development, etc. more frequently.  Then if there is a problem, they can deal with it sooner.

Cathy

Thanks - i guess i should clarify my two questions: 1) does everyone in hamilton gastric bypass considered high risk
2) if u had csection was it automatically bc of gastric bypass?
Thanks- kelsey - gonna google if there is a standard carepath/ best practice guideline for this typ of thing ( post op n pregger).
Thanks again

Can't answer the questions on c-sections, but I remember at one of the classes (orientation or pre-surgery), they mentioned that all pregnancies post-surgery are dealt with as high risk because of the nutritional component, and the problems we might have getting in enough for baby and mom-to-be. 

If you call the clinic, they can probably direct you (I'm sure they'd refer you as well). High-risk usually entails closer monitoring as others have said.

Hi Kelsey,Yes all pregnancy`s after surgery are considered high risk for the only reason of nutrition.  Nothing to worry about they will just keep an eye on you.  I was high risk with my daughter pre op and its just cause my BMI was 60.  I was very luck and had a great pregnancy and vaginal delivery.  I plan on trying to get pregnant 18 months post op and will be automatically referred to high risk clinic in Mt Sinai.  Trust me being high risk is not a bad thing they will take amazing care of you.

 

Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy.

hope your pregnancy is going well :) It's a special time :)

 

They likely referred you due to nutrition.

As for the c-section, ANYone can get a c-section. It just depends on what is going on and if it needs to happen. Most women deliver naturally. One piece of advice tho, when you get ready to deliver, make sure the nurses know you had gastric bypass! I have learned by working in the birthing unit, that at a certain point, they don't like you to eat because you will vomit. Trust me.. I clean up enough of it cuz the women don't listen and eat anyways. And also, if you get an epidural, you can't eat either. I know this because I have heard the nurses say to the women, "you better eat now, once you have the epidural, you will not be eating!"

Was this a planned pregnancy? It was my understanding from the nutrition classes that WLS post-ops wanting children, had to wait 2yrs to get pregnant. Is this not the case any longer?? 

Thanks for the replies! St Joes (hamilton) says 18months for pregnancy . My family doc agreed to allow me to try to conceive at 12 mos as I had done soo well post op- no complications, lost all my weight and was stable weight for two months before - we were so fortunate and didnt expect to concieve so quickly ( particUlarly bc my husband has issues in this dept)
Pregnancy is going well- thanks for the well wish, my only trouble has been the abdo ligament pains - intense, constant, making me nauseous for day or two and triggering back spasms. I have been unable to work on growth spurt days (physical job- 12hours) and am curious whther these are so bad because i just spent the past year tightening my midsection!! Will see doc tomorrow but other than goin btw heat and ice i am helpless/useless and breathless through these days baby boy will be worth it tho!

I have to say that I'm very surprised re:  getting the okay after 12 months.  The two year wait, I have been told, is not related to how well a person is doing after WLS or whether they've reached their goal, but rather, the fact that malapsorption continues until about 18 months to two years post-op.

This is not meant to be a judgment, but rather to clarify for others who have yet to have WLS (or who have just had it) and are thinking of pregnancy post-op. Check with your Centres!  Family docs may not have the full scoop.

That being said, others have done so successfully, and I'm wishing Gorgeous84 an uneventful pregnancy! 

DD