How Long Does The Full Process Take
Bariatric surgery is not an instant fix. Most patients should expect the full process to take two to three years. This recommendation includes approximately three to six months of pre-surgery preparation, as well as 12 to 18 months of post-surgical weight loss. We generally recommend waiting 18 months to two years after surgery before trying to conceive to ensure overall nutrition is optimized for pregnancy.
UT Southwestern and other reputable centers typically require lifestyle changes in preparation for surgery, including diet and exercise modification and quitting smoking.
Several variables can affect the timeline. For example, some insurance policies require trying medical weight loss therapies for six months before proceeding with bariatric surgery. Other patients might have health conditions such as heart or endocrine complications to take care of before pregnancy.
Learn More About Weight Loss Surgery And Pregnancy
The most important thing you can remember when you are pregnant following weight loss surgery is to be consistent in everything that you do. Continue to eat the way that you should, exercise, stay hydrated and get plenty of sleep. See your doctor regularly.
Having a baby does not have to derail your weight loss efforts. You will always need to be conscious about your weight and the decisions you make.
But you dont have to do it alone. If you have questions about pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery or other types of bariatric surgery or you are thinking about bariatric surgery for the first time, the team at Olde Del Mar Surgical can help you on your journey to becoming a healthier you.
To learn more about your options, contact us today.
A helpful team of staff members is ready to answer your questions and be your guide as you continue on your quest to reach a weight that is best for you.
Irregular Periods After Gastric Sleeve
Have you struggled with irregular menstrual cycles while you suffered from obesity? Well, there is good news for you. Your problem of irregular periods after gastric sleeve is likely to get resolved, and any other associated obesity-related hormonal abnormalities that adversely impact your menstrual cycle may also improve.
Research Study 1
Researchers analyzed the data of 515 pre-menopausal women who underwent different types of weight loss surgery over a period of eight years from 1999 to 2017. Based on their post-operative experience, researchers found that the incidence of irregular periods after surgery had reduced from 38.6% to 25%. This cross-sectional study indicates the resolution of irregular periods after gastric sleeve for many women.
Research Study 2
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study, which also indicates that bariatric surgery contributes to the regulation of menstrual cycles. The study authors reported fairly dramatic results. Within a year after the surgery, almost all the women who earlier had irregular periods started having regular menses. Nearly 82% of the women who earlier had no periods also began having regular periods.
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Can I Get Pregnant Following Bariatric Surgery
This is a question we are commonly asked. Following bariatric surgery, most women find their fertility rapidly improves. So much may your fertility improve over the first couple of months that it may be possible to fall pregnant even when taking your usual contraception. This would clearly halt any weight loss and may cause problems for your unborn child so care with contraception and considering adding barrier methods is an important part of your post surgical care.
When Can One Get Pregnant After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery is most significant during the first 12-1 8months. For malabsorptive bariatric surgeries, this period is also characterized by various forms of nutritional deficiencies. There is general assumption that pregnancy during this period may have adverse outcome. However, a study comparing pregnancy before and after the first 12months post-surgery found no significant difference between the two in terms of hypertension, diabetes, malformations, and birth weight.
For gastric sleeve surgery in which there is no malabsorptive component, pregnancies during the first year of operation can be expected to have the same outcome as those after the first year. Some authorities do not recommend waiting especially if pregnancy is seriously desired.
However, because it may be difficult for most people to differentiate pregnancy symptoms from those of surgical complications, many authorities, therefore, recommend that pregnancy should be avoided during this critical period for weight to stabilize and for any nutritional deficiency to be corrected.
For those that prefer to delay pregnancy, effective contraception is recommended. There is no consensus on the best form of the contraceptive device. Following malabsorptive procedures, oral pills should be avoided or supported with a barrier method, due to the likelihood of poor absorption. However, for gastric sleeve surgery, any form of contraception can be used.
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Can I Get Pregnant After Or During Other Types Of Surgical Weight Loss
No. In general, you should not conceive a child while you are losing weight through any type of bariatric surgery. Most forms of bariatric surgery limit the amount of nutrients your body will absorb, either by reducing the size of the stomach, or altering the digestive system. Your body must adapt to the new changes, and lose the weight first. Only after youve lost the weight, and have attained your ideal weight should you consider having a child.
For example, gastric banding can bring about a more steady weight loss and will not cause any nutritional deficiency concern, but the band will be in place for six months. This will limit the amount of nutrients your body can absorb, and again, the developing embryo will be deprived of nutrients. Those women who had undergone the banding procedure should generally wait for six months after having the bad removed before getting pregnant. This will ensure a healthy weight for the entire course of their pregnancy.
