2015: Pregnancy Journey After Mommy Makeover - Dominican Republic

Hey all, well this is my second review on RealSelf (feel free to view my first review where I documented my Round 1 Mommy Makeover) I felt a need for this type of review bcuz I searched the internet and didn't find much on this topic. So here I will document my pregnancy leading up to my Round 2 surgery after baby.

So I will go ahead and touch base with u guys on my Round 1 experience. I had sx last year in February of 2014 in the Dominican Republic with Dra Tania Medina. I think the hardest part of this journey is getting started and second being indecisive on doctor choices. I can tell u that from the moment I made up my mind to cross over to the flat side all the way up until 2 days before surgery I kept second guessing my choices, wondering if some other doctor out there may be a better fit for me lol.

I think the thing is bottom line, just go with ur gut feeling. At the time I wanted Dra Duran so bad and then even considered Cabral but Duran never replied to me and here we are a year later lol and Cabral to be quite honest scared the daylights out of me. That's when I was a newbie to the sx life, and so Dra Medina put me so at ease knowing she was a phone call or whatsapp message away and her caring demeanor was everything it was like talking to an old friend everytime. I am blessed to have had great sx I have never regret my decision even though I hit a few bumps in the road, it was stuff I was able to manage, always.

I see so many horror stories about how painful it was and thankfully I can tell u that I was never in any real pain to where I was suffering the most I dealt with was discomfort, but that's to be expected. I also see stories about bad recovery homes and poor treatment. I think this is all about attitude and perception. My dealings with the recovery home I selected weren't the best but I understood that my nurse was only human and couldn't deal with it all on her own. That part wasn't my fault, she should have invested in help or thought things through more carefully bcuz I was alone alot of the time. Thank God I am pretty self sufficient.. but again she is only human. I think another huge problem is the language barrier definitely! Things tend to get lost in translation or misconstrued. I am glad I was well prepared and spoke the language I could sit and talk to ppl like any other day sitting talking to my mom or a family member.

Still looking back, are there things I would have done differently, the answer is NO! It was all a learning experience and just as much as there was some bad there was far more good involved! I didn't have 24/7 personal care.. I struggled to get in and out of bed and to the bathroom but I also had peace of mind knowing I was alone and there was no one who could have robbed me or tampered with any of my belongings. Was I satisfied with my results, no! In all honesty I expected more, I wanted to be one and done. But there is only so much that can be done in one time and it's better to be safe than sorry. Separate procedures can be easier on the body getting too much at once can be fatal or hard to recover from. In my personal experience I had nothing to compare to as all the results I saw were nowhere near my body composure. I wasn't huge but I had alot of tummy to get rid of to where losing weight didn't seem to make a huge difference in how my clothes looked. I pretty much went blindly. My tummy was never flat. I always had a small upper bulge that looked odd to me. So naturally I wanted to have a Second Round of just lipo and why not? Since I would be having lipo might as well add a second BBL... plus one of the most important reasons I wanted sx,, to have a BR (breast reduction) which I did not get bcuz my doc felt it would be too much on my body, so I was seeking these things on Round 2. Many ppl asked me, why do u feel u need another round? We're u not happy with what was done the first round? In all honesty that's a tough question to answer. Yes I was beyond happy with my results it was a huge improvement but I am still dealing with a hernia, possibly two hernias, plus I still need to get my BR and I do want a flatter tummy. Everyone will have a different experience in their personal journeys but although I'm happy I know there will always be room for improvement. That and maybe just maybe I caught a bit of the sx bug! Lol yes addiction!!

The airport was the most horrible part of this experience for me lol. Arriving things turned into a nightmare and leaving as well. Ppl are out to make a buck! Well anyways that's my intro and a bit of history on my previous sx experiences. For awhile after my sx I had no desire to look into surgeons or procedures but now that hubby has clearly told me in his own words that he owes me a body for getting me pregnant the bug is back and stronger than ever haha. I should be happy to have had one successful round but I do crave a round 2! My doc has informed me that I might not even need a second TT my body may just bounce back like after a first pregnancy and maybe a bit of lipo is all I need. Time will determine this of course. I'm not huge actually if u saw me u wouldn't even think I'm almost 5 months pregnant, yup just one week shy of reaching the belly button in this pregnancy journey (20 weeks)! In my previous pregnancies I always bounced back pretty well, it wasn't until after my twins 4 years ago that my body was declared a disaster zone lol. Well in opinion at least. I did carry them to full term they were about 6 1/2 lbs each!!

