Toronto - Researchers say that women who get pregnant after undergoing
weight-loss surgery seem to remain in better health and deliver babies with
fewer complications than obese women who do not undergo such surgery.
It was also found that undergoing weight-loss surgery may regulate menstrual
cycles, making it easier to become pregnant.
The surgeries, also known as bariatric surgeries, reduce the risk of diabetes
and high blood pressure while pregnant. As well, the chances of delivering a
premature, low birth weight, or overly large-bodied baby, were decreased for
those who had the surgery. Some even had comparable risks to normal-weight
women.
A
few women chose to have the devices that shrank their stomachs removed during
pregnancy because of discomfort or simply because it was their choice. Others
suffered intestinal blockages that were likely due to the surgery. However, the
majority of women did not havesignificant problems.
It is ideal to wait a year after having such surgery so that your body can
adjust. Another concern is that oral contraceptives may not be absorbed
adequately after the surgery, so other methods of birth control should be
employed to prevent unplanned pregnancy.
