Pregnancy after bariatric surgery: implications for mother and newborn

The present study aimed to identify the implications for the mother and the newborn in pregnancies occurring after the bariatric surgery.

The present retrospective, exploratory cohort study was conducted to analyze the implications for the mother and the newborn in women of childbearing age (10 to 49 years) who became pregnant after undergoing bariatric surgery in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, during the period from 1999 through 2008.

The study identified 32 women with the following characteristics: the majority of the women were Caucasian, slightly more than half were living with a partner, had some higher education, and most of them were without surgical complications. In addition, the mean weight loss post-surgery was 44.09 lbs, with an average interval of 40 months between the surgery and the pregnancy, with improvement of various comorbidities post-surgery. Conversely, they presented more neuropsychiatric disorders, post-surgery anemia, and higher prevalence of cesarean delivery. The majority of children were born at term with normal birth weight and no history of anemia. Hospitalization was required for 36.58% of the post-surgery pregnant women, while 17.07% of such cases required blood transfusion due to anemia. Lastly, there were fewer pregnancy-related hypertension cases than before the surgery.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery has proven to be safe for both the mother and the newborn. The newborn birth weight was not compromised even though some of the pregnant women were anemic.