Weight loss surgery helps women have fewer pregnancy complications

Obese women who have undergone weight loss surgery and managed to lose the weight increase their chances for a complication-free pregnancy. They may also be helping lower the risk of their children being born with complications.

As bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) gains popularity, younger women who haven’t yet had children are starting to use this route to treat their obesity. In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers described the results of a review of 75 studies that looked into the health of women and their babies after the women had weight loss surgery. They found that the women’s blood pressures dropped as did their incidence of gestational diabetes. But not only that – the researchers also found some evidence that women who had the surgery saw an improvement in fertility.

According to a press release, issued by the RAND Corporation:

Although rare, complications from bariatric surgery can occur during pregnancy, according to the report. The most-common complication is an internal hernia that causes intestinal problems. Most surgeons recommend that women delay pregnancy until a year after bariatric surgery — the period when the most rapid weight loss occurs.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, obesity and pregnancy, bariatric surgery, weight loss surgery