Well that's enough babbling from me for now. I have an appointment this Wednesday for an ultrasound, fingers crossed that hopefully we will learn the sex of the baby! I will update u guys then I promise!! Next post will be more about my actually pregnancy that my past. This was just to provide some insight, and as always u guys are welcome to read my first review. Ok TTYS. Bye my Loves!

So today I had my appointment and the ultrasound tech couldn't see baby's sex bcuz of the position she was laying in... my whole family was rooting for a BOY.. after having several girls in a row hubby was really craving a little boy, the boy he's always wanted.

She was about to call it quits bcuz she couldn't see the sex and I asked her to look from another angle and started moving around so baby would wake up and move and that was when. ... she said it may definitely be a girl but we would need one more sono to be sure. At that moment I know hubby's hopes sank down deep he was like nope its a girl I can see it myself. I felt so bad I see how his eyes light up when he sees baby boys in my family. But I guess it just wasn't meant for us... 8 girls and 3 boys is what we have... none of my boys are hubby's bio children. Oh well what can u do right? Just pray for a healthy little girl! She is very much wanted either way.

We weren't planning on anymore children she was definitely a very happy surprise. . After having issues with my IUD I had it removed and BAM along came baby #12

My initial thought were those of FEAR!! Like omg would there even be space for baby to grow properly? Would I be putting my health at risk? We calculated that I got pregnant 10 months post-op, right now I am almost 5 months along or as I like to refer to it.. right at, the belly button of the situation, right at the middle of this journey.

I scoured the internet RealSelf, youtube, baby boards etc for info on pregnancy after TT and there wasn't much out there except scared women such as myself wanting to find reassurance and amswers! So I decided to talk about it here. I am going thru pregnancy and also prepping for Round 2 I figured maybe some woman would benefit from my post. As many consider termination out of fear or as per docs recommendation. . But I'm here to tell u it doesn't have to be that way! I did find 2 documented journeys on YouTube of pregnacies following TT however I think they were further along post-op

I am still quite small not overly huge which is good for as far my results not being altered too much... but would baby be ok? Well according to my doc... yes! There is plenty of space in the womb and skin will always accommodate for growth. That was my biggest fear as I stated. So yes ladies u CAN have a successful birth after plastic surgery, but it's not recommended bcuz depending how u look at it, it's money down the drain for some... it all depends how ur body puts on weight during a pregnancy or how ur skin bounces back. As fore.my first few pregnancies went well I didn't gain much it was after 6 or 7 kids that I started gaining more weight. Stretch marks didn't come about till after the 3rd or 4th pregnancy. The women I saw on YouTube bounced back pretty well after childbirth the TT and muscle repair seemed to stay in tact pretty well. Now I'm just wondering how everything will play out for me since additionally I have 2 possible hernias... but my doc is referring me to a surgeon for further evaluation. Also gonna refer me to a plastic surgeon for breast reduction.. it may get picked up by insurance yay! Might not need that done in DR... I just hope I can find a good surgeon.

Well ladies that's all for now. I'm doing pretty well much better than expected. Till next time mis chicas bellas ?

When I first embarked on my journey I admit like everyone else I went surgery crazy. I had never had PS before and I didn't know what to expect, naturally I got to the point where I was even dreaming of it!! Pretty vividly too lol. I imagined I would be in the greatest pain of my life and severely immobile but I was surprised that it wasn't too bad it was bearable. I lusted after bodies and surgeons, saved a million and one wish pics too my phone to the point of where it was just creepy lol. Imagine finding a phone with pix of naked women or scanty clad in bikinis.. one might just get the wrong idea lmao!!!

Everyone said find someone who has similar body composition to urs and then ull know what ur end results will be similar too, but no one had my shape! I saw plenty of bigger dolls come out small and looking vixen like. But then much of that may have been photo shopped. I wanted a very dramatic difference. I know u can't expect too much. U can be plus size and expect to come out a size 3. But in my case I wasn't plus sized, well parts of me were. I was top heavy too large breast, chubby arms, tummy out of control and then slender hips and slender legs. I was on backwards lol. I noticed when u are bottom heavy u tend to get better results. But then that's why many will add hips or laterals in the mix.

I also didn't know much about picking a surgeon I was just going after the most sought after based on results they ever giving other women. If the results were too subtle I passed. But the surgeon I chose I pretty much went to blindly and took a chance bcuz at that time she didn't have much of her work out on the internet. But I'm very fortunate I went with her. Although I felt my results were subtle afterwards, looking back now I did have alot done. I had a TT, BBL, which included the back lipo, arm lipo, and a tiny bit of thigh lipo! Wow that is ALOT! Plus she threw in 6 free hyperbaric sessions, and a plasma facial aka vampire facelift and my arm sleeves faja, a 3 panel binder and my stage one faja... I bought the stage two separately but all that and the price was right... she practically gave it away at $3400 but it served her well too bcuz after me, many other women followed in my footsteps and had work done with her.

