Lap Band surgery is frequently recommended for patients who are extremely overweight or morbidly obese, and one consideration with any bariatric treatment is pregnancy. Many women who are obese suffer from hormonal imbalances, and this can make becoming pregnant extremely difficult. The medical recommendation is that you do not become pregnant for a full year after having Lap Band surgery, so that your body can recover fully and you have a chance to lose at least half of your excess body weight. One advantage of the Lap Band technique is that it can be used throughout your pregnancy, with adjustments made to the band to allow additional food consumption and nutritional support for your condition.
Once you have had Lap Band surgery and start to lose the extra weight your fertility will usually increase. The weight loss allows your hormones to regulate normally, and you may start to notice that your menstrual cycle occurs more regularly. During pregnancy it is important that the baby receives proper nutrition, and the Lap Band technique allows this. As soon as you realize that you are pregnant discuss this fact with your physician. It is normally recommended that your band be deflated as soon as possible after conception, so that you can eat a well balanced diet and ensure that the proper nutrients are being supplied to the baby. Your doctor may also recommend changes in your diet, to prevent empty calories and excess weight gain while ensuring that all the needed nutrients are included.
The Lap Band should be deflated at the beginning of your pregnancy because three small meals a day is not usually sufficient to support all of the nutritional needs of the fetus. As long as you continue to eat healthy, and minimize fats and sugars in your diet, then any weight gain during your pregnancy should be small, and easy to eliminate after the baby is born. Vitamin and mineral supplements may also be prescribed to help with proper nutrition.
Once you have reached fourteen weeks in your pregnancy then your physician may recommend inflating the band again, to prevent excessive weight gain that could cause complications during your pregnancy and the birth of the baby. This is usually done if you have gained too much weight by this point in your pregnancy. If the band is inflated again then your doctor will closely monitor your nutrition to make sure you are getting enough of all the required nutrients. The band will be deflated again when you have reached thirty six weeks, and this is done to avoid any complications during labor and delivery. After the birth the band can be inflated again and you can continue with your weight loss efforts.