The number of people having bariatric surgery is growing, including more and more women of childbearing age. Is it safe or even feasible to become pregnant after weight loss surgery? If so, how long should you wait? What precautions will ensure that you have a healthy pregnancy and delivery after gastric bypass, gastric banding or other type of bariatric surgery?

These important questions are addressed in a comprehensive new article on pregnancy after bariatric surgery on Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery.

The number of bariatric surgeries in the United States increased by more than 800 percent between 1998 and 2005. Women of reproductive age (18-45) accounted for more than 83 percent of these weight loss surgeries. Between 2003 and 2005, more than 50,000 women in this age group underwent in-patient bariatric surgery procedures each year, according to information in the new article.

“This is a very important topic, because the average woman is heavier now than she was 20 or 30 years ago, which introduces a new set of risks during pregnancy and a new set of risks if she has had bariatric surgery before becoming pregnant,” says Christine Ren Fielding, MD, FACS, an associate professor of surgery and the founder and director of the New York University Program for Surgical Weight Loss in New York City. Dr. Fielding, who reviewed the article, is a member of Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery’s editorial advisory board.

“Both pregnant women and their obstetricians need to get educated about the types of bariatric surgery that are available and their effects on pregnancy,” says Dr. Fielding. “This article is a great place to start.”

The new article discusses:

• How long you should wait before becoming pregnant after bariatric surgery
• The risks of becoming pregnant after bariatric surgery versus the risks of becoming pregnant while obese
• How to ensure proper nutrition during pregnancy after bariatric surgery
• Avoiding excessive weight gain during post-bariatric surgery pregnancy
• The likelihood of needing a caesarean section delivery after bariatric surgery