Pregnant almost instantly after tummy tuck

[MyElatedNavyOrca]

Hi
I had 4 pregnancies in quick succession. My youngest was born Jan 2023 via emergency c section (the rest were vaginal) A little while after myself and husband agreed no more babies, I got the IUD and he was on schedule to get a vasectomy. My c section overhang left me feeling really uncomfortable with my stomach and my abdominal muscles were extremely weak.

For my 36th birthday at the end of Jan I got a tummy tuck (in the UK) I was advised by my surgeon not to have any more children as it would impact the results and I’d need a revision, he said if I did have anymore to wait at least a year but it wouldn’t be anymore high risk than if I hadn’t had one. Obviously I did not plan to become pregnant at all because that’s thousands of pounds of work down the drain and if I knew I’d become pregnant I would have saved the surgery until after the baby.

Myself and husband had sex approx 2 weeks after surgery. I felt comfortable, wasn’t in any pain, had the IUD.

Then I realise I’m a few days late on my period, I think nothing of it because I have the IUD and that prevented pregnancy for me for 10 years from the age of 18 until 28, I didn’t think it was possible. A week late and I take a test fully anticipating it to be negative but I just want to ease my mind and it was positive!! This means I conceived exactly 2 weeks after my surgery which I didn’t even think was possible due to the surgery let alone with the IUD.

Now, I want to keep the baby, as does my husband. I understand that essentially my tummy tuck will have been all for nothing as the results will be impacted, but I’d rather lose the results/money that I spent than have an abortion of a child I can and want to love/provide for.

My only concern is the impacts this will have on the baby. I know I have to speak to a doctor, I’ve got a consultation Friday with my surgeon (although I can’t imagine he’s going to be pleased) it will take some time before I see a midwife as I’m not far enough along. I’m concerned primarily with will my body cope with being stretched so shortly after having all that area stitched up pretty extensively even recreating my belly button. Will that cause problems for the developing baby, will it cause issues for me such as the scars becoming undone etc?

Im just wondering if anybody else has experience with pregnancy after a tummy tuck

Have you spoken to your GP?

The most immediate concern is that you are pregnant with an IUD fitted which can be an added risk factor.

I don't know about the tummy tuck but would think it highly unlikely that there would be any negative impact to the baby because the surgery you have had won't have impacted your uterus or reproductive system.

Depending on how well your surgical wounds have healed I would again imagine that the actual cuts are pretty solidly knit by now as it's been over 4 weeks and by the time they are being stretched it will be another 8+ weeks from now.

You're barely out of the minimal recovery period so you need to make an appointment with your surgeon ASAP as I'd be concerned about the impact on your body- it will still be healing.

Congratulations though!

You need to see your GP to arrange a scan. There is a much higher risk of ectopic pregnancy with a coil or miscarriage. I would also go back to your surgeon for advice as previous pps have suggested.

I had a tummy tuck 8 years ago and have just had a baby 4 weeks ago. My stomach is pretty much back to how it was before and there was never any concern about it having a negative impact on the baby…the only thing it did was make my bump smaller than previous bumps! The baby was still 9lbs! but as others have said you are very early in your recovery and haven’t fully healed yet so i’m not sure in that respect what the affect will be on your body.