Can I become pregnant after being a liver donor?
Can I bear the child to normal birth?
Can I breast feed my baby?
Will I be able to fulfill my motherly duties after donor surgery?
These questions often concern a lady of child bearing age who has volunteered to be a liver donor.
A healthy person who wants to donate a part of her liver is willing to ‘go under the knife’ for someone else’s benefit.
The answer to all the questions is YES
A woman can become pregnant after undergoing liver donor surgery. The liver donor surgery does not reduce her chance of getting pregnant later in life.
However, it is advisable to wait at least a year after surgery before conceiving a child. In some countries – 6 months interval is considered to be a safe period. Till then barrier contraception like condoms are recommended to avoid unplanned pregnancy.
A normal child birth is possible and indeed frequent in such women, research points to a slight increase in caesarian section rates.
It is advisable that she maintains regular communication with the ‘liver team’ during her pregnancy.
The course of pregnancy in a lady who has been a liver donor is the same as that in any other pregnant female.
Breast feeding is possible and encouraged.
With laparoscopic and robotic surgery being used more frequently on liver donors- such donors often have a surgical mark in the lower tummy. This does not interfere with pregnancy or child delivery – either normal or through caesarian section
We welcome questions and comments on the topic..
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