Bariatric Surgery and Nutrition: What Moms Need to Know
The Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery’s founder talks about pregnancy and nutrition.
Plano, TX, Nov. 21, 2016 – Women who are considered seriously obese during their childbearing years may find this condition impacts their ability to conceive. Hoping to improve their odds of having a family, some women choose to undergo bariatric surgery to get their weight under control while also potentially improving their overall health in the process. Procedures like the gastric bypass can address weight concerns while also potentially improving fertility in the process. There are some things about post-surgical life, however, that would-be mothers need to know about.
“Bariatric procedures like the gastric bypass can have a tremendous boost on fertility,” says Dr. Nick Nicholson, founder and lead surgeon at the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery. “The manner in which they work to help people lose weight and keep it off, however, can make it is especially important for expectant mothers to stay on top of nutritional concerns throughout pregnancy.”
The gastric bypass is a two-part procedure that first involves the surgical shrinking of the stomach. This is performed to reduce the stomach’s capacity to hold food, essentially enabling patients to feel fuller faster. The procedure also calls for a rerouting of the digestive system to reduce caloric absorption.
“Women and men alike who undergo bypass procedures to address weight will find that following a careful diet is a must after surgery to maintain nutritional balance,” says Dr. Nicholson. “Extra help and guidance is almost assuredly required for women who become pregnant after this type of procedure.”
With some studies linking low birth weights and infant nutritional deficiencies to weight loss surgery, medical professionals urge women to consult with their healthcare providers for dietary advice during pregnancy.
“Supplements and a careful diet plan can help ensure both mother and baby receive the nutrients they need during pregnancy,” Dr. Nicholson says. “Women who have undergone bariatric surgery should work hand in hand with nutritional counselors and their obstetricians throughout the course of their pregnancies.”
The Nicholson Clinic specializes in surgical weight loss while providing other support to ensure patients attain and maintain their weight loss goals. To learn more about the Nicholson Clinic, its locations and the weight loss services it provides, visit it online at www.nicholsonclinic.com.
About Nicholson Clinic
Founded by Dr. Nick Nicholson, one of the country’s leading weight loss surgeons and co-author of “Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny,” the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery offers a variety of options to help patients gain control of their weight and their lives.