According to a review in the journal The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safer than still being morbidly obese while carrying a child, and nearly 80% of women have no complications, yet still a study has found that if you have had a gastric band fitted to reduce the amount of food your stomach can hold, there’s a 25% chance of suffering wellness complications resulting in severe vomiting. Also, if you have a baby 18 months after your operation, this almost halves your risk of having a miscarriage than if you’d had a baby earlier, from 31% to 18%.
The review advised that you should read and get as much information and advice as possible before you conceive, especially with regard to contraception, nutrition and weight gain and vitamin supplementation. According to Rahat Khan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow and co- author of the review, ‘An increasing number of women of child-bearing age are undergoing bariatric surgery procedures and need information and guidance regarding reproductive issues.’
‘In light of current evidence available, pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safer, with fewer complications, than pregnancy in morbidly obese women,’ he continued. ‘However, this group of women should still be considered high risk by both obstetricians and surgeons. Increasingly, obstetricians, surgeons and primary care clinicians will be required to address questions posed by their patients regarding the safety of pregnancy after weight loss surgery.’
TOG’s Editor-in-Chief, Jason Waugh added, ‘Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safer than pregnancy in morbidly obese women. Women who have had bariatric surgery generally tolerate pregnancy well. However, there are risks involved and patients must be well informed. Optimal education should be encouraged in these individuals so that they can make well informed decisions about planning pregnancy after their surgery.’