Pregnant 6 Months After Gastric Sleeve
Six months may be a reasonable period for some women to consider pregnancy after gastric sleeve. Although many researchers are of the view that gastric sleeve and pregnancy should be at least 12 to 18 months apart, there are others who do not prescribe a one-size-fits-all rule for every patient. Keep the following things in mind if you get pregnant 6 months after gastric sleeve surgery.
- If you have had a history of obesity-related infertility, it may not be a bad thing to try for a pregnancy after sleeve surgery within 6 months.
- If you may soon get past the reproductive age, talk to your bariatric surgeon about getting pregnant after gastric sleeve in 6 months.
- Some researchers have found no marked differences in pregnancy outcomes for women who conceived early after bariatric surgery.
- Careful planning in consultation with your surgeon to get pregnant 6 months after gastric sleeve could get you the best of both the worlds.
- The first six months after your surgery is the best time to achieve maximum weight loss, after which you can plan a pregnancy.
- Getting pregnant 6 months after gastric sleeve will lower your risk of gestational diabetes as you would have already lost significant weight.
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Sleeve Gastrectomy And Pregnancy: What You Need To Know
Home» Sleeve Gastrectomy and Pregnancy: What You Need To Know
As concerns over obesity and its impact on pregnancies continue to grow in the healthcare community, researchers are exploring viable weight loss options for pregnant women. With bariatric surgery gaining popularity, new studies have explored the safety and effectiveness of the gastric band and pregnancy, and whether this form of weight loss surgery is advisable for expectant mothers who are obese. Now, recent research is revealing that gastric banding is indeed safe for young women who are pregnant as well as for those who want to get pregnant in the future.
What Will Happen To The Weight You Have Already Lost
Probably because of this weight loss you were able to become pregnant as it is proven that weight loss positively affects fertility in a positive way.
The explanation of what happens to your lost weight being about to gain a few extra pounds because of pregnancy and what are the recommended steps to have an uneventful pregnancy is very simple:
First of all, it is important to define when the pregnancy occurs after gastric sleeve surgery and I personally think is the most crucial factor to take into account because of the following:
- The period of maximum weight loss after a bariatric procedure is in the first 18 months, after this time, weight loss slows down gradually. This does not mean you cannot keep losing weight but it will be slower and harder to lose, requiring more dedication on your part.
- If your pregnancy after gastric bypass or after gastric sleeve occurs before this 18 months you run a greater risk of being in a “learning” stage and acknowledgement of your own new body along with your new eating habits, so the chances on not losing all the weight you were destined to lose are slightly higher, nevertheless this is completely preventable if even after being pregnant you watch the quality and quantity of your food, achieving with this not only increasing the strictly necessary amount of weight but also being well nourished for your baby.
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Obesity In The United States: An Epidemic
The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past several decades. This has led to a greater morbidity and proportion of deaths attributed to obesity. It is known that women have higher rates of obesity than men – 35.5% versus 32.2% in 2007-2008. Obesity also complicates pregnancies with greater numbers of miscarriages, malformations, fetal growth problems, hypertension, gestational diabetes, and cesareans. The greatest concern of all is a propagation of the cycle as childhood or adolescent obesity. Offspring of obese mothers are also at risk for obesity along with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.-
Is Pregnancy After Weight
Absolutely. Women with a high body mass index are more likely to have gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and babies with higher birth weights. So, rather than increasing a pregnancy’s risks, the dramatic weight loss that results from bariatric surgery can actually help you have a safer pregnancy.
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How Gastric Sleeve Impacts Weight And Nutrition
Weight loss is the goal of gastric sleeve surgery, but there is a chance you may not lose as much weight as you hoped. It is also possible you will lose weight but gain it back.
Because you’re eating fewer calories, you’re also getting fewer nutrients. That could lead to deficiencies, or a shortage of the nutrients your body needs.
There Are Many Risk Factors Associated With Obesity And Pregnancy
It is well known that obesity leads to many negative health problems. Obesity often causes infertility problems, but if you are obese and do become pregnant, there are many associated risks and possible negative outcomes. Some of these risks and possible negative outcomes include:
- Miscarriage or stillborn birth.
- Preeclampsia: a condition where the pregnant woman develops increased blood pressure during pregnancy and if undetected or untreated, it can lead to seizures, stroke, and even death.
- Gestational diabetes: a condition that develops during pregnancy and affects the amount of sugar in a womans blood. Insulin, a hormone that usually regulates the amount of sugar in the blood either does not work effectively or is not produced in a large enough amount to be effective. This leads to high blood sugar. Gestational diabetes can cause problems with both mom and baby, including a higher risk for having a c-section, preeclampsia, and having the baby too early. A woman with gestational diabetes also has a higher chance of developing diabetes after pregnancy and it increases the risk that the baby will have diabetes later in life.
