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Women
who've had weight-loss surgery should wait at least a year before they try to
become pregnant, according to a new review.
Some
studies show an increased risk of premature birth among women who've had
bariatric surgery (such as gastric bypass surgery) and get pregnant within one
year of surgery, compared with women who conceive after one year. In addition,
nutritional deficiencies can occur during the first year after surgery that
could potentially affect the growing fetus, the researchers said. (According to
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists(ACOG), women who've
undergone weight-loss surgery are at an increased risk for deficiencies in
iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D and calcium. Getting an adequate amount of
these nutrients is important for the mother and baby.)
For
these reasons, it is reasonable to recommend that women who've had bariatric
surgery should delay pregnancy for one year, and should speak with their doctor
for advice on pregnancy timing, contraception, nutrition, weight gain and
vitamin supplementation, the researchers said. As obesity rates rise, the
number of women of reproductive age who undergo bariatric surgery is expected
to increase.
In
the United States, about half of all bariatric surgeries performed between 2003
and 2005 were on women ages 18 to 45, the researchers said. Obesity increases
the risk for pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, and studies
show that pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safer than pregnancy in morbidly
obese women. However, there are some risks. For instance, some women who've had
gastric banding (a procedure that places a band around the upper portion of the
stomach to limit food intake) may experience slippage of the band during
pregnancy. ACOG recommends that women who've had gastric banding be monitored
to determine whether or not band adjustment is necessary. The review, written
by researchers at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Essex, United Kingdom, will be
published tomorrow (Jan. 11) in the journal The Obstetrician &
Gynaecologist.
Source: Live Science
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