According to the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery, approximately 100,000 women undergo surgery each year. Some of these women will go on to conceive and have healthy pregnancies. If you have had, or are considering weight loss surgery, there are a few things you should know.
Most doctors recommend waiting at least 18 months after surgery before getting pregnant. This allows time for your weight to stabilize after the surgery. Getting pregnant too soon can result in malnutrition of the fetus, which is a serious complication.
If you have had fertility issues that are related to weight, you may find your fertility is increased after the surgery. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, women with Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) found their reproductive problems were resolved after the surgery.
For this reason, it is important to avoid pregnancy for 18 months after weight loss surgery. Preventing pregnancy may seem insane, if you have been waiting a long time for a baby, but you will have a healthier pregnancy and baby if you wait.
There is evidence to suggest your risk of certain complications may be lower after the surgery. According to research conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, after weight loss surgery, women have a lower risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and pre eclampsia. These complications are often more common in women who are obese.
The result is healthier mothers having babies with fewer complications. In fact, according to the study, the women having the bariatric surgery were more likely to have an outcome similar to women of normal weight. If you are considering weight loss surgery and future motherhood, talk to your doctor about the benefits of this procedure to determine if you are a good candidate.
Once you do get pregnant, it is important that you watch your nutrition carefully. Women who have had weight loss surgery are more likely to have vitamin deficiencies, including Vitamin D, B12 and iron. Your doctor or midwife may send you for a consultation with a nutritionist to ensure you are getting the nutrients needed to support the pregnancy.
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