Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery

Increased fertility after weight loss surgery

Many women who have had weight loss surgery, such as sleeve gastrectomy, experience positive changes in their fertility after weight loss. In fact many women begin ovulating in a regular manner for the very first time.

Positive effects of weight-loss surgery on pregnancy

Studies suggest that women experience safer pregnancies after weight-loss surgery. Weight loss surgery protects both the obese mother and baby from obesity related complications during pregnancy such gestational diabetes, hypertension and preeclampsia.

Timing of Pregnancy after weight loss surgery

The body goes through many changes during the rapid weight loss phase after weight loss surgery (12-18 months after a sleeve gastrectomy). Since fetal health is highly dependent on the nutritional state of the mother, pregnancy before the body weight stabilizes may deprive the growing fetus from important nutrients. For this reason I recommend that pregnancy should be postponed till two years after weight loss surgery.

Early postoperative pregnancy reduces the effectiveness of weight loss surgery

Obesity surgery has finite window of time for you to reach your new weight set point. During this window of time you need to set new eating habits and develop an exercise routine and a healthy lifestyle. You need to be the most important person in this narrow window of time. Worrying about a pregnancy and the development of your fetus will complicate matters.

Planning pregnancy after weight loss surgery

Two years after weight loss surgery the body weight and nutritional status stabilize. In addition, obesity related health conditions (such as diabetes and hypertension) resolve or substantially improve. At this time it will be safe to start planning to get pregnant. It is very important to start vitamin supplement such as folic acid and vitamin B12 as well as iron and calcium before and during pregnancy.