A new literature review with valid evidence recommends women wait a minimum of 12 months before planning post-pregnancy weight loss surgery, according to Medical Xpress.
The review is focused on the precautions and advantages of bariatric surgery. It insists on getting the necessary education on before, during or after pregnancies. A prediction made on the increasing obesity rate among women of reproductive age suggests a rise of 4.1 percent by 2015 and on the other hand bariatric surgery rate is increasing, reports Medical Xpress.
As many previous studies have linked obesity to many health complications such as walking or breathing. However, pregnancy is recommended in morbidly obese women after bariatric surgery, the review suggests. A higher percentage of women with 79.2 percent, undergo safer pregnancies with no complications after a weight loss surgery. Besides the higher rate of safer pregnancies after a weight loss surgery, there can be complications during pregnancy post a bariatric surgery.
Hence the current evidence based review suggests women to wait at least 12 month before trying for a baby following a bariatric surgery. Previous study showed a higher rate of miscarriage among pregnant women who conceived within 18 months of having the bariatric surgery compared to those women who conceived after 18 months post the surgery.
"An increasing number of women of child-bearing age are undergoing bariatric surgery procedures and need information and guidance regarding reproductive issues," Rahat Khan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow and co- author of the review said, reported Medical Xpress. "In light of current evidence available, pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safer, with fewer complications, than pregnancy in morbidly obese women. Multidisciplinary input care is the key to a healthy pregnancy for women who have undergone bariatric surgery. However, this group of women should still be considered high risk by both obstetricians and surgeons."
Khan's recommendation of Multidisciplinary input includes a team of surgeons such as obstetricians, surgeons, primary care clinicians, anesthetists, fertility specialists, nutritionists, psychologists and plastic surgeons can help women to have a healthy pregnancy.
"Increasingly, obstetricians, surgeons and primary care clinicians will be required to address questions posed by their patients regarding the safety of pregnancy after weight loss surgery," she said.
"Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safer than pregnancy in morbidly obese women. Women who have had bariatric surgery generally tolerate pregnancy well," Jason Waugh, Editor-in-Chief of The Obstetrician & Gynecologist said. "However, there are risks involved and patients must be well informed. Optimal education should be encouraged in these individuals so that they can make well informed decisions about planning pregnancy after their surgery."
The review is published in The Obstetrician & Gynecologist.
