The short answer is yes, but there are a few caveats you’ll want to consider before getting pregnant after bariatric surgery. In the months immediately following surgery, it can benefit you to remain focused on your own health and wellness.
What should you know about getting pregnant after bariatric surgery? Keep reading for the details.
The basics of pregnancy after bariatric surgery
The good news is that bariatric surgery often improves a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. That’s because weight loss following surgery usually leads to significant health improvements, including a reduced risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.
This weight loss can also correct hormonal imbalances in the body, caused by conditions such as metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome, that make it more difficult to conceive and carry a pregnancy. Specifically, weight loss can lead to the return of ovulation and regulate a woman’s menstrual periods.
During pregnancy, being at a lower weight reduces the risk of complications, including miscarriage, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. After bariatric surgery, women may also have a decreased risk of requiring a C-section.
What to consider before getting pregnant after bariatric surgery
Your bariatric surgeon and other medical providers may recommend you wait at least one year before getting pregnant after bariatric surgery. There are good reasons for this recommendation.
For one, becoming pregnant too quickly after bariatric surgery—when you’re usually in a period of major weight loss—can keep you and your child from having the nutrients you need.
Certain nutritional deficiencies are relatively common after bariatric surgery, including iron, folate, calcium, vitamins B and D and even protein deficiencies. In the weeks and months following surgery, you’ll be coached on how to ensure you are getting the nutrients, minerals and vitamins necessary to keep you healthy and well.
Slightly delaying becoming pregnant after bariatric surgery can also support your own health goals. The goal of bariatric surgery is weight loss. Once you become pregnant, continued weight loss is not recommended. Because of that, waiting to become pregnant can help you get the biggest weight loss benefit out of surgery.
Your ongoing journey after bariatric surgery
When you become pregnant after bariatric surgery, you’ll have extra members of your obstetric care team—the bariatric providers you’ve been working with. This may include your bariatric surgeon or a medical weight loss provider in addition to a dietitian and a behavioral health therapist.
Because these providers know the ins and outs of how bariatric surgery works and how the procedures affect a woman’s body, they can offer a unique perspective about your care during pregnancy. You may also benefit from seeing an obstetrician or a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who’s experienced in caring for patients who become pregnant after bariatric surgery.
While we offer aftercare support for all bariatric patients, the nutritional support we provide can be especially beneficial for pregnant women. A dietitian can offer counseling about how to get the blend of nutrients needed to keep yourself and your baby healthy during pregnancy and beyond. This may include taking extra supplements to get the necessary vitamins and minerals.
You can also take other steps to support a healthy pregnancy and maintain your own health goals. It’s important to stay physically active with a goal of staying healthy rather than losing weight. Low-intensity activities like swimming and walking can help you stay fit and prepare you for giving birth.
The bottom line? It’s definitely possible to get pregnant after bariatric surgery. In fact, it’s often more likely than before surgery. You’ll just want to be thoughtful about when you expand your family and do your best to take care of yourself and your baby.
Next steps
The Bariatric Weight Loss Center at Northeast Georgia Medical Center offers comprehensive weight-loss services, including both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Call 770-219-0446 or watch our patient education video to learn more.