Bariatric Surgery Lowers Pregnancy Risks for Obese Women
Reported November 19, 2008
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.
