Weight loss attained through bariatric surgery can have a positive boost in your fertility. This is often a blessing for women wishing to have children. However, it can be a problem if you’re in the initial 18-months post-surgery.
Why You Should Wait 18 Months Before Getting Pregnant
Your body undergoes several changes after weight loss surgery. The major concern in getting pregnant too soon after the procedure is the significant nutritional changes, which can potentially harm the growing baby. The recommendation of not getting pregnant until 18 months after surgery is meant to protect the mother and the child from possible malnutrition.
What to Consider If You’re Planning to Get Pregnant
Monitor your nutrient intake closely
If you’re planning to get pregnant, it’s important to monitor your nutrient intake closely. In one study, it showed that the most common nutritional complications associated with bariatric surgery are deficiencies in iron, vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin B12. There are also cases of protein calorie malnutrition and fat malabsorption. Taking this into account before getting pregnant can help you plan ahead for a healthier pregnancy.
Inform your OB-GYN
Although pregnancy after weight loss surgery is not uncommon, it’s still important to inform your OB-GYN of the procedure you had. Even if you’re still in the planning phase, informing your healthcare provider can help them to do some research on the latest facts in caring for patients like you.
You’re still at risk for complications
You may have lost weight as a result of the surgery but this doesn’t mean that you’re no longer at risk of pregnancy-related complications. A 2005 study from the journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology revealed that women who underwent weight loss surgery developed pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension at a rate similar to those of healthy women who have never been obese or had bariatric surgery.
Weight Gain and Other Concerns
Pregnancy can cause a lot of changes in your body, whether you underwent a weight loss surgery or not. Some weight gain is very much possible as well as other common complaints during pregnancy like nausea, vomiting, and some discomfort.
Bariatric surgery can make a significant improvement in your weight. However, it also calls for consistency in diet and overall lifestyle.
If you’re considering bariatric surgery but also planning to conceive soon, talk to our team at at Foothills Weight Loss Specialists in Knoxville. They can provide you with more information about weight loss surgery and pregnancy that may occur thereafter.