Questions about pregnancy after weight loss surgery come up every day, and many people want to know if they can get pregnant after weight loss surgery, how long they should wait after surgery, and if there are any risks to be aware of. If you are a woman considering undergoing a gastric sleeve or another bariatric surgery, these are important things to consider.
The experts at the Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgery Institute are here to help guide you through every step of losing weight with medical intervention, including options like the gastric sleeve. Our knowledgeable team will take the time to explain what to expect, answer your questions honestly, and provide you with the knowledge you need so you feel confident that you are making an informed decision.
Today, we are going to talk about some of the most common concerns women have and answer frequently asked questions about weight loss surgery and pregnancy.
How Does Weight Loss Surgery Affect Pregnancy and Fertility?
Obesity can significantly impact your reproductive health, and women who are obese are three times more likely to experience infertility compared to women who maintain a healthy weight. Carrying an abundance of excess fat disrupts the balance of hormones required for the menstrual cycle and the ovulation process to function as it should.
It may seem sort of backward to think about having weight loss surgery before pregnancy to lose weight just to gain weight again if you become pregnant, but it will make sense when you understand the science behind it. Obesity causes abnormal hormone levels that can lead to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a sporadic ovulation cycle, and fertility issues.
Losing weight helps restore your hormonal balance, and interestingly, losing as little as just 5 percent of your excess weight can significantly boost your fertility. Losing weight substantially lowers your risk of experiencing complications during your pregnancy and delivery and improves your metabolic health. Becoming pregnant when you start at or near a healthy weight will provide you with a healthier pregnancy, reduce strain on your body, and create a safer environment for both you and your baby.
Men suffering from obesity can also experience fertility issues because excess weight can cause their testosterone levels to drop, causing reproductive challenges, like a lower sperm count and reduced sperm quality, which can make it more difficult to reach conception.
Studies have shown that about 30 percent of couples experiencing fertility problems are suffering from obesity. If having a healthy baby is the goal, then the best foundation would be to start with healthy parents.
Can You Get Pregnant After Weight Loss Surgery?
Yes, you can get pregnant after weight loss surgery, but it can carry slightly higher risks compared to a pregnancy for a woman who has not had bariatric surgery. The level of risk involved will depend on your specific circumstances, like your BMI and your health at the time of conception.
Many women experience uncomplicated, full-term pregnancies and deliver healthy babies after undergoing bariatric surgery, but it is important to choose an obstetrician who has experience treating and monitoring a pregnancy in a former bariatric surgery patient. Not all doctors will have an in-depth understanding of how weight loss surgery affects a pregnancy, so finding one with relevant experience would be best.
It will be important for you and your team of doctors to collaborate and remain in close contact throughout the duration of your pregnancy so they can monitor your health and the baby’s as your pregnancy progresses. Most of the risk associated with pregnancy after weight loss surgery is related to not getting the vitamins and the level of nutrition you and your baby need. Your team of doctors can closely monitor your health and your nutrient levels and make adjustments if needed to ensure you and your baby remain in the best health.
Should You Have Weight Loss Surgery Before or After Getting Pregnant?
The answer to this can be different for each person and will depend on your current picture of health and your body mass index (BMI).
Women with severe obesity often suffer from metabolic health conditions and face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth, like high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and complications during delivery. Babies who are born to mothers with severe obesity also face increased risks of birth defects, being born prematurely, and other health issues. In this type of case, it may be best for the mother to undergo weight loss surgery before pregnancy to improve her health and allow time for her recovery and her weight to stabilize before following a well laid out plan on when to conceive.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that women who lose weight before they become pregnant reduce their risk of major birth defects by at least 30 percent. A fairly large study looked at data comparing “before surgery” pregnancies to those after bariatric surgery in obese women and discovered that the rate of pregnancy complications dropped by about 60 percent for those women who became pregnant after bariatric surgery.
Are There Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery Before Pregnancy?
Yes, there are some substantial benefits that come with losing weight before becoming pregnant. Women who are suffering from obesity who choose to have bariatric surgery before getting pregnant can expect to see improvements such as:
It Can Reduce Health Risks
Weight loss surgery lowers your chances of experiencing obesity-related pregnancy complications, like high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, and complications during childbirth.
It Can Improve Fertility
Losing excess weight can make it easier to get pregnant, and many women find that after they lose weight, they are able to conceive when they could not before surgery.
Improves Your Health
Pre-existing health issues related to obesity often improve after weight loss surgery like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. Losing weight often improves these conditions and creates a healthier environment for the pregnancy and reduces the probability of experiencing problems or complications.
Are There Challenges With Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery?
Yes. There can be some challenges to consider if you become pregnant after weight loss surgery, but working with your doctors can help you successfully navigate through them and experience a healthy pregnancy.
Emotional Challenges
Pregnancy causes a surge of hormonal changes, which can influence your emotions. If you have just lost a bunch of weight and are feeling good about the way you look, it may be discouraging to see yourself putting some weight back on because of the pregnancy. The already heightened emotions and the added anxiety related to weight gain during pregnancy can be overwhelming. You may wish to consider working with a mental health professional who understands both bariatric surgery and pregnancy and who can offer some much-needed support to help you through this time.
Challenges With Meeting Nutritional Requirements
Weight loss surgery reduces the size of your stomach and might also change how your digestive system absorbs nutrients. It is very important during pregnancy that you and your growing baby get the vital nutrition you need, so working with a nutritionist can help ensure you are able to meet the nutritional needs of both you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. Your doctor can provide recommendations for extra supplements that can help prevent deficiencies that would impact the baby’s development.
Easier Weight Management
Gaining weight during pregnancy is normal and expected so you and your baby remain healthy, but if you gain too much weight after your bariatric surgery, it can reverse any improvements that were made to your health, so keeping a close eye on your weight gain is important. Taking your supplements, eating a diet full of nutritious, healthy foods, and getting enough exercise (approved by your doctor) can help you control your weight gain and keep it within healthy limits.
Your support team can help create a personalized plan that can help keep you and your baby healthy throughout your pregnancy.
How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Having Weight Loss Surgery?
If you are planning a pregnancy after weight loss surgery, the timing is important because your body needs time to recover and time to reach a healthy, stable weight. Experts recommend that you wait at least 12 to 18 months after your bariatric surgery before you try to conceive.
A healthy BMI would fall between 18.5 and 24.9 to reduce risks and increase the likelihood of having a healthy full-term pregnancy and complication-free delivery.
What Happens If You Become Pregnant too Soon After Weight Loss Surgery?
If you get pregnant before you reach your one year surgery anniversary, you and your baby may be at risk for complications. If you have not lost a sufficient amount of weight to bring your BMI into a healthy range, you may experience complications that carrying excess weight when you are pregnant can cause, such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, a higher chance of needing a C-section during delivery, etc. Your baby is also at risk of complications such as having a high birth weight, being born early, developing blood sugar problems, or having an increased risk of certain birth defects.
Additionally, the first year after weight loss surgery is when most of your weight loss occurs, which can affect fetal development and increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies for both you and your baby.
It is critical to work with a team of professionals if you become pregnant sooner than you planned after bariatric surgery. This team can include your team of experts, the obstetrician, and a nutritionist who will need to monitor the progress of your pregnancy carefully. They can adjust your nutritional supplements as needed to ensure both you and your baby get the nutrition you need.
Where Can I Learn More About Weight Loss Surgery?
The knowledgeable experts at Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgery Institute can help you prepare for an upcoming pregnancy by helping you achieve a healthy weight. They offer medical weight loss interventions that can help you lose weight, improve your health, and reach a healthy weight either before or after pregnancy.
Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgery Institute offers both surgical and non-surgical options to help you lose weight safely and effectively. Dr. Williams and Dr. Curtis are experts in weight loss, and their supporting team is dedicated to guiding you through the entire process. From your first consultation to long after your procedure, you will receive personalized care, clear education, and ongoing support. The team is here to answer your questions and provide you with the knowledge and strategies you need to help you reach your goals. Set up your personal consultation today to find out how we can help you lose weight and improve your health.
Weight Loss Surgery and Pregnancy FAQs
Can You Have Weight Loss Surgery While Breastfeeding?
Some doctors hesitate to perform surgery on breastfeeding mothers even though weight loss surgery is not known to change the composition of breast milk. The anesthesia used during surgery, and any pain medication given for post-surgery discomfort, can pass into breast milk.
You may be able to pump and freeze enough breast milk in advance to cover the time needed for medications to leave your system, so that may be a workaround if your doctor is willing to go forward with surgery. You will also need to take all your recommended supplements because both you and your baby need these vitamins and nutrients.
It is best to wait until you finish breastfeeding before having weight loss surgery because it allows you to focus on meeting your own nutritional needs without added stress.
Can You Give Birth Naturally After a Gastric Sleeve?
Yes, there is no specific reason why you would not be able to give birth naturally after having gastric sleeve surgery as long as your body has had adequate time to heal. Having had bariatric surgery does not automatically mean you need a cesarean section or that you need to avoid a vaginal delivery if your pregnancy is healthy and there are no medical reasons to avoid it.
Most women who have had gastric sleeve surgery and then later have a baby are able to labor and deliver vaginally without any issues.
Will I Need Extra Supplements If I Get Pregnant After Weight Loss Surgery?
Your body needs specific vitamins and minerals to function properly, and after bariatric surgery, it is a bit harder to ensure that this happens. Individuals who have had bariatric surgery must take supplements for the rest of their life because it is not possible to get what they need from their diet alone.
When you are pregnant, it is even more important to supplement your diet with the extra vitamins and minerals you need to make sure that both you and the baby get the nutrition you need. If you become pregnant after bariatric surgery, you will not be able to get all the nutrients you and your baby need from food alone, so taking supplements is even more important. Your team of doctors will determine which supplements will be best for your needs and circumstances and provide you with the proper daily dosages. They will closely monitor your levels and make adjustments as needed. Some of the supplements you may require include:
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Calcium
- Folate
- Vitamins A, D, E, and K
- Folic Acid
