Getting Pregnant After Whipple

hi Braverose

welcome to the online community, sorry to hear you're struggling. 

I had a quick look and generally speaking there doesn't seem to be a risk to a successful pregnancy post Whipple. 

Nutrition. 

I'm going to share one story.  A couple I knew a few years ago had a several miscarriages and were getting a bit upset, understatement .

I was on the train and came across an article which suggested copper deficiency and I shared it with them.  They now have 2 kids. 

You're only 25, I should hope you'll have plenty of time, although I'm not sure of the decisions to leave having kids into their 30s as some women seem to do today, fertility does decrease with age. 

I had chemotherapy for breast cancer and each session the blood report came back and you could see all the vitamins and minerals disappearing off to practically nothing . It made me realise that getting the right levels of all the trace elements is actually quite difficult even if you're in tip top health and have a healthy diet with plenty of exercise. 

One thing that helped me was the Thriva blood test, although it's not for the squeamish, you have to squeeze quite a lot of blood out of a pin prick in your finger but it gives you access to your report via your phone and outlines where you're low and how to solve it.

You can go to your GP but they're often not as up to date as they might be, I had exceptionally dry skin and my GP recommend creams and lotions when in fact I was seriously deficient in vitamin D.  Oh if they could pack us off on a sunshine break on the NHS. 

Try this, keep a food diary and after a week see if you can spot any examples of lack of vitamins. Try the food sources first before resorting to supplements.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-a/

What we all need is variety, not a massive quantity of each, just enough fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, nuts, seeds, pulses etc.

And of course, getting too impatient and frustrated might be counterproductive, perhaps a sunshine break might help you relax??

hugs

Carolyn

xx

Hi Carolyn,

Firstly sorry for not coming back to you. Thanks for replying

Secondly I have a lovely news of telling you that I am now pregnant! I am just over 17 weeks now.

I think my body just needed time to recover from my op. I swapped jobs (less stress) and of course spending LOTS of time indoors during the pandemic 

Love Rose x

Congratulations!!!!!!! 

Let's hope the pandemic subsides so you can enjoy the pregnancy and look forward to the birth.

massive hugs

Carolyn

xxx

Hi Rose, 

My name is Katelyn, I'm 27 yo and I had a whipple 4 years ago this coming December. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for the better part of 3 years with no luck. We've had testing done and nothing seems to be an issue. After many conversations we've come to realize that it might not be chemical obstacle, but a mental one. 

I've really struggled with the mental recovery of my surgery and have a lot of trauma around anyone touching my stomach, or my stomach being bothered in any way. On top of that, the thought of growing a baby inside of me - the thought of a baby kicking me from the inside - makes me physically nauseous. I've wanted to be a mom my whole life so the thought that I might not want to carry anymore has been extremely heartbreaking. 

All this to say, could you share any insight into what it felt like for your stomach to expand during pregnancy, what labor was like, and what your recovery has been for the past few years since having your child? 

I know the chances of you seeing this are slim given that you posted several years ago, but quite frankly I'm desperate.

Thank you in advance, 

Kate x  

Hi Kate,

I'm still here! Wow, amazing you had a whipple so young too. I've never actually spoken to someone my age who has had it done so young. So well done! 

I completely understand how you feel. That was a very hard time in my life back then. It was always looming over me and in the back of my mind. I remember not planning anything to far in advance in the hope of I 'might' be pregnant. 

How did your op go? Was all OK? Did you have any further treatment?

It took a long time to finally get pregnant but honestly was the best I've felt in a long time. Looking back I feel my body needed to recover more than what I thought as growing a human is HARD work. It's like my body said no you will carry a baby when we are able too safely! and I did! twice actually. My son is nearly 5 and I also have a daughter who just turned one.

So when I was pregnant my babies have been quite low, my scar is quite high on my stomach. By the time I was really big, babies had dropped and it didn't really stretch my scar as much as I thought. It's a gradual stretch so its not felt if that makes sense? I remember my tummy feeling itchy but I think that happens to most pregnant women. I didn't feel my first baby kick until I was about 20 weeks and even then just flutters so if it makes you feel better you won't feel proper kicks for the full time you are pregnant. Depending on how baby is positioned as well. My daughter was breach for a while so she just kicked me down below ! Feeling your baby move and kick is honestly the best feeling in the world. Like they are saying 'hi mamma!' 'i'm here!' 

I had both natural labours. My first, my son had a big head so had to be pulled out haha. My daughter was a complete normal birth. I bounced back with both kids tbf, I try and stay active and with them both they keep me on my feet ALL DAY! 

My main problem after my op is what I eat... I probs could eat better but you know what its like, love the bad food! and my body doesn't really like it when I don't eat well.

Are you from the US? I am UK :) 

if you want to ask anymore please do! Here to talk & help 

Rosie xx

Sorry I was also meant to say..

we tried for a baby for what seemed like forever. I fell pregnant April 2020 during the first lockdown.

I changed my jobs just before and then we all worked from home. My husband stopped working and was put on furlough. We had date nights at home as we couldn't go out! I think just not thinking about it as I was thinking about a global pandemic helped! plus we just CHILLED and had time to pot around and be with each other. My husband also stopped drinking 4 months prior. 

2nd pregnancy - took 6 months to conceive