natural childbirth and band-labor complications

I am banded and am 29 weeks pregnant. I am planning on giving birth naturally (no meds) and would really prefer to give birth at a birth center or at home rather than at the hospital. however, because I am banded, I don't know if this is feasible. My OB doesn't have any experience with bands, so he's not any help. I've emailed my band doctor, but I don't know if he will reply to me.

What I'm wondering is if any of you who have had babies while banded have had any labor complications DUE TO THE BAND. I can't really imagine how the band might interfere with labor, but would like to know either way.

If you read this and didn't have any band complications, and especially if you had a non-hospitalized birth, could you let me know that as well? Thanks

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Tracy

Banded 3/31/08
in San Antonio by Dr. Stegemann
291 (h) /286 (s) /265.6 (now) /175 (in my dreams)

I am TTC and just saw my doctor yesterday. He was excited that I had gotten a band and said his patients who are pregnant do GREAT! He didn't mention anything about potential complications.

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Wendy

Initial Consultation with Dr. Andre Nunn 2/23/09
Empire Blue approval 3/31/09
(Realize Band 11cc Band) Surgery 4/17/09
First Fill 2cc 5/6/09 Second Fill 3cc 6/3/09 Third Fill 1.5cc 6/24/09 Fourth Fill 7/8/09 1cc
I have 7.5cc's in my band.
Post Surgery Weight 258 Size 20
Current Weight as of 7/8/09 242 Size 18/20
(16 pounds lost! - 96 pounds to go.)

Thread Starter

thanks for replying. my doc said the same thing when I asked him about pregnancy after LAP-BAND®. i just wonder if "do great" and "have no related complications" are the same thing. because I'm considering a non-hospital birth, I just want to make absolutely sure that nothing is going to pop up.

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Tracy

Banded 3/31/08
in San Antonio by Dr. Stegemann
291 (h) /286 (s) /265.6 (now) /175 (in my dreams)

My baby was born in the hospital but I can say that the band had absolutely no impact on labor and delivery. It was a non issue. Unless you are vomiting excessively and have a lot of food in your stomach on the day of delivery, I don't see what difference it would make. This is especially true if your band is empty for the pregnancy.

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I gave birth to my first son nearly 3 years ago, I was not banded at that stage and was 40 kilos heavier than I am now. My son was a big baby, close to 10lbs, he was posterior, I had a retained placenta and I heamoriged.It was an awful birth My second son is now 15 days old (post band) he was an average baby, and a text book delivery with no complications. I pretty much was able to walk around straight after delivery, it was alot nicer than my first and I do put alot of it down to my weight loss.

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Banded 16th Jan 2008
Perth, West Aus

Start/current/goal
147kg/107kg/85kg

Thread Starter

i heard back from my surgeon, and i've copied the meat of his email below. i figure someone else might someday have to same questions about labor after banding as i had.

here is what he wrote to me...

"Congrats on your pregnancy! The good news is that having a band does NOT increase your risk during your pregnancy OR during childbirth. It would certainly be fine to do a homebirth if you choose to do so. The baby will not come into contact with the band or the tubing so you don't have to worry about that. I guess if you were having problems with persistent vomiting then I would be concerned something was going on, but if you aren't having any of those issues then likely everything is fine with your band."

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Tracy

Banded 3/31/08
in San Antonio by Dr. Stegemann
291 (h) /286 (s) /265.6 (now) /175 (in my dreams)