New, THRILLED, and concerned

September 9, 2004

Hi All! I had my duodenal switch surgery 18 months ago in San

Francisco, Ca with Drs. and Rabkin. My fiance and I

just found out that we are 5 weeks pregnant! We couldn't be more

thrilled because it was supposed to be hard for him to concieve. So

we started trying figuring it would take a year or more and since

we're a little older (I'm 35 and he's 42) we thought we'd better get

the ball rolling before it passed us by. And the first month-

BLAM!!

*******Big Smiles*******

But, I have so many questions!! I haven't even been able to get

into my first doctors visit yet and am seeing my surgeon soon. I'm

going crazy with worry over malnutrition. So, since I've known for

about 2 weeks now I have been eating like it's going out of style

and have put on 8 lbs as a consequence. I was hoping that you fine

ladies might have some advice for me about how many calories per day

is enough with malabsorption? Also, I am taking 2400 mg daily of

calcium(surgeon recommended), 2 omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acid

capsules, 1 prenatal vitamin, and 400 additional mcg. of folic acid,

and 2 viamin E capsules.....Whew!! I have been reading here and am

getting a lot of good information but since the baby's development

is so critical at 5-10 weeks I thought I'd be smart to get some

advice. I have picked up a couple of baby books (Mayo Clinic

Healthy Pregnancy 2004 edition) but am unsure how to appy the

nutritional stuff.

Additionally, I have a hernia at the incision site by my belly

button that isn't dangerous because it's kind of big, but will it be

okay as my belly grows? Has anyone out there had an existing hernia

then become pregnant and how did that work out for you.

I'm am just so thrilled to be pregnant and to have found this

amazing group.

Raine

September 9, 2004

Raine --

Have you chosen an Ob/Gyn yet? If not I can recommend Dr.

Kardos at California Pacific. I had the DS two years ago and had a

VERY complicated pregnancy that Dr. Kardos was instrumental in

getting my and my child thru.

Also as for calories...I was only able to eat about 500-1000

calories a day for the first six months of my pregnancy and my baby

was 6 pounds 13 ounces at birth! The baby will take everything

he/she needs from you but you could end up lacking nutrition. Dr.

Kardos, or any doctor who wants to learn everything he or she can

about the DS and pregnancy, can help you thru this and make this the

best time of your life!

Best of luck to you and please ask if I can help with any questions

you may have!

STEPH

September 10, 2004

Congratulations Raine!! And Welcome to our group!

~Sandy (Buffalo, NY)

RNY Dr.Caruana - 5/21/03

330/198

Expecting #1 - 3/17/05

14 Weeks

September 10, 2004

Hi! I am 18 months out lap DS. I am 32 weeks prego. I am hungry

all the time...so i think that is normal. I also have a hernia in

my belly button (not from surg) and it hasnt bothered me thus far! I

hope they will fix it when I have my c-section At first I

gained, then i would lose lbs, but now I have gained a total of like

16 lbs, which is normal! wow what a concept, since in my first

pregnancy 13 yrs ago I went from 140 to 218!!!! I am also 34...I

take my meds as directed, and well I eat too much prolly, but so far

baby is doing just fine! Just make sure you get your levels checked

regularly, and do what they say and you will do great! Write me

anytime!!!

Robin Conners

Lap DS 3/26/03

EDD 11-1-04 Aiyven Conners

September 12, 2004

welcome and congrats raine. i'm jennifer, sahm to nearly 5 year old benjamin

and 4 months pregnant with #2. i'm 6 months (today!) post op LAP RNY.

aka mom2ben99 (jennilee75@...)

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