What about weight loss surgery and pregnancy?

Having weight loss surgery will help you to lose some of your excess weight which could be stopping you being able to conceive naturally.

Losing weight helps to make your menstrual cycle more regular and increases your chance of becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby.

It is a good idea to wait at least 18 months – 2 years after your weight loss operation before you start trying to become pregnant. It’s also really important that you let your weight loss support team know that you are trying for a baby as they will be able to help in a number of different ways, such as:

• make sure that you are healthy
• advise you on the best foods and drinks, and the ones to avoid before and when you become pregnant
• possibly alter the vitamin and mineral supplements that you are taking
• Before you become pregnant and for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, it is recommended that you take a daily 400 microgram (mcg) folic acid supplement. This vitamin helps to prevent spinal cord defects like spina bifida in your baby
• Too much Vitamin A can cause birth defects. Your support team need to check which nutritional supplements you are taking and give you personal advice about the best ones for you

Further general information can be found at:

The Food Standards Agency website:

Eat well, be well – Trying for a baby
Eat well, be well – When you’re pregnant

The NHS Choices website:

Preconception leading up to pregnancy
Pregnancy

For more information, to see whether weight loss surgery is right for you or to book a free no obligation consultation with our experts at one of our UK Weight Loss clinics call us on 0800 849 4050 or fill in our enquiry form here.