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Pregnant after Bilateral Tram Flap
I've been searching the internet for information on pregnancy after bilateral tram flap reconstruction for weeks now and am getting no information.
I'm 33, a 7-year BC survivor, and just found out I'm 7 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. My doctors are baffled. I called my plastic surgeon but he hasn't gotten back to me. I don't know if I will be able to continue this pregnancy or not...so you can imagine the emotional termoil I'm in at the moment. Has there ever been a successful pregnancy after bilateral tram flap reconstruction??
I'm 33, a 7-year BC survivor, and just found out I'm 7 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. My doctors are baffled. I called my plastic surgeon but he hasn't gotten back to me. I don't know if I will be able to continue this pregnancy or not...so you can imagine the emotional termoil I'm in at the moment. Has there ever been a successful pregnancy after bilateral tram flap reconstruction??
I am 29 & due to have a breast reconstruction via TRAM flap. After reading your comments above i would like to know how your pregnancy went & were there any difficultys? Kindest Regards Renee.
I just wanted to wish you all the luck in world. I have had a unilateral tram flap and have always wondered how hard a pregnancy would be! I fortunately was blessed with four kids before cancer and never intended to have any more, but I did think about what would happen if I did get pregnant. I know what you mean about it being worth the risk, and I hope your doctors agree, and all goes smoothly. Again, best of luck!
Hello!
I just wanted to follow up for others looking for information on pregnancy after BILATERAL TRAM Flap reconstruction.
After hours of searching, numerous phone calls to plastic surgeons across the country, to the American Cancer Society, Reach to Recovery, Why Me, Cancer Hope Network, and, well, oh gooness...anyone who would listen to me, I have some helpful information.
There aren't many documented cases of pregnancy post TRAM Flap, so the information is hard to come by. However, my efforts have found several women across the country who have, indeed, succeeded in pregnancy post bilateral trams.
Some problems I have heard are:
Tight abdomen due to tummy tuck, causing much discomfort in the later months.
One woman said she had a slow herniation begining about the 7th month but succeeded in a full term pregnancy with a repair to the hernia post delivery.
Another woman had slight discomfort from the trams, no problems otherwise and had a full term pregnancy.
Yet another is confined to a wheel chair in her later months due to lack of tummy support, but is otherwise healthy and so is baby.
The worst case I heard of is a woman who, due to not expanding enough, had severe spine problems in the later months. I can't help but wonder if she'd have still had problems if not for the tram? It's possible.
The only thing I can think of is that everyone is different. What works for one won't necessarily work for another. What it comes down to is this: I will see my doctor tomorrow, he will tell me what risks I, personally, am in for (they may differ for you). He may examine me, and find that my abdomen seems strong enough to support the pregnancy with some cautions, he may find that there is no way. It's a risk no matter what. The question is weather or not we feel the risks are worth taking. I do, you may not.
One plastic surgeon said, "Whatever happens, we can fix it." That's all I needed to hear!
God bless all of you on your journey!
Nicole
I just wanted to follow up for others looking for information on pregnancy after BILATERAL TRAM Flap reconstruction.
After hours of searching, numerous phone calls to plastic surgeons across the country, to the American Cancer Society, Reach to Recovery, Why Me, Cancer Hope Network, and, well, oh gooness...anyone who would listen to me, I have some helpful information.
There aren't many documented cases of pregnancy post TRAM Flap, so the information is hard to come by. However, my efforts have found several women across the country who have, indeed, succeeded in pregnancy post bilateral trams.
Some problems I have heard are:
Tight abdomen due to tummy tuck, causing much discomfort in the later months.
One woman said she had a slow herniation begining about the 7th month but succeeded in a full term pregnancy with a repair to the hernia post delivery.
Another woman had slight discomfort from the trams, no problems otherwise and had a full term pregnancy.
Yet another is confined to a wheel chair in her later months due to lack of tummy support, but is otherwise healthy and so is baby.
The worst case I heard of is a woman who, due to not expanding enough, had severe spine problems in the later months. I can't help but wonder if she'd have still had problems if not for the tram? It's possible.
The only thing I can think of is that everyone is different. What works for one won't necessarily work for another. What it comes down to is this: I will see my doctor tomorrow, he will tell me what risks I, personally, am in for (they may differ for you). He may examine me, and find that my abdomen seems strong enough to support the pregnancy with some cautions, he may find that there is no way. It's a risk no matter what. The question is weather or not we feel the risks are worth taking. I do, you may not.
One plastic surgeon said, "Whatever happens, we can fix it." That's all I needed to hear!
God bless all of you on your journey!
Nicole
Dear NikkiFriend, This question has come up before on this forum in regard to pregnancy after TRAM flap reconstruction. We discussed this with our collegues in general surgery. They had known of successful pregnancies after unilateral TRAM flap but were unaware of any after bilateral TRAM. The concern is would the woman be able to sustain a pregnancy to full-term without complications such as hernia. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon as well as your OB/GYN, for advise on how this pregnancy could be successfully managed.
A related discussion, Pregnancy after the bilateral TRAM flap was started.
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