I kept hoping the swelling would subside and my waist would shrink. I actually looked really great in clothing and went down in sizes but I still felt uncomfortable if I'd worn a two piece bikini for example and Idk if that was just me still feeling self-conscious or what. I still felt like I had a tummy, or a bulge I think it's from the hernia that I developed. I'm not quite certain if I developed it bcuz I exercised too soon or if maybe I had been born with it or developed it in one of my pregnancies (which have all been high-risk) I never felt pain before but I always had that odd upper bulge I mentioned. So my doc said she would do free lipo on me when I went back for my breast reduction.. that's when I decided on a second round of booty! I guess that's just like women who want large boobs, bcuz they have always been small. Since I was always poor in the booty section I now crave a fatty. But for awhile after sx (months later) I just settled back into my normal life and I didn't think much about surgery I wasn't so surgery crazy. I knew I could go back in as little as six months post op and don't get me wrong I wanted to have all kinds of work done but the thrill was kinda gone. I guess bcuz I was recovering and I went through stuff with my family, such as illness and deaths. Sx sat on a back burner and felt further and further away. I was grateful to have had one round of multiple procedures and have survived it, I also had a blood transfusion but my life was never at risk it was just to bring my blood count back up. I had a part of my incision open and I would leak for months, don't know of it was a seroma or just a rejected stitch but my doc said not to worry. Bottom line I was happy and although craving more procedures I didn't want to work and live to pay for surgery. I was a mom and I of course didn't want to take away from my families lives.. I spent 3 weeks in the DR and then I spent a few months on a recliner away from hubby. I just wanted life to resume. I'd rather spend that money elsewhere. Guilt maybe?? Also didn't want to become those women who are so addicted they mortgage their homes. It's fun to experience this but don't let it consume u.

Well flashback to now. I haven't had anything out of the ordinary happen in my pregnancy not anything related to the PS. I have had a bit of a rough time but that's normal for me. I am always high risk. I tend to go through hyperemesis gravidarum which is vomiting and nausea pretty much all nine months, sometimes u become dehydrated and require IVs it's hard to keep stuff down or not be grossed out all the time. The only think u can drink some days is water, everything else has a bad aftertaste or gives u heartburn. In previous pregnancies it's been worse. This time around I am more nauseated than vomiting all day. Not too bad. I have also had preeclampsia twice in previous births so they are monitoring me, it hasn't reared it's ugly head yet. But I have had migraines and a fast pulse. Also pain and burning along my incision due to the hernias and of course some stretching of my tummy. But it's not to where I'm doubled over nor crying. Still I do feel limited doc had initially put me on bedrest but I can't! Its too hard so I just limit myself and take it easy. Let me tell u that's a hard thing to do. Taking it easy becomes boring and frustrating!

Well right now I'm playing the waiting game. Enjoying my very last pregnancy and wondering what will be the aftermath of my body's transition?? I want to enjoy my investment and I feel my family is complete. I am going to tie my tubes. No more IUD or pills nor patches. A dozen children is plenty I'm happy with my bunch. So hubby said he owes me, so I have to be kind and accept his generous offer right lol? I definitely know I want more lipo since after round 1 but now I'm wondering if it will be enough? I'm hoping I don't need a mini tuck nor full tuck... but then again I need hernia repair so I would have to wait 6 months after hernia repair to have lipo, unless I have hernia repair and a second TT. I want all over lipo, maybe some to chin, arms, legs, definitely want a thigh gap! I'd like some filler to my face or maybe fat grafting to face. A BR with lift my second BBL... hmm for awhile there I wanted brightocular just like Tiny, TIs wife had done in Africa. But first I'd want to get lasik eye surgery. See I'm once again sx crazy!!!?! Argh!?! Lmao.. I love the ab lipo etching they are doing in Columbia it's like what Khloe Kardashian did in Beverly Hills. Very nice!

So I'm once again looking into doctors and procedures trying to plan out everything well. If I can get my BR through insurance then that reduces the amount of procedures I have to pay for out of pocket. I know the hernia may get covered, just waiting on the referral to the specialist. This time around I may even have a surgery buddy or two.. I will definitely not stay at the same RH at all.

Well that's all for now mis bellas. Talk to u ladies soon....