When can I start with a pregnancy after weight loss surgery?
The advice is to wait 1 to 1.5 years before trying to conceive after your weight loss surgery.
There are several reasons to wait so long:
- Losing weight after pregnancy: You always gain weight during pregnancy. The amount varies from person to person, but on average, it’s about 13 to 26 pounds. If your weight has been stable for at least six months before pregnancy, it will be easier to lose those extra pounds afterward. This increases the chances that you will return to your pre-pregnancy weight.
- Weight loss goal before pregnancy: If you become pregnant too quickly, there’s a chance you haven’t yet reached your weight loss goal yet. That would be a shame after undergoing the weight loss surgery. Therefore, it’s better to be stable at your lower weight for at least six months before starting a pregnancy.
- Toxins: You lose a lot of weight in the first year. During this period, your body breaks down fat cells to get energy. The toxins from these cells then end up in your blood, which isn’t ideal for the baby in your womb. Therefore, it’s wise to wait until you have fewer of these toxins.