Bariatric Surgery Reduces Adverse Obesity-Related Pregnancy Outcomes

A study recently published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (access the publication here), has revealed that bariatric surgery can improve pregnancy and related birth outcomes for overweight or obese patients.

The study has concluded that bariatric surgery, between the first and second pregnancy, was associated with reductions in obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes. For example, it showed significant reductions in gestational hypertension, spontaneous preterm birth, large-for-gestational-age newborns, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.

It has also found that bariatric surgery performed for the management of obesity according to current clinical criteria is associated with better outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. 


For this reason, researchers have pointed out that, while bariatric surgery does not decrease the chances of adverse pregnancy outcomes, it can offer significant improvements for the mother as well as her baby.


The nutritionist Irene Ávila from the city of Guayaquil, has highlighted the importance of strict control of the weight gained during the 40 weeks of pregnancy, both during the pre-gestational stage as well as during the gestation stage.


In Ávila’s opinion, this is the main way to prevent complications both in the fetus (congenital malformations, neural tube defect, cardiac and orofacial malformations, macrosomia, low weight for gestational age, intrauterine growth retardation and perinatal mortality), as well as in the mother (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, arterial hypertension, labor induced by caesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, thromboembolism and maternal death).

Fertility problems

It is well known that women who are overweight often have fertility problems due to ovulatory disorders and because they have a greater risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

However, after undergoing bariatric surgery, their fertility and their ovulatory capacity both improve. They also have a better androgenic level, experience a reduction in hirsutism, enjoy a stabilization of sex hormones and, above all, are benefited by a decrease in insulin resistance, which in the future can prevent potential diabetes.

In other words, women who have previously undergone bariatric surgery can control their weight gain during pregnancy in a healthy way and without putting either their health the health of their baby at risk. For this reason, it is recommended that overweight or obese women who wish to become mothers plan their gestation process 12 months after bariatric surgery.