Researchers have found that obese women who undergo weight-loss surgery before becoming pregnant are less likely to have pregnancy-related health problems, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, than obese women who don't have the surgery. In fact, their rates of such problems are almost as low as those of women who have never been obese.

The report was published November 19 in the “Journal of the American Medical Assn.” and the study was led by Dr. Melinda Maggard from Rand Cop in Santa Monica, California. What they found was that the weight-loss surgery, known as bariatric surgery, helped both the mother and baby a great deal. It helped the mother due to the fact that the surgery normalized her menstrual cycles. This allows women to get pregnant far more quickly than obese women.

Moreover once they are pregnant, those who had the surgery resulted in having healthier babies with lower risk of complications. The chances of delivering a premature, low birth weight, or overly large-bodied baby, were decreased for those who had the surgery.

75 articles assessing associations of bariatric surgery with pregnancy outcomes were reviewed for the study. Data analysis clearly marked an 800 percent increase in the bariatric surgery rates between 1998 and 2005, indicating 83 percent female patients. Despite the positives, the surgical procedure proved problematic for some. Women whose stomach size was reduced using devices like bands or staples experienced discomfort and had to opt for removal after they became pregnant. Likewise, few other experienced pregnancy complications most likely related to the surgery.

“Ideally, women should wait a year after the surgery to get pregnant to let their bodies adjust” Dr. Melinda Maggard recommended.