- Low birth weight.
- Birth defects or abnormalities: most likely due to the decreased ability to read ultrasounds and other screening methods due to excess fat in an obese pregnant woman.
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Are There Risks Associated With Pregnancy After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Some rare risks can occur during pregnancy after bariatric surgery. Because your OB/GYN may not fully understand the effects of gastric sleeve surgery related to pregnancy, it is advised that you confer with both your bariatric surgeon and your OB/GYN during the entire pregnancy. It is also important that you know signs that may indicate possible issues. Risks that are rare but have been reported include:
- Abdominal adhesions after abdominal surgery resulting in scar-like tissue that can cause internal organs to stick together
- Internal hernias
Cost Of Gastric Sleeve: Insurance Coverage Vs Self Pay
If your health insurance includes coverage for bariatric surgery and you have a qualifying body mass index, then the gastric sleeve procedure will be coveredafter you complete a medically-supervised diet program.
If bariatric surgery is not included in your policy, then your only option is to pay for the procedure yourself, also called self pay.
According to our annual surgeon cost survey, the average self-pay cost is $19,000 in the United States. However, many practices charge much lower than this, with some practices getting as low as $10,000.
for an interactive map of average gastric sleeve costs by country, region, and state.
If your credit score is over 650, you will probably qualify for financing. for more about gastric sleeve costs and how to minimize them.
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Importance Of Vitamins And Supplements During Post
Gastric sleeve surgery encourages weight loss by reducing hunger and limiting the amount of food you can consume, and its not uncommon for post-op patients to lack nutrients.
A nutrient deficiency can be exacerbated when youre pregnant, which is why many gynecologists and dietitians recommend supplements in post-gastric sleeve patients.
This list includes iron, folate, calcium, and B12. These supplements will ensure you get the nutrients you need so that you can provide them to your baby as well.
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Patient Responses To The Question Above
Pregnancy 2.5 months after WLS
Hello,
my question is before my WLS I was overweight, I have PCOS and I was not ovulating let alone having a period for over 5 yrs. I miscarried 5 babies, I do have 2 live children.
I had WLS 2/15/17 and had my first period 03/09/17 . I had protected sex one time shortly after and now I am pregnant. My surgeon tells me I won’t gain weight but they changed my eating habits and calorie intake which I am struggling with because I have to eat 6x a day instead of 3x.
Right now it seems impossible because I have bad morning sickness. Do I still have a high chance of miscarriage as before? I know longer have high BP, insulin resistances, I am 57 lbs lighter, and all my hormone levels are normal.
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What Can You Do To Improve Your Chances Of Having A Healthy Pregnancy
It is recommended to get a preconception check-up before attempting to fall pregnant. Health care professionals will be able to find ways to help you lose weight before pregnancy.
During pregnancy, you should endeavour to receive regular prenatal care. Prenatal care is care that you receive during pregnancy. Here, you can talk to your doctor about diet plans and weight gain advice among other things like general emotional support.
Also, it is recommended to engage in physical activity every day and get moving. Not only will this help your body deal with the pregnancy and the baby itself but it will assist in forming healthy, regular habits that can assist your weight loss journey.
Its Important To Wait About 2
Although it is safer and more manageable for a woman to have a child after gastric sleeve, its crucial that you give yourself time to adjust to your new lifestyle first.
- Some guidelines recommend waiting 12 to 18 months, while others suggest waiting at least two years before getting pregnant.
This waiting period gives you time to get used to your new stomach and your new diet and ensure youre eating the right foods in the right quantities to avoid nutrient deficiencies. Moreover, if you dont wait to get pregnant, you may not lose as much weight as you could have, because most women do gain weight during pregnancy.
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How Is Sleeve Gastrectomy Performed
Obesity is difficult to overcome. For this reason, bariatric surgery is becoming more and more common. Gastric sleeve surgery is one such surgery. As a “restrictive” procedure, it limits the stomach’s capacity, so the patient eats less and is full more quickly.
The gastric sleeve differs in this respect from “malabsorptive” surgeries, making it so the body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients from food. In gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon permanently removes a large part of the stomach. The remaining section of the stomach is the shape and size of a small banana or sleeve .
As the stomach sleeve can hold less than the original stomach, the patient normally eats less and loses weight. Good nutrition makes this weight loss happen faster, and patients can also maintain their positive results over the long term.
According to many studies, sleeve gastrectomy is also very effective at:
- treating and even causing the remission of diabetes
- treating high blood pressure
- positive results in treating other comorbid medical conditions associated with obesity
Barring very uncommon complications of the surgery, this should eventually make it easier to conceive and carry a child to term with less risk of negative consequences.
