(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Regular blood samples enable you to determine the level of nutrients your baby is receiving during pregnancy. At the least, you should request that your doctor monitors these levels once during each trimester. When selecting your obstetrician or midwife, it’s good to choose a doctor who has experience caring for bariatric patients. These obstetricians know the importance of monitoring your nutrition with frequent blood tests and your baby’s growth with regular ultrasounds. With the increasing popularity of bariatric procedures, more and more obstetricians are familiar with these needs.
After giving birth, we suggest postponing bariatric surgery for a minimum of six months and until you finish breastfeeding. While breastfeeding, you are still supplying all of your growing baby’s nutritional needs through the food you eat. Consuming enough food for both you and your baby is just as important during this time as it is during pregnancy.
Weight loss decreases health risks during pregnancy
Severe obesity can cause a number of health issues during pregnancy. If you achieve a healthy weight before becoming pregnant, your risk for these complications decreases dramatically.
One large study of perinatal outcomes after bariatric surgery looked at more than 20,000 pregnancies between 2007 and 2018. This study followed over 1,800 women who had bariatric surgery and 18,000 who were severely obese, but decided not to undergo the procedure. Researchers found that bariatric surgery was associated with a decreased risk of:
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Gestational diabetes
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Preeclampsia
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Chorioamnionitis (an infection of the amniotic fluid and membranes surrounding the baby)
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Cesarean delivery
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large for gestational age neonate
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Macrosomia
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Neonatal intensive care unit admission
Pregnancy after a bariatric procedure can be extremely safe when closely managed by you and your doctors. For more information on how weight-loss surgery affects pregnancy, feel free to contact the medical experts at Blossom Bariatrics.