Pregnancy Information
 
Web World-SuperSite

Is a Healthy Pregnancy Possible After Gastric Bypass Surgery?


When a woman in the child bearing years undergoes gastric bypass surgery to lose weight one of the first things she will hear from the nay-sayers is that after surgery she cannot have a healthy pregnancy because of presumed nutritional deficiencies. The contrary is true. Morbid obesity results in a high rate of complicated pregnancies and a high rate of miscarriage. Women who become pregnant after achieving weight loss with gastric bypass generally have lower risk pregnancies than morbidly obese women.

The United States Surgeon General lists several reproductive complications associated with pregnancy in women who are obese. Complications include an increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times. In addition to many other complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and delivery.

The Surgeon General concludes that Infants born to women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to be high birth weight and, therefore, may face a higher rate of Cesarean section delivery and low blood sugar (which can be associated with brain damage and seizures). Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

In a study by Dr. Alan C. Wittgrove, past president of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and pioneer of the laparoscopic technique, post-gastric bypass pregnancy indicates fewer risks than commonly reported by women who are obese during pregnancy. His study was conducted with nurse-practitioner Leslie Jester who had a low-risk pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby after gastric bypass surgery.

The Wittgrove Center has an active patient list of over 2000 people. The patients are informed to contact the Center when they become pregnant. In the study 41 women in the patient population became pregnant. Using personal interview, questionnaire, and review of perinatal records, pregnancy-related risks and complications were studied.

The study found less risk of gestational diabetes, macrosomia, and cesarean section than associated with obesity. There were no patients with clinically significant anemia.

Dr. Wittgrove concluded, "Since the patients had an operation that restricts their food intake, some basic precautions should be taken when they become pregnant. With this in mind, our patients have done well with their pregnancies. The post-surgical group had fewer pregnancy-related complications than did an internally controlled group that were morbidly obese during their previous pregnancies."

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com. Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.


MORE RESOURCES:

Epilepsy Drug, Pregnancy Raise Autism Risk
WebMD - 4 hours ago
Sixty-four of the children were exposed to valproate during pregnancy, 44 were exposed to lamotrigine, 76 to carbamazepine, 14 to other single-medication ...
Use of Epilepsy Drug During Pregnancy May Increase Children’s ... Health.com
Epilepsy drug 'link' to autism The Press Association
Epilepsy Drug Taken When Pregnant May Increase Risk Of Autism In ... Science Daily (press release)
all 9 news articles


Research links epilepsy drug to autism
Reuters - 5 hours ago
Their study published in the journal Neurology showed children whose mothers took Epilim during pregnancy were seven times more likely to develop the ...


Paralegal alleges Siegfried & Jensen discriminated against her ...
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 52 minutes ago
A paralegal has filed suit claiming pregnancy discrimination by her former employer, personal injury law firm Siegfried & Jensen. ...


Link between sex on TV and teen pregnancy backwards
Great Falls Tribune, MT - 14 hours ago
I believe this is the case with the assertion that sex on television directly leads to an increase in teenage pregnancy rates. A recent study surveyed 2000 ...
'Killing Britney' a great read Great Falls Tribune
all 2 news articles


Having a Baby: Exercise May Reduce Need for an Epidural
New York Times, United States - 7 hours ago
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR In addition to its other well-known benefits, exercise during pregnancy may help women reduce the need for anesthesia when they give ...


Techniques can help ease irregular heart beat during pregnancy
Monsters and Critics.com - 23 hours ago
Stuttgart, Germany - Women who experience an irregular heart beat during pregnancy can sometimes treat the problem themselves by trying a few techniques. ...


Times Online

Renewed Push For Moms To Get Tested For HIV During Pregnancy
dBTechno, MA - 13 hours ago
The UN agencies stressed in this new report that it is very important to have women get tested for HIV during pregnancy. If they are tested, ...
UK boost for South Africa in new struggle against Aids Independent
all 323 news articles


Sydney Morning Herald

Pregnancy stress affects child
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 4 hours ago
Even relatively minor, everyday stress during pregnancy may affect the brain of the growing foetus, study finds. Even relatively minor, everyday stress ...
Screen addiction 'bad for kids' health' Melbourne Herald Sun
all 13 news articles


Cryobanks International and Becoming Mom Pregnancy Spa ...
MarketWatch - Nov 29, 2008
Becoming Mom Pregnancy Spa & Ultrasound Imaging Center, located at Deerfield Towne Center in Mason, OH caters to the unique needs of expecting women and new ...


Eating Eggs When Pregnant Affects Breast Cancer In Offspring
Science Daily (press release) - 4 hours ago
This finding by a team of biologists at Boston University is the first to link choline consumption during pregnancy to breast cancer. ...

Pregnancy - Google News

home | site map
